Western Fijian language
Oceanic language spoken in Fiji
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Western Fijian, also known as Wayan[2]: 212 is an Oceanic language spoken in Fiji by about 57,000 people.
NativetoFiji
Regionwestern half of Viti Levu, Yasawa Islands and Mamanuca Islands
Native speakers
(57,000 cited 1977)[1]| Western Fijian | |
|---|---|
| Wayan | |
| Native to | Fiji |
| Region | western half of Viti Levu, Yasawa Islands and Mamanuca Islands |
Native speakers | (57,000 cited 1977)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | wyy |
| Glottolog | west2519 |
It is distinct from Eastern Fijian (also known as Bauan or Standard Fijian).
Phonology
/mː/ is heard in the Wayan dialect.[2]: 212
Most Fijian languages have a unique prenasalized alveolar trill, transcribed here as ⟨ⁿr⟩. Western Fijian in particular, is unique among Fijian languages for having labialized velar consonants. All vowels come in long and short forms, and so does the bilabial nasal (/m/).[2]: 212
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