Language Information

Bislama is the lingua-franca of Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides.There are perhaps 60,000 speakers of this Lingua Franca. These islands were ruled by Britain and France between 1906 and 1980.

French and English remain official languages of independent Vanutau, bur Bislama now ranks as the national language.

Bislama, local pronounciation of Beach La-mar, is said to be derived from beche de mar, the French term for Sea Cucumber.