The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
| Population | 330,441 in Fiji or 46.2% of the population (1996 census) including 10,000 in Kadavu (1,500 Nabukelevu), 20,000 in Northeast Viti Levu. 650,000 including second language users (1991 UBS). Population total all countries 350,000 or more. |
| Region | Eastern half of Viti Levu and its eastern offshore islands, Kadavu Island, Vanua Levu and its offshore islands, Nayau, Lakeba, Oneata, Moce, Komo, Namuka, Kabara, Vulaga, Ogea, Vatoa islands as mother tongue; other areas of Fiji as second language. Also spoken in Nauru, New Zealand, Vanuatu. |
| Alternate names | FIJI, STANDARD FIJIAN, EASTERN FIJIAN, NADROGA, NADRONGA |
| Dialects | KADAVU (ONO, TAVUKI, NABUKELEVU), SOUTHEAST VITI LEVU (WAIDINA, LUTU, NANDRAU, NAIMASIMASI), BAU (BAUAN, MBAU), NORTHEAST VITI LEVU (TOKAIMALO, NAMENA, LOVONI), CENTRAL VANUA LEVU (BAARAVI, SEAQAAQAA, NABALEBALE, SAVUSAVU), NORTHEAST VANUA LEVU (LABASA, DOGOTUKI SAQANI, KOROLAU), SOUTHEAST VANUA LEVU (NAVATU-C, TUNULOA, NAWENI, BAUMAA), WEST VANUA LEVU (NAVATU-B, SOOLEVU, BUA, NAVAKASIGA). |
| Classification | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian. |
| Comments | The southern part of Vanua Levu has several dialects similar to Bau. On the northern part of Vanua Levu and adjacent islands people speak a variety somewhat related to Bau. Bau is very similar to Standard Fijian, used as traditional lingua franca among Fijians. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. VOS. Newspapers, radio programs. Lumbermen; agriculturalists: taro, yams, breadfruit, bananas; sugar cane, molasses, copra, coconut oil; miners: gold, copper; fishermen. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1864, in press (1997). |
