A Grammar of Boumaa Fijian


Book Description

The people who live in the Boumaa region of the Fijian island of Taveuni speak a dialect of Fijian that is mutually intelligible with Standard Fijian, the two differing as much perhaps as do the American and British varieties of English. During 1985, R. M. W. Dixon—one of the most insightful of linguists engaged in descriptive studies today—lived in the village of Waitabu and studied the language spoken there. He found in Boumaa Fijian a wealth of striking features unknown in commonly studied languages and on the basis of his fieldwork prepared this grammar. Fijian is an agglutinating language, one in which words are formed by the profligate combining of morphemes. There are no case inflections, and tense and aspect as shown by independent clitics or words within a predicate complex. Most verbs come in both transitive and intransitive forms, and nouns can be build up regularly from verbal parts and verbs from nouns. The language is also marked by a highly developed pronoun system and by a vocabulary rich in areas of social significance. In the opening chapters, Dixon describes the Islands' political, social, and linguistic organization, outlines the main points of Fijian phonology, and presents an overview of the grammar. In succeeding chapters, he examines a number of grammatical topics in greater detail, including clause and phrase structure, verbal syntax, deictics, and anaphora. The volume also includes a full vocabulary of all forms treated in discussion and three of the fifteen texts recorded from monolingual village elders on which the grammar is based.




The Fijian Language


Book Description

This work is directed to those who want to learn more about the Fijian language. It is intended as a reference work, treating in detail such tropics as verb and noun classification, transitivity, the phonological hierarchy, orthography, specification, possession, subordination, and the definite article (among others). In addition, it is an attempt to fit these pieces together into a unified picture of the structure of the language.




How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately


Book Description

This book provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business.




The People Have Spoken: The 2014 Elections in Fiji


Book Description

The September 2014 elections in Fiji was one of the most anticipated in the history of the country, coming after eight years of military rule and under a radically new constitution that introduced a system of proportional representative (PR) and without any reserved communal seats. The election was won overwhelmingly by FijiFirst, a party formed by 2006 coup leader Frank Bainimarama. He subsequently embarked on a process of shifting the political configuration of Fijian politics from inter-ethnic to trans-ethnic mobilisation. The shift has not been easy in terms of changing people's perceptions and may face some challenges in the longer term, despite Bainimarama's clear victory in the polls. Ethnic consciousness has the capacity to become re-articulated in different forms and to seek new opportunities for expression. This book explores these and other issues surrounding the 2014 Fiji elections in a collection of articles written from varied political, intellectual and ideological positions.




Neither Cargo Nor Cult


Book Description

In the 1880s an oracle priest, Navosavakadua, mobilized Fijians of the hinterlands against the encroachment of both Fijian chiefs and British colonizers. British officials called the movement the Tuka cult, imagining it as a contagious superstition that had to be stopped. Navosavakadua and many of his followers, deemed "dangerous and disaffected natives," were exiled. Scholars have since made Tuka the standard example of the Pacific cargo cult, describing it as a millenarian movement in which dispossessed islanders sought Western goods by magical means. In this study of colonial and postcolonial Fiji, Martha Kaplan examines the effects of narratives made real and traces a complex history that began neither as a search for cargo, nor as a cult. Engaging Fijian oral history and texts as well as colonial records, Kaplan resituates Tuka in the flow of indigenous Fijian history-making and rereads the archives for an ethnography of British colonizing power. Proposing neither unchanging indigenous culture nor the inevitable hegemony of colonial power, she describes the dialogic relationship between plural, contesting, and changing articulations of both Fijian and colonial culture. A remarkable enthnographic account of power and meaning, Neither Cargo nor Cult addresses compelling questions within anthropological theory. It will attract a wide audience among those interested in colonial and postcolonial societies, ritual and religious movements, hegemony and resistance, and the Pacific Islands.




Tears in Paradise


Book Description

Revised Edition. TEARS IN PARADISE, extensively researched and eloquently written, is the history of our forefathers who were brought under the infamous indentured labour system to Fiji by the British Colonial authorities from 1879 to 1916. The saga of these young, mostly illiterate, simple rural folks, lured by false promises of an ever-elusive 'Paradise', needs to be read and remembered. The author has done a remarkable task of compiling the story of this Indian Diaspora, people defenceless under an alien and systematically inhumane system, yet preserving their culture while creating the wealth and beauty of the land they made their home.




From Election to Coup in Fiji


Book Description

Provides an analysis of the lead-up to, the outcome, and the aftermath of Fiji's historic 2006 election - including the December coup. Contributions from ex-Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi; ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase; interim Minister for Finance Mahendra Chaudhry; and an array of leading commentators.




Insight Guides Explore Fiji (Travel Guide eBook)


Book Description

Pocket-sized travel guides featuring the very best routes and itineraries. Discover the best of Fiji with this indispensably practical Insight Explore Guide. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see attractions like Viseisei Village, the sand dunes in Sigatoka, Mamanuca Islands, Levuka and the Hibiscus Highway, to discovering hidden gems, including Navala, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will save you time, help you plan and enhance your visit to Fiji. Practical, pocket-sized and packed with inspirational insider information, this is the ideal on-the-move companion to your trip to Fiji. - Over 10 walks and tours: detailed itineraries feature all the best places to visit, including where to eat along the way - Local highlights: discover what makes the area special, its top attractions and unique sights, and be inspired by stunning imagery - Insider recommendations: where to stay and what to do, from active pursuits to themed trips - Hand-picked places: find your way to great hotels, restaurants and nightlife using the comprehensive listings - Practical maps: get around with ease and follow the walks and tours using the detailed maps - Informative tips: plan your visit with an A to Z of advice on everything from transport to tipping - Inventive design makes for an engaging, easy-reading experience - Covers: Mamanuca Islands, Garden of the Sleeping Giant and Viseisei Village, Natadola Beach Picnic and Coral Coast Railway, Nadi to Suva, Suva, Nausori Highlands, Levuka, Navua River Trip, Yasawa Islands and Fiji's North. About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure




The People Have Spoken


Book Description

The September 2014 elections in Fiji was one of the most anticipated in the history of the country, coming after eight years of military rule and under a radically new constitution that introduced a system of proportional representative (PR) and without any reserved communal seats. The election was won overwhelmingly by FijiFirst, a party formed by 2006 coup leader Frank Bainimarama. He subsequently embarked on a process of shifting the political configuration of Fijian politics from inter-ethnic to trans-ethnic mobilisation. The shift has not been easy in terms of changing people’s perceptions and may face some challenges in the longer term, despite Bainimarama’s clear victory in the polls. Ethnic consciousness has the capacity to become re?articulated in different forms and to seek new opportunities for expression. This book explores these and other issues surrounding the 2014 Fiji elections in a collection of articles written from varied political, intellectual and ideological positions.