- 33

Although a linguistic survey was not one of the main purposes of a recent stay at Nabukeru, it seemed desirable to collect notes on this village-dialect of West Fijian, which appears to have been very little studied. The village lies at the southern end of Yasawa Island, the northernmost of the group to which it gives its name: the dialects are stated to vary considerably even on this one island.

The official spelling has been used in preference to the so-called “phonetic” system: an odd misnomer, since, if the conventions of the official system be accepted, this is almost rigorously phonetic, which the “phonetic” system is not—for example, there is nothing to show whether the “ng” in that system stands for the sound in “anger,” “singer,” or “change”; or whether its “th” is that of “they,” or of “thigh.” In what follows B is therefore to be read as mb, D as nd, C as the th of “thy,” G as the ng of “singer,” and Q as the ng of “anger.” As an abbreviation B stands for “Bau,” the East Fijian dialect adopted as official ,Y for the Yasawan dialect under study; and for “Capell,” “Biggs,” “Churchward,” “Thomson,” see the Bibliography.

My special thanks are due to the brothers Epeli and Kamenieli Sokidrau, Storekeeper and Schoolmaster respectively; and above all to their 65-year old father Livina Sokidrau.

Pronunciation. The C is very palatal, even retroflex, and is almost a Z in many words. The flat of the tongue (Churchward II.1) does not appear to be used, only the tip.

The S tends, for the same reason, to SH.

The introduced J is usually very nearly CH, and in some words takes this sound exactly.

The V is frequently a quite definite P.

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There is a strong tendency to clip off final vowels entirely, not merely to leave them voiceless (Churchward II.2). The village schoolmaster finds this his greatest difficulty in teaching the Bau dialect.

Articles. The indefinite article is e t'la na, as in Nailanga (Biggs) for the B e dua na. Y-speakers insist that it is e tila na, but the i is never heard.

The definite article is na, as in B, but before i (especially before the Preformative I of the next section) tends to ne (as in the last of Biggs' Nailanga examples). Ko is used before proper nouns and cardinal pronouns as in B, and, as in B again, is often abbreviated to o. A definite article E was occasionally heard before nouns (not only before numerals as in B) but it was not possible to trace any rule governing its use: not infrequently it was replaced by na when a repetition was asked for. One example will however be found in the Vocabulary, s.v. “male.”

Preformative I. This is used as in B to form nouns from verbs, especially to designate the intrument, locale, mode, result, etc. of the action. There seems to be a tendency to omit this I where B would use it, but this may be due to the extremely rapid Y speech.

Pronouns. In Y, as in B, there are in theory four persons (First inclusive, where “we” includes the person addressed; First exclusive, where it does not; Second; Third) and four numbers (Singular; Dual; Trial, also used for a small number; and Plural). In practice, however, these do not all occur, as will be seen.

Cardinal Pronouns.

	First Excl.	First Incl.	Second	Third
Singular	o yau	—	o iko	o koya
Dual	o maru	o taru	o muru	o koru
Trial	o mamutou	Not	o mutou	o koru
Plural	o mamutou	used	o mutou	o kora

The one First Inclusive form shown is however rarely used, the Exclusive forms being preferred even when not grammatically applicable.

- 35

For the short forms see below under the example of a Conjugation.

Possessive Pronouns. These have five forms: Suffixed, Short, and Full in L, K, and M.

The suffixed forms are:

	First Excl.	First Incl.	Second	Third
Singular	-qu		-mu	-ya, -a
Dual	-maru	Not	-muru	-dru
Trial	-mamutou	used	-mutou	-dru
Plural	-mamu		-mutou	-dra

In B, such suffixed forms are used for relationships and parts of the body (and in some other cases): in Y (as in Nalotawa, Biggs) for relationships only, with one interesting exception, q.v. below.

The short forms, used before the noun, are:

	First Excl.	First Incl.	Second	Third
Singular	qu		mu	e
Dual	maru	Not	muru	dru
Trial	mamutou	used	mutou	dru
Plural	mamuya		muya	dra

The Full forms in L are:

	First Excl.	First Incl.	Second	Third
Singular	lequ		lemu	lea
Dual	lemaru	Not	lemuru	ledru
Trial	lemamutou	used	lemutou	ledru
Plural	lemamu		lemuya	ledra

The K- and M-forms merely substitute these letters for the L.

