Can Fijians speak Hindi?

There are 3 official languages in Fiji: English, Fijian and Hindi (a variety much different from what is spoken in India). Native Fijians speak in Fijian as their first language, Indo-Fijians speak Hindi as their first language, and both groups speak English as a second language.

What is Fiji Hindi called?

Fiji Hindi (Devanagari: फ़िजी हिंदी; Perso-Arabic: فجی ہندی; Kaithi: ?????⸱?????) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by Indo-Fijians. It is an Eastern Hindi language, considered to be a dialect of Awadhi that has also been subject to considerable influence by Bhojpuri, other Bihari dialects, and Hindustani.

Is Fiji Hindi different than Hindi?

Fiji Hindi is a mixture form of Awadhi, Bhojpuri and other languages spoken in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. There are some basic difference between Fiji Hindi and Indian Hindi. The pronunciation of ‘sh’ is ‘s’, ‘v’ is ‘b’ and ‘ph’ is’f’ in Fiji Hindi. Approx 70% Fiji people speak this language.

What is a very common greeting in Fiji?

Bula: Pronounced ‘boo-lah’, it is by far the most common greeting. It means ‘hello’ but can also be used in a number of permutations as shown below. Ni sa bula/Ni sa bula Vinaka: The first can be used as a more formal greeting. The latter extends on ‘bula’ and wishes the person good health and life.

Why Fiji has Hindi language?

Fiji Hindi came into existence with the arrival of Indians as indentured laborers in Fiji. Initially these came from North Eastern India, where Awadhi, Bhojpuri and to a lesser extent Magahi dialects were spoken.

Where is Fiji Hindi spoken?

Fiji Hindi is spoken mainly in Fiji, but there are also speakers in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. In parts of Fiji with large Indo-Fijian communities the Fijian can understand Fiji Hindi, and some can speak it.

Where did Fiji Hindi come from?

Does Fiji belong to India?

Fiji, in the southwest Pacific, is a Commonwealth nation with a native Melanesian population of some 300,000, in a total population of more than 700,000. The islands, originally known as the Cannibal Islands, became part of the British Empire in 1874, following a period of generalized and bloody tribal warfare.

What is the mother tongue of Fiji?

Fijian
EnglishFiji Hindi
Fiji/Official languages

What does Bulla mean in Fiji?

hello/welcome
Bula – Pronounced ‘buu-laa’, this common Fiji phrase translates to ‘hello/welcome. ‘ A great time to say this is when meeting our friendly team at The Bula Club!

How do you respond to Bula?

It extends the former greeting by including the phrase “bula vinaka” which means “good life” in English and the words “na si” before that, to bring out respect. You can reply to this greeting by simply saying “bula” or “bula vinaka”.

Why is Hindi an official language in Fiji?

By this time Fiji Hindi was well established as the lingua franca of Fiji Indians and the South Indian labourers had to learn it to communicate with the more numerous North Indians and European overseers. Inward migration of free Gujarati and Punjabi settlers further contributed to Fiji Hindi.