FIJIAN LANGUAGE

Melanesian language of the Eastern, or Oceanic, branch of the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language family. In the late 20th century, it was spoken by about 366,000 persons on the islands of Fiji as either a first or a second language. Of the several dialects of Fijian, which are divided into Eastern and Western groups, standard Fijian, based on an Eastern dialect (Bauan) and called Bauan Fijian, is known to all indigenous Fijians. Literacy in modern Fiji is high, and Fijian is widely used as a written language and for broadcasting.