Central Pacific languages
Branch of the Oceanic languages
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The Central Pacific languages, also known as Fijian–Polynesian languages, are a branch of the Oceanic languages spoken in Fiji and Polynesia.
Proto-languageProto-Central Pacific
Subdivisions
- West Fijian – Rotuman
- East Fijian – Polynesian
| Central Pacific | |
|---|---|
| Fijian–Polynesian | |
| Geographic distribution | Fiji and Polynesia |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Central Pacific |
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | cent2060 |
The Central Pacific languages Pink is Western Fijian – Rotuman; ocher East Fijian – Polynesian (not shown: Rapa Nui) | |
Classification
Ross et al. (2002) classify the languages as a linkage.[1]
- Central Pacific
- Western
- Rotuman
- Western Fijian linkage
- Namosi-Naitasiri-Serua
- Western Fijian (Nadroga, Waya)
- East Central Pacific linkage
- Eastern Fijian linkage
- Polynesian family
- Western
The West Fijian languages are more closely related to Rotuman, and East Fijian to Polynesian, than they are to each other, but subsequent contact has caused them to reconverge. Rotuman has been influenced by Polynesian languages, evident today by the presence of two reflex sets (one inherited, one from Polynesian).