The L-forms are the ones normally used (as in B the N-forms), the M-forms being used for foods, the K-forms for drinks, and also in cases where the object is not owned but concerns the possessor (e.g., na lemu i taba, the photograph owned by him, na kemu i taba, the photograph of him). In B, however, the K-forms are used also of inanimate objects (“its”) instead of the N-forms, from the logical idea that an inanimate object cannot “own” anything: in Y the corresponding use of the K for the L-forms is not invariable.

In all the last three tables no Inclusive forms are shown. They were never heard in conversation; and when - 36 they were asked for, the B form was produced, or a phonetic modification of it (e.g., T for D).

Auxiliary Verbs. For the continuative, nō (in B “to lie”) after the principal verb replaces the B tiko. For possibility, rewa after the verb replaces rawa; for completion devu after the verb replaces the B oti; and for desire matā or sometimes vinatia before the verb replaces the B via, as in Nalotawa (Biggs) in all cases. Examples are: I am speaking, qi sa tata nō; you can speak, i sa tata rewa; he has spoken, oi sa tata devu o koya; they wish to speak, a ra matā tata. All these auxiliaries also exist as verbs in their own right, except matā.

Causative Verbs. In B these are formed by prefixing vaka- (or vā- before g, k, q) and suffixing -taka (as a rule). to nouns, adjectives, and verbs: in Y by vaka- (very rarely vā, even where B would use this, unlike most dialects of West Fijian according to Capell, page 293), and the suffix is almost always -takinia.

Definitive-transitive Verbs. In B these are formed by suffixing -a, -ca, -ga, -caka, -taka, etc. (Churchward I.11), to the Indefinite-transitive form, the verbal root: thus B tā niu, to chop coconuts, but taya na niu, to chop the coconuts. The Y suffixes almost invariably add an i to the B form, as -ia, -cia, -gia, -cakia, -takia, etc. It would have been possible to extend the Vocabulary below from some 600 words to ten times that length by giving such variations, but only enough have been included to show the principle, the suffixes being in brackets.

Conjugation of the Verb. As in B, the verb itself is not changed for person, number, or tense: person and number are shown by the pronouns preceding the verb, but whereas B shows the past tense by the tense-sign a, Y does so by a change in the form of the pronoun. For the future both Y and B use the tense-sign na; but there is in Y-speakers a definite dislike of this, even when speaking B, the simple present being preferred (as in English, “I am going next week”). Also in Y the predicate-sign - 37 sa is sometimes used as a tense-sign, to differentiate the Present (or Future) from the past, whereas in B it is an intensifier only (Churchward II.5). Thus, for the verb lā, to go:

		First Excl. & Incl.	Second	Third
Sing.	Pres. and Fut.	qi lā	i lā	oi lā
	Past	qu lā	o lā	a lā
Dual	Pres. and Fut.	mari lā	miri lā	a ru sa lā
	Past	maru lā	muru lā	a ru lā
Trial	Pres. and Fut.	mamiti lā	miti lā	as
	Past	mamutu lā	mutu lā	Dual
Plur.	Pres. and Fut.	as	as	a ra sa lā
	Past	Trial	Trial	a ra lā

No signs of a separate First Incl. form appeared.

The identification of the Trial with the Dual in the First and Second persons but with the Plural in the Third person is curious: it will be found also, more or less completely, in the other tables of pronouns above.

Passives. In B these are formed in various ways, among which is the prefixing of lau- to the verbal root, but rarely except where there is a connotation of injury. In Y, on the other hand, the use of this prefix, in the form lei-, is by far the commonest manner of forming the Passive.

Reciprocal. The B prefix vei- becomes vi- in Y: examples will be found in the Vocabulary.

Negatives. The B sega ni before the verb is replaced in Y by tamu, with a very clipped final u (as in Nalotawa, Biggs): I do not go, B au sā sega ni lako, Y qi sā tamu lā (the sā being here an intensifier in both cases). Tamu is also used for the B prefix tawa-, English “un-”, “less”: B tawa-yaga, useless, Y tamu yaga.

There is however a second negative, tikai, in Y, taking me, the “Subjunctive” “that”: sā tikai me vinā, it is not good: oi sā tikai me lā, he is not going. But these could also be sā tamu vina, oi sā tamu lā; and in fact these latter appeared to be the forms preferred by the younger Y speakers, tikai being somewhat old-fashioned. Even for them, however, tikai is the only acceptable form for “No” - 38 (in answer to a question); for “or not?” at the end of a query, Y i sā la se tikai, B ko sā lako se sega, are you going or not?; and as a verb, “there is no sugar,” sā tikai na suka.

