1: Fijian language be the national language (lingua franca) of Fiji
| In proposing that the Fijian language should be the national language of Fiji, the SDL submission told the Constitution Commission as follows: Chapter 1, Section 4 of the 1997 Constitution provides that the English, Fijian and Hindustani languages have equal status in the State. They will continue to be the official languages of Fiji. Every citizen has the right to use any of the three languages to do business with a government department, an office in a state service or a local authority. Language is central to the culture of an ethnic community and it is important that the language of that community is promoted as a means of communication and preservation of a culture. In Fiji two immigrant languages have equal status with one host language, the Fijian language, thus giving the effect/impression that the host language, if not, the attendant Fijian way of life, is being marginalised. The English language is a very strong international language and there is no reason to believe that this strong position is likely to weaken, even in the long term. India has become a strong force in the global economy, politics and international relations. With over one billion people of Indian origin around the world, the Hindustani language will surely become a strong international language as well. The intense promotion of Indian language, culture through Indian films and Bollywood is concerning as are the others, TV films, sponsorship in the Media etc. How do we expect the development of our own Fiji Hindi to grow out of his morass? I understand that some of our public institutions are being involved and I would suggest they pay some attention with their public funds and their time to the development of our own Fiji Hindi and Fijian for that matter. But there are only about 600,000 Fijians in Fiji and around the world. If the Fijian language is not promoted, the future of the language and Fijian culture would be at risk. There are basically several arguments in support of this proposal. First, a national language, particularly if it is the host language, would become a strong unifying factor for a multicultural Fiji. If every Fiji citizen is able to converse and communicate in the Fijian language it is likely that its impact on inter–personal relations, multiracialism, and national cohesion would be far– reaching. This is crucial in our national endeavor to forge a cohesive multi-racial Fiji. Successive governments have recognized this and have at various times advocated the learning of the Fijian language in educational institutions and many political commentators have agreed that it has proven to be a strong unifying factor. Second, the Fijian language as the national language should be the language of our national anthem. And third, the use of the Fijian language as our national language will ensure its promotion and the protection of Fijian culture from extinction. If this proposal is accepted then it would be important to make it compulsory for all primary and secondary school children to learn and be conversant with the Fijian language. Special provisions should be made, however, for those adult citizens who cannot converse in the Fijian language or who because of age or circumstances cannot learn to speak the language. The University of Fiji, the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific should have courses dedicated to the learning of the Fijian language. It should be a requirement that teacher intake have training in the Fijian language. These would attest to the recognition of the importance of strengthening the Fijian language and its role in nation building and the creation of a national identity. All these provisions will assist to abate the latent and inherent insecurity amongst Fijians that their culture and way of life including their language is under threat. This would subsequently make them more willing to embrace other cultures and other ways of life, as contributing to a vibrant, multi-cultural Fiji. It is a well known fact nationally that in parts of Fiji (parts of Nadroga, Ba, Vanua Levu etc) where ethnic Indians have learnt to speak the local dialect they have enjoyed a more vibrant, tolerant and multi-cultural relation with their indigenous Fijian neighbors. They have been known to participate in elaborate presentations of the “sevusevu” and the “qaloqalovi” in fluent local dialect. These examples of engaging in the local ethnic language has not in any way diminished their strong and proud adherence to their own Indian heritage and culture, it has to the contrary, made them more appreciative and more dedicated to its own survival and development. These pockets of cultural appreciation and tolerance are already showing the Fiji that we are all striving for. |  Fijian culture dependent on survival of Fijian language  Bollywood's destructive power - Fiji Hindi under threat from Indian language and films in Fiji   University of Fiji, Fiji National University and University of the South Pacific should have courses to teach the Fijian language.   At the door of Fijian culture - Fijian language will unite Indo-Fijians further in Fiji  Fijians and Indo-Fijians in western Fiji are already leading the way  Narrowing the cultural divide: Understanding each other through the Fijian language |
2: Fluency in Fijian pre–condition for entry into the Public Service
| The colonial civil servants for example, were required to learn the Fijian language thoroughly as a condition of employment. These colonial public servants took these regulations seriously and evidence of their writings, lectures and their addresses show a high level of understanding not only of the language but also of the Fijian way of life. Some such examples are Sir Ian Thomson, Sir Robert Sanders, GK Roth and Philip Albert Snow, Joseph W Sykes among others, as far back as the 1930s and 40s. Recently graduate volunteers coming to Fiji to serve like the American Peace Corps, the Australian Volunteer Abroad and as well as the VSO from the United Kingdom, New Zealand (such as the NZ Scheme of Co-Operation in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s) and others were also able to learn the Fijian language with high level of proficiency within one or two years when there was a requirement set for them to speak and understand a local language. Therefore, Fijian being propounded here as a national language is not an argument for cultural supremacy and being “racist” but for inclusivity and a glue, being the host language, to hold together the rich and diverse cultures of people who have chosen Fiji as their home. It also inculcates a sense of belonging and identity. We can speak freely with our neighbors and it takes away misunderstanding and suspicion. If we can all speak Fijian then we can truly feel nationalistic about our country. English as the present lingua franca will never inculcate the same sense of belonging. It is a foreign language to the islands and to the two dominant cultures. The added advantage here is that if we all speak Fijian it will solidify its survival and development. No one would like the demise of the language of a unique race of people with their rich cultural heritage and proud history. There is sufficient research to show that language is at the core of cultural identity and cultural preservation. |  Once a culture loses its language, it loses a central pillar of its cultural ethos. As a Pacific linguist, Dr Melenaite Taumoefolau, once said to a Pacific Post Graduate Symposium: “Our language is like a container; inside the container is a set of values and beliefs that make us what we are as a people. Our behavior, customs, traditions, our ways of thinking ,our fa’a Samoa, our anga faka Tonga, are all package into this container called language. We lose the container, we lose also the contents. We lose our language; we lose also our distinctive ways that define us to ourselves, and to the world.”  |
