The history of Samoan orthography is tied closely to the history of European contact, missionary activities, and the development of written Samoan language materials. Here is an overview:

Pre-Contact Period

Before European contact, the Samoan language was purely oral, with rich traditions of storytelling, genealogy, and oratory.

Early Contact and Missionary Influence (Early 19th Century)

• Arrival of Missionaries: The first significant European contact in terms of language documentation was by missionaries. The London Missionary Society (LMS) arrived in Samoa in the 1830s.
• John Williams and George Pratt: Notable missionaries like John Williams and George Pratt played significant roles. Williams began translating the Bible into Samoan, and Pratt produced a Samoan dictionary and grammar.

Development of Written Samoan

• Bible Translation: The translation of the Bible into Samoan was a pivotal moment. It provided a foundation for standardizing the written form of the language.
• First Samoan Bible (1855): The complete translation of the Bible into Samoan was published in 1855. This text helped cement the orthographic conventions that had been developed.

Standardization Efforts

• Spelling Conventions: Early missionaries decided on spelling conventions that suited the phonetic nature of the Samoan language. The orthography was largely phonemic, representing sounds in a straightforward manner.
• Alphabet: The Samoan alphabet was based on the Latin script and consisted of 14 letters: A, E, I, O, U, F, G, L, M, N, P, S, T, and V. The glottal stop was represented by an apostrophe (‘) and the macron (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) was used to indicate long vowels.

Post-Missionary Period (Late 19th to 20th Century)

• Educational System: With the establishment of mission schools, the written form of Samoan became more widespread. Literacy rates increased as children were taught to read and write in their native language.
• Government and Publications: The Samoan orthography was used in official documents, newspapers, and other publications, further reinforcing its use and standardization.

Modern Developments

• Orthographic Reforms: While the basic orthography has remained stable, there have been discussions and minor reforms to address issues such as the representation of borrowed words and the use of diacritical marks.
• Technology and Digital Use: The rise of digital technology has seen Samoan orthography being adapted for use on computers and mobile devices. Unicode and other digital standards now support the specific characters needed for Samoan.

Contemporary Use

• Educational Materials: Today, Samoan orthography is taught in schools, and there are abundant educational materials available in the language.
• Media and Literature: Newspapers, books, and online content in Samoan contribute to the living tradition of the language’s written form.

The history of Samoan orthography reflects a successful collaboration between native speakers and missionaries to create a system that accurately represents the sounds of the language, facilitating literacy and preserving cultural heritage.