Fijian
Language Information
Fijian is the indigenous language of newly independent Fiji in the central Pacific Ocean. It is spoken by about 300,000 people, or about 40 percent of the population. Fijian is one of the Melanesian languages, which form a subgroup of the Malayo-Polynesian family. The alphabet lacks the letters h, x, and z, while the letters f j, and p appear only in foreign words. The letter b is pronounced mb, d is pronounced nd, g is ng as in "sing," and q is pronounced ng as in "finger." A line over a vowel lengthens its sound.
Fijian is spoken/used in the following countries:
- Language Family
- Malayo-Polynesian (Austronesian)
- Subgroup
- Melanesian
Fijian Language Sample
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1
Fijian
Era sucu ena galala na tamata yadua, era tautauvata ena nodra dokai kei na nodra dodonu. E tiko na nodra vakasama kei na nodra lewaeloma, sa dodonu mera veidokadokai ena yalo ni veitacini.English translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Source: OHCHR translations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights