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Fijian

A language of Fiji

ISO 639-3: fij

Population	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.
Region	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.
Language map	Fiji
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
Language use	National language. 320,000 L2 users (1991 UBS).
Language development	Newspapers. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1864.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	VOS. Lumbermen; agriculturalists: taro, yams, breadfruit, bananas, sugarcane; molasses; copra production; coconut oil; miners: gold, copper; fishermen. Christian, traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

BICKFORD, J. Albert, author. 1994. Review of: a grammar of Boumaa Fijian, by R. M. W. Dixon.

GRIMES, Charles E., author. 1992. Review of: a grammar of Boumaa Fijian, by R. M. W. Dixon.

LOPEZ, Cecilio, translator. n.d.. Studies on Dempwolff's Vergleichende Lautlehre des Austronesischen Wortschatzes.

PALMER, Bill, author. 2008. "Passive possession in Oceanic."

SYMONS, Bruce, author. 1987. Review of: The Fijian language, by Albert J. Schutz.