Languages of Fiji
See language map.[See also SIL publications on the languages of Fiji.]
Republic of Fiji. 828,000. ethnic Fijian 46.2%, Indian 48.6%, Chinese and European 5.2%. National or official languages: Fijian, Fijian Hindustani, English. 325 islands, 100 inhabited. Literacy rate: 80%–90%. Immigrant languages: Eastern Panjabi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Pitcairn-Norfolk, Samoan (1,140), Tamil, Telugu, Tongan (1,220), Tuvaluan (490), Urdu, Wallisian. Also includes Chinese (5,500). Information mainly from P. Geraghty 1983; J. Schütz 1972; S. Wurm and S. Hattori 1981. Blind population: 392. Deaf population: 46,321. The number of individual languages listed for Fiji is 10. Of those, all are living languages.
| English | [eng]
6,000 in Fiji (Crystal 2005). An additional 10,276 or 1.8% of population (1976 census) are part-European, and speak English and Fijian.
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
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| Fijian | [fij]
330,000 in Fiji (1996 census). 10,000 in Kadavu (1,500 Nabukelevu), 20,000 in Northeast Viti Levu. Population total all countries: 336,960. East half of Viti Levu and eastern offshore islands, Kadavu Island, Vanua Levu and offshore islands, Nayau, Lakeba, Oneata, Moce, Komo, Namuka, Kabara, Vulaga, Ogea, Vatoa islands. Also in Nauru, New Zealand, United States, Vanuatu.
Alternate names: Eastern Fijian, Fiji, Standard Fijian.
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). Southern Vanua Levu has several dialects similar to Bau dialect. On Northern Vanua, Levu and adjacent islands people speak a somewhat related variety. Bau is very similar to Standard Fijian, used as traditional lingua franca among Fijians.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
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| Fijian, Western | [wyy]
57,000 (Lincoln 1977). 38,500 in Waya (Waya and Ba-Navosa), 18,500 in Nadroga. Fiji Islands, western half of Viti Levu, Waya Islands.
Alternate names: Fiji, Nadrogaa.
Dialects: Nuclear Western Fijian (Nadrogaa, Tubaniwai, Baaravi), Waya (Nakoroboya, Noikoro, Magodro).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, West Fijian
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| Gone Dau | [goo]
690 (2000). Eastern Fiji, Gone and Dau islands off western Vanua Levu.
Alternate names: Gonedau.
Dialects: Dialect chain from Gone Dau to Bau (Standard) Fijian [fij]. Though speakers learn Standard Fijian, it is not inherently intelligible.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
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| Hindi, Fiji | [hif]
380,000 in Fiji (1991 UBS). Also in Australia, United States.
Alternate names: “Fijian Hindi” , “Fijian Hindustani” , Fiji Hindustani.
Dialects: No significant regional variation. A type of Awadhi [awa], also influenced by Bhojpuri [bho].
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, East Central zone
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| Kiribati | [gil]
5,300 in Fiji (1988). 3,000 or more Banaban.
Alternate names: Gilbertese, Ikiribati.
Dialects: Banaban.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ikiribati
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| Lauan | [llx]
16,000 (Geraghty 1981). Eastern Fiji Islands, Lau, Nayau, Lakeba, Oneata, Moce, Komo, Namuka, Kabara, Vulaga, Ogea, Vatoa islands.
Alternate names: Lau.
Dialects: Lau, Vanua Balavu. Middle East Fijian dialect chain; a subgroup of dialects. Has some similarities to Bau Fijian; may be inherently intelligible with it.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
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| Lomaiviti | [lmv]
1,630 (2000). Islands east of Viti Levu: Koro, Makogai, Levuka, Ovalau, Batiki, Nairai, Gau.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
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| Namosi-Naitasiri-Serua | [bwb]
1,630 (2000). Namosi, Serua, Naitasiri provinces.
Alternate names: Namosi-Naitaasiri-Seerua.
Dialects: Batiwai, Tubai, Nalea. Namosi is a divergent variety of West Fijian. Dialects listed may be separate languages.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, West Fijian
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| Rotuman | [rtm]
9,000 (1991 UBS). 2,500 on Rotuma, 300 overseas (1990 J. Vamarasi). Rotuma Island.
Alternate names: Rotuna, Rutuman.
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, Rotuman
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