Suggestors. (to coin a term). In B li after the verb indicates that a negative answer is expected; and ne at the end of the sentence, an affirmative one. (But if the question is negative, to the logical Fijian an affirmative answer is what to the illogical English is negative: sa sega li ni ika?, is there no fish? expects “No,” but meaning “No, you are wrong, there is some fish; and sa sega ni ika, ne? expects “Yes,” but meaning “Yes, you are right, there is no fish.”) In Y se at the end of the sentence replaces the B ne; and li is used, but is also placed at the end of the sentence.

Moderators (to coin another). In B mada, and (with negatives) sō or soti are used to soften commands or statements: e.g., lako mai, come here, but lako mada mai, please come here; au sa lako, I am going, but au sa lako mada, I am going if you don't mind. (This, and “please” are too strong for mada: nearer equivalents would be “You might come here, will you?” and “Well, I think I'll be going.”) Or again: kua ni lako, do not go, but kua sō ni lako, you had better not go; sā sega ni vinaka, it is no good, but sā sega sō ni vinaka, it is not much good. In Y mada is used as in B; but sō is replaced by du or sewa (“small”): thus kua sewa ni lā, sā tikai du me vinā or sā tamu vinā du for the examples given.

Numerals. These, with the exception of “one,” B e dua na, Y e t'la na, are the same in Y and B in their indefinite forms; but when definite (i.e., “the three villages” instead of “three villages”) the Y is na koro ke tolu for the B na koro e tolu.

Relationship Terms. These show interesting variations from B, always in the direction of greater simplicity.

Thus, there is no difference between “brother” and “sister,” real or assimilated (children of mother's sister - 39 or father's brother), which might suggest that the brother-sister avoidance-compulsion was not strong. Again, no difference is made between the sons and the daughters of one's paternal aunt or maternal uncle. In both cases, of course, a distinction can be made by adding tagwane, male, or yalewa, female, but no separate words exist as in B.

Assuming that a man is speaking, the terms are as follows: Grandfather, Y tubu (in B “ancestor”) for B tuka (which in Y is “elder brother”), with Y tai as term of address; Grandmother, Y again tubu and tai, for B bu. The brothers and sisters of the grandparents are assimilated to and named as these.

Father, Y tama as B, with mo as term of address; Mother, tina and nau as in B. Father's brother and grandparents' sons assimilated to father: mother's sisters and grandparents' daughters, to mother; but with if necessary the distinction between, e.g., tama sadu (B tama dina), “true father,” and tama sewa, “little father.” In B the equivalent, tama lailai, is used (Capell) only for assimilated fathers and mothers younger than the true parents respectively, the forms tama levu, “big father,” tina levu, “big mother,” being used for those older than the true parents: in Y no such distinction is made.

The important relationships of mother's brother and father's sister are both gwadi in Y, being respectively gadina and gane-ni-tama in B. Their children of both sexes are in Y tavale, which in B refers to their sons only, their daughters being davola. In Fiji in general, this davola was the destined wife of a man: the fact that no special term exists for it in Y might suggest that this obligation to marry was less strong there.

With the exception of these, all the relations of one's own generation, whether one's siblings or the children of one's uncles and aunts, are in Y taci if younger, tuka if older than oneself, whereas in B taci and tuaka are thus used only of those of the same sex as oneself, gane for those of the opposite sex.

One's sister's children (if one is a man) or brother's children (for a woman) are in Y batuvu, in B vugo, or, in the case of a man's sister's son (only) vasu. With - 40 these exceptions, all relations of the next generation, whether one's own children or those of brothers and sisters (true or assimilated) are luve both in Y and B. Finally, children of these luve and batuvu are in Y viago, B makubu.

All these take in Y the suffixed possessive pronouns, e.g., tamaqu, gwadimu; with however one interesting exception, batuvu, which takes the short possessive, qu batuvu, with qu va as term of address, as if this particular relative were regarded as a part of one's body rather than a nephew or niece. It of course suggests the matrilineal importance of the sister's son (and cf. vasu in e.g. Capell); but applies also to the sister's daughter, and, in the case of a woman speaking, to her brother's children.

• BIGGS, The Mba Dialects, Western Viti Levu. Journal of the Polynesian Society, Wellington, March, 1948.
• CHURCHWARD, New Fijian Grammar, Govt. of Fiji, Suva, 1941.
• CAPELL, New Fijian Dictionary, Sydney, 1941.
• THOMSON, The Fijian, London, 1908.
• WATERHOUSE, King and People of Fiji, London, 1866.

