Who?
What? Where? How? When? How much? When asking questions in Fijian, it is common to insert words that pacify your speech soften the question so you do sound rude. For example, look at the differences in the ways of asking same question in English...Imagine your asking this to a stranger in an unfamiliar place. ex-1 "Where is the post office." ex-2 "Please sir, do you happen to know where the post office is?" We can see that the second sentences is much more polite and passive. When asking questions in Fijian, especially with new acquaintances, there are words that soften and make your speech much more polite. Beka, and Bau and kerekere are common fillers to sentences to accomplish this. A loose translation of these words, Beka- Perhaps Bau- Happen to / if possible Kerekere- Please Lets start asking questions now! Ocei---who? Ocei beka na yacamuni? "what perhaps is your name"(very formal) Ocei beka au se veitalanoa vata tiko oqo? "Who perhaps am I Speaking with now?" (when your on the phone and you dont know who your talking to Ocei Beka na pick-taki au mai tauni? "who is going to pick me up in town?" Ni Cei na tarosese qo? "whos pants are these?" Ocei sa tukuna vei iko mo kania qorri! "who told you to eat that!" Ocei na taukei ni motoka oqo? "who is the owner of this car?" ocei beka vei kemudou sa kana oti mai? "who of you have already eaten (before arriving)" Ocei na yaca ni nomu taxi driver? "what is the name of your taxi driver? Ocei na manager eke? "who is the manager here?" Ocei beka oiko? "who are you?" Ocei na sauma nomu yaya? "who is going to pay for your stuff" Ocei beka sa kila na naba ni otela tou sa tiko kina? "who perhaps knows the number of the hotel we are staying at." Ocei a wini na qito na bogi? "who won the game last night"
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Visitor Fijian Worker Bula Vinaka! Ni Sa Bula! Sa rui balavu na flight! Sa mosi na dakuqu. Isa! O lako sara mai vei? Oiau mai Australia, ia au sa qai lesu mai Los Angelas na flight oqo. Sa dina!!? well, Welcome to Fiji. Vinaka, Au sa rai mada e bagage claim. Sa Vinaka, Moce! Moce What Time is it?----------------------Sa vica na kaloko?
Where are the car keys?----------Sa tiko evei na Ki ni lori? Man! it is really cold!---------------Boy, Sa Bau batabata sara ga!! Can you pass me that thing?---Ko rawa ni pasi mai na ka oqorri? its raining super hard!-------------Sa tau bi sara ga na uca! |