Learn to Speak Fijian
  • Introduction
    • Important Words & Grammar Rules
  • Step 1: Pronouns
  • Assignments
  • Massive Word List!
    • Adjectives (describing words)
    • Noun Lists
  • 1,000 Sentences
    • Song Lyrics/Proverbs

Laying the Phonetic Foundation (Click Audio Below)

10/7/2011

8 Comments

 
Fiji Alphabet One of the best ways to get comfortable with speaking Fijian is learning how to read it.  We've all seen it, people who are learning English cant understand if an English speaker is talking "to fast".  When you read it, you have time to process each word to decipher its meaning.  Youll find even as you study that you wont be able to understand Fijian conversations right away.  This could be for many reasons, but most likely its because when Fijians talk amongst other Fijians all the words are connected into one stream of never ending gibberish (just how English sounds to non-native speakers)!    Lets take it slow and start by learning how to read the phonetics of the Fijian Alphabet .     


A (a)
B (mb)
C (õ)
D (nd)
E (e)
F (f)
G (g)
I (i)
J (j)
K (k)
L (l)
M (m)
N (n)
O (o)
P (p)
Q (ng)
R (r)
S (s)
T (t)
U (u)
V (v)
W (w)
Y (y)  

From the alphabet above you can see that the C, D, Q, and G all have a different pronunciation than the english counterparts.

Heres a few examples: 
  • b as ‘mb’ in member
  • d as ‘nd’ in Monday
  • q as ‘ng’ plus ‘g’ in finger
  • g as ‘ng’ in singer
  • c as ‘th’ in father
Here are some Fijian words with these letters for you to practice pronouncing

--Ika Bulabula       (fresh Fish)

--Sa Donu             (Ok)

--Sara Qito            (watching the game)

--katakata na Siga   (the sun is hot)

--Moce Mada          (good night)


(Phonetically)

IKA mBulambula

Sa nDonu

Sara nQito  (Saran Geetoe)

Katakata Na Singa

Moce Manda  (mo-they Monda)


REMEMBER!
C = Th
Q = Ga sound


CLICK the audio above in the side bard to hear these examples spoken. Practice saying them as well.


















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8 Comments
Uri
10/13/2011 06:58:42 pm

Stu.... Congrats this is great! Uk

Reply
Cholo link
5/14/2012 05:39:24 pm

Nice post.Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! I've been looking for books of this nature for a way too long. I'm just glad that I found yours. Looking forward for your next post. Thanks :)

Cholo
www.0y7.net

Reply
Joseph Aidan link
5/22/2012 01:07:20 pm

Excellent! I admire all the helpful data you've shared in your articles. I'm looking forward for more helpful articles from you. :)

Joseph Aidan
www.arielmed.com

Reply
internet savvy link
10/10/2012 11:37:56 am

I have read your article, I am very much impressed because you way of explanation quite good and very informative. And one more thing I have got to know that everyone has a different style to write the article, but I must say your article sounds very good.

<a href="http://www.tulleeho.org">internet savvy</a>
www.tulleeho.org

Reply
wizard88 link
2/15/2013 09:14:41 am

love it! very interesting topics, I hope the incoming comments and suggestion are equally positive. Thanks for sharing information that is actually helpful.


wizard88
www.askdiana.net

Reply
Liz
11/11/2015 01:26:26 am

Hi I can't find the audip button to listen. Would you please tell me were it is. Thank you

Reply
Glenn
11/18/2015 12:40:53 am

Bula I can't find the audio button to listen either, can't find it anywhere could someone help me out there is no sidebar anywhere

Reply
how do you say link
2/4/2017 05:33:30 pm

this is very useful article i really impressed.

Reply



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  • Introduction
    • Important Words & Grammar Rules
  • Step 1: Pronouns
  • Assignments
  • Massive Word List!
    • Adjectives (describing words)
    • Noun Lists
  • 1,000 Sentences
    • Song Lyrics/Proverbs