fascinating Fijian
p. 79 · Read in the full issue
How you can. say in fascinating Fijian
THAKOMBAU” is spelt Cakobau, and “Nandi” is spelt Nadi, etc.
But why? The question has been asked by every visitor to Fiji over the last century. But the early mis sionaries, who were largely re sponsible for what appears to be the intricacies of Fijian spelling, did not construct the alphabet by drawing letters out of a hat; or because the printers ran out of some letters when the language was put into the hands of the missionary presses. There were reasons for their choice, and the result is a very good writing system, says Dr. A. J. Schutz, Associate Professor of Linguistics at the Uni versity of Hawaii, who explains it
all, simply and entertainingly, in a new booklet Say it in Fijian (Pacific Publications, Sydney, 51.20 plus 7c posted). Dr. Schutz designed the book for visitors who want to enjoy their stay more by participating in Fiji culture, and most Fijian words can be pronounced accurately, he says, by learning a few simple pat terns. “Fijian is a living language, a language to be used, to be perpetu ated, and to be enjoyed,” says Dr.
Schutz, who proceeds to tell us how it works, and supplies well-selected word lists. Both the visitor, and the expatriate living in the dominion, will find Say it in Fijian as practical as it is entertaining.