Nadroga (pronounced ), is a prominent
dialect
A dialect is a Variety (linguistics), variety of language spoken by a particular group of people. This may include dominant and standard language, standardized varieties as well as Vernacular language, vernacular, unwritten, or non-standardize ...
of the
West Fijian languages spoken in mostly in the western region of the
Fiji
Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...
Islands. It is often used as the generic standard of West Fijian. It takes its name from the ancient region and modern day province of
Nadroga/Navosa, in Viti Levu, an area already unique for its own material culture, language and beautiful landscapes. Known as one of the prestige dialects of Fiji (which include the dialects of Rewa, Cakaudrove and Lau), Nadroga is popularly identified, and sometimes lampooned, by the change of
Standard Fijian 's' to 'h' and the turbulent pitch and rapidness in which the language is spoken and can widely be identified by non-speakers within Fiji as a result of those characteristics. It is a dialect that is less understood by native Fijian speakers due to different sounds and spelling of common words.(Becker E. Anne, 1995)
For example, the Fijian greeting word "bula" is "cola" in Nadroga/Navosa dialect.
Geography and Distribution
Nadroga is spoken along the Southern-Western coast of the island of
Viti Levu
Viti Levu (pronounced ; ) is the largest island in Fiji. It is the site of the country's capital and largest city, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.
Geology
Fiji lies in a plate tectonics, tectonically complex area betwe ...
, the islands of Vatulele (or Vahilele), within the
Mamanuca Group as well as parts of Serua and Nadi. It is closely related to the Nadi and Serua Dialects and to a lesser extent, the dialects of Ba and Yasawa. Nadroga is spoken primarily as a first language by close to 10,000 people within the province of
Nadroga-Navosa, by migrants in urban centers in
Fiji
Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...
and the world. It is spoken as a second language by close to 5000 more, mostly of Indian descent. It also known by various other names such as the Nadroga Dialect, the Nadroga Language and colloquially as Nadrogan. The population of Nadroga and Navosa province are distributed in 24 districts with very strong cultural ties with their chiefly households.
Nadroga Phrases
''Hello/Life: Cola''
''How are you?: I Kuca Koto?''
''Pleased to meet you: E kwa marautaki na ledaru hota''
''What's your name?: O cei mu yaca''
''Thankyou: Vina or Vinakwa''
''My name is...: Qu yaca o...''
''Sorry: Vohosia ''
''Please: Kerekere''
''Excuse me: Julou''
''Hot/Cold: Katakata/Kakahali''
''Rain: Ku /Juru na luvu''
''Sun: Higa''
''Good Morning: Cola''
''Goodnight/Goodbye: Moce re''
''I understand: Qi kilasia''
''Finished: Osi ho''
''I can't: Qi tamu/tahi/tabu rewa /tahi rewa/tasi rewa''
See also
*
Culture of Fiji
The culture of Fiji is a tapestry of native Fijian, Indian, European, Chinese and other nationalities. Culture polity traditions, language, food costume, belief system, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance, and sports will be discussed in t ...
References
{{Reflist
Culture of Fiji