What Capell calls “tabu words” have been included, since in many languages (e.g., English) they tend to be of great antiquity. Many words will be seen to be the same as in Biggs' Vocabulary (which of course proved indispensable), usually in his Nalotawa, less often in Kaibulu or Lewā dialects: they are shown by N, K, or L in brackets.

	Bau	Yasawa
to be Able to	rawa	rewa
above -x-	e cake	e dela ni -x- yata
	e dela ni -x-
to accuse	bei(taka)	bei(takinia)
Adam's-apple	tagitagi	godrogodro

With the Y cf. B “to grunt.”

again	tale (gā)	leqwa
to aim	navu	navucu
all	kece gā	kece magā
to be angry	cudru	borisi

Cf. B bora, “to speak angrily.”

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	Bau	Yasawa
ankle	qurulāsāwa	lobolobo-ni-lā

Cf. Y “back.”

ant

kasikalolo

kādridri

With the Y cf. B “bēche-de-mer.”

anus	i vekaveka	veveke
to appoint a time	loku(ca)	loku(cia)
armpit	kirikiriwa	kirikiri
ashes	dravu	ravu (L)
to ask a question	taro(ga)	taro(gia)
to ask for	kere(a)	kera(via)
auger-shell	—	kiro ni vede

For the Y see “gimlet,” “rectum.”

to awaken	vakayadra(ta)	vakayadra(nia)
away	yani	yati
axe	matau	kia (N)
Back	daku	lobo (N)
bad	cā	cakacā (N)
bald	cou, drika	driwa
bandy-legged	yava sabe	lā sabe
barracuda	ogo	silasila (K)
basket	su	ketekete (Rewa in Capell)
to bathe	sisili	viāsili (N)
beach (sand)	matāsawa	mata-ni-vanua

Y “eye of the land.”

beard	kumi	teba (N)
before	e liu	i mata

Cf. B e na matana, s.v. mata.

behind, after	e muri	i taku (N)
to belch	derekona	doroqe
below -x-	e ruku ni -x-	i ruku ni -x- i rā
to bend	love(a)	loqi(a)
to bend the head	lolou	lulu, luluvu
bit (for horse)	kokomia, kauk aumea	vureli

Capell page 355 gives in error mata-ni-vakowiri for B.

The Y word may be English “bridle,” in B vreli.

bivalve, a sp. of

(kai) sigawale

qeqe

For the Y cf. “egg.”

black	loaloa	lōlo (N)
blade (knife, oar)	yame	me

For both cf. “tongue.”

blind	mataboko	matakubulu
to blink	sauriva	rimo
to blow (breath)	uvu(ca)	uvia
to blow nose	venu	giraki

But venu is used in Y for “to pick nose,” as B.

- 42

	Bau	Yasawa
blunt	mucu	drili

With Y cf. B “smooth.”

to board (ship)	vodo(ka)	vodo(kia)
body	yago	lala (N)
bone	sui	tua (N)
boom (ship)	karikari sila	karikari i rā
bottom	boto	buto
bow (for arrow)	dakai titi	vucu (N)
bowels	wawa	wa (N)
box	kato	rubo

With the Y cf. B rubu.

brains	mo	moya (N)
branch	taba-ni-kau	tula-ni-kai (N)
breadfruit	uto	kulu (N)

In Y, uto is “pawpaw.”

to break	musu(ka)	musu(kia)
breakfast	i katalau	i vakawalu
breeze (gentle)	mudre	mure
bridge	i kawakawa	i dawadawa

For the Y see B dawa.

to broil	tavu	lete
broken	kavoro	tavoro
brother etc., elder	tuaka	tuka

See Relationship Terms above.

brush (coconut ribs)	i tataviraki	basilele
burr-weed	? kasē, qatima	sēbulubulu

With the Y cf. B “flower,” “sticky” (of soil).

to bury (person)	bulu(ta)	bulu(tia) (N)
to bury (thing)	bulu (ta)	lovo(nia)

See also lovo(na) in B, Capell.

buttocks

bu

vede (N)

Vede is also “rectum” in Y.

“button” of door	tiqariti	kiliti
Calf of leg	temo ni yava	bute i lā (K)
to call	kaci(va)	covia (N)
to carry on back	dreke	liko
to carry on back (child)	vava	liko
to carry in arms	keve(ta)	kebe(tia)
to carry on shoulder	cola	cuku
to carry (general word)	kau(ta)	kau (N)
cat	vusi	kosi
to catch	ciqo(ma)	sovia
cave	qaravatu	qwaravatu
centipede	cikinovu	kaseva
cesspit	sovasova ni benu	sovasova ni sau
chair	i debedabe	i tokatoka
charred	qesa	sama

- 43

	Bau	Yasawa
to chase away	vakasē(va)	kara(via)

With the Y cf. B kara(ca).

cheek	bulu	kaliga
child	gone	luve (N), driadria

Luve is also B, but in the sense of son or daughter.

chink	laqa	laqwa
to chop	ta(ya)	musu(kia), takia

Musu is also B, to cut across.

clear	macala	as B, or samacala
clear of weeds	caracara	carakoro
to climb	kaba	cakeva

With the Y cf. B cake, upwards.

to cling to	sobe(ta)	sobe(tia)
cloud	ō	lolo (N)

For ō in Y see “grass.”

coconut (baby)	sosou	sula
coconut (half-ripe)	kade	drokai (L)

With the Y cf. B droka, “raw.”

coconut (ripe)	madu	sama (N)
coconut-husk	qa-ni-bulu	taba-ni-bulu

With the Y cf. taba, “skin.”

collar-bone

tabua

tabua vadra

For the Y cf. B “pandanus.”

cold (of people)	liliwa	driwadriwa (N)
to collect firewood	ca(va)	sakia
collision	veisaqa	visaqa
comb	i seru	i kava (K)

Also used in B.

to converse	veivosa (ki)	vitata(ki) (N)
to cook	vakasasaqa	vakatoko (N)
to cough	vū	ogo
to count	wilika	wilia
to cover	ubia	tilovia
crab, hermit	uga	momo
crab, land	lairo	tubā (K)
crab, sea	qari	qarau (N)
to crawl (insect)	qasi	kasi
to crouch	oqo	karoko
to cry (animal)	tagi	sere

The Y word is used in B of people only, “to sing.”

to cut off	mudu(ka)	mudu(kia)
to cut string, etc.	cebe(ta)	sele(tia)

With the Y cf. B, sele(va).

to cut with the point

soi(laka)

toci(a)

The Y word is used in B for “to plane.”

Dance	meke	kiu (L)
“dawa” (a tree)	dawa	tawa (N)
deaf	didivara	dudu

- 44

Bau

Yasawa

The Y word is used in B for “fearless.”

to desire	Various words, all=vinatia in Y.
to despise	be(ca)	be(cia)
devil	tevoro	tevoro, anitu
dew	tegu	yawe
different	tani	teni (N)
to dig up ground	cuki(ta)	uma(nia)
disobedient	talaidrēdrē	duakara
to dive	nūnu	riu
to do	kitaka	tarā (N)

The Y is used in B for “to touch.”

dog

koli

tui (N)

The same word is also used for King in Y, as in B.

door (lower end of house)	soliqa	mata-i-rā,
door (side)	—	mata-i-kaba

The Y respectively, “eye in the lower part,” and “eye in the side.”

doorway

katuba

mata-ni-sue

The Y is “eye of the house.”

downwards	sobu, e rā	sovu, i rā
to drag (anchor)	ququ	qoqo
dragonfly	caicaiwai	duluduluwai

See for both “intercourse” and “water.”

to dream	tadra	bubuya
to drink	gunu	somu
dry	mamaca	macamaca (N)
“duruka” (a plant)	duruka	dule

The Y term is also used in B.

dusk	karobo	kwarobo
to dye	lomo(ca)	lomo(cia)
Ear	daliga	taliga (N)
ear-shell	kabikabi	digilo
earth	qele	qwele (N)
earthworm	baca-ni-qele	baya (N), taba-ni-qele
East	i cabecabe ni mata-ni-siga	i cedrecedre ni mata-ni-siga

Both mean “the going up of the sun.”

easy

rawarawa

rewarewa

Cf. for both “to be able to.”

to eat	kana	kania
egg	yaloka	qe (ni tō) (N)
eel	duna	tuna (N)
elbow	duruduru-ni-liga	turu-ni-lima (N)
elsewhere	tani	dai

Cf. “different.”

- 45

	Bau	Yasawa
to embrace	roko(va)	roko(via)
the end	i otioti	i devudevu (N)

See above among the Auxiliary Verbs.

envious

vuvū

khwakhwai (N)

I follow here Biggs' spelling: I heard it as kwaikwai.

erect (of penis)	bulabula, cidroi	ladu
evening	yakavi	yayavi (N)
excrement	dē, dā	tā (N)
to exhale smoke	bura(ka)	bura(kinia)
to extinguish, erase	boko(ca)	lovia
eyelash	bebeka-ni-mata	vuluvulu kei mata

Cf. B “to wash the hands.”

eyelid, upper

dakudaku-ni-mata

lobolobo-ni-mata

Both have the meaning “back of the eye.”

eyelid, lower

dreke-ni-mata

tete-ni-mata

Both have the meaning “hollow of the eye.”

to Fall (different meanings in B)	bale, lutu	lutu for both
to fan away flies	roya	taviroya
far off	yawa	vakayawa
fast	totolo	rewarewa (N)

Cf. Y “easy.”

fear	rere	mataku (N)
to fear	rere(vaka)	mataku(cia) (N)
to feel	yamo(ca)	yamo(cia) (N)
to fight	veivala	vivala (N)
to fill	vakasinai(ta)	vakavuqa(nia)

Cf. B vuqa, “many.”

to find

kunea

dania (K)

Cf. Y “to see.”

finger

i qaqalo

titi (N)

Cf. B “mangrove-root.”

finger, middle	qaqalo tura	duciduci balavu
fingernail	i taukuku	voce-ni-titi

Cf. B and Y voce, “paddle.”

fingertip	vuso-ni-qaqalo	sō-ni-titi
lacking the little finger (in mourning)	(liga mudu?)	titi mudu

Y-speakers take liga mudu as lacking the hand or arm, as in Capell s.v. mudu, not lacking the finger as Capell s.v. liga. But see e.g. Thomson for latter.

butterfingers	liga dabe	lima lutu
to be finished	oti	devu
fire	bukawaqa	quto (L)
fireplace	matadravu	mataravu (K)

See for both “ashes.”

- 46

	Bau	Yasawa
firemaking	nita	as B, the lower

(stationary) piece being tina-ni-nita, the upper (mobile) piece being luve-ni-nita.

to fish with line	siwa	yakau
to fish with net	qoli	roro

Cf. B in connection with “fish-fence.”

fishhook, steel

cuku

bati

The Y term is the B word for the old thorn-hook.

fisticuffs	veivacu	viuso
flat (as tabletop)	tedretedre	dedele
flock (shoal, etc.)	i qele	i navo
flower	sē-ni-kau	sē-ni-kai (N)
flying-fox	beka	bekwa (N)
to follow	muri(a)	taku(cia) (N)
food	kākana	magiti

The Y word is “a ceremonial banquet” in B.

footprint	wē-ni-yawa	māwe-ni-lā
forehead	yadre	ra (N)
garden fork	i cuki	i uma
formerly	e na gauna e liu	i na gauna i mata
fowl	toa	tō (N)
to frown	matacudrucudru	mataboriborisi

See “angry” for both.

fruit	vua-ni-kau	vua-ni-kai (N)
full	sinai	vuqa (N)

Cf. B “many.”

fungus

karou

tataliga, kaicolo

The latter Y fungus is edible.

in the future	e na gauna e muri	i na gauna i taku
Gable-end	kubu	cu
garden	teitei	laulau

The Y is a verb in B, “to garden.”

gimlet	vakowiri	kiro
to glance aside	kivi	rabaruku
glans penis	vuso	sō-ni-uti

The B word is given in Capell both for the glans and (in error) for the prepuce.

to go	lako	lā
good	vinaka	vinā
grass	cō	ō
grass under floor-mats	i cōcō-ni-vale	i oni-ni-sue (K)
green	drokadroka	drokodroko
grey (hair)	sikā	sikō
to grin	sigege	gege
to grope for	vakayayamo(ca)	vakayamo(ca)
Hair	drau-ni-ulu	ro-ni-ulu
Hair pubic	vulua	vunua

- 47

	Bau	Yasawa
half	veimāmā	vimāmā
hand (and arm)	liga	lima (N)
to make hank (sinnet)	sauloki	saloqi
to haul up	yavi(a)	ara(kia)
to hear	rogo	vārogo (N)
heart	uto	nunu (N)
heavy	bībī	bībīta (N)
here	e kē	nia kwē
high up	cēcēre	tetelani
hill	dela	tua
to hit	moku(ta)	ravu(tia) (N)

The Y is “to kill with club” in B.

to hit with stick

yavi(ta)

ravu(tia)

See preceding entry.

hither	mai	mai, mei
push-hoe “Dutch hoe”	kutari	kavakava

For the Y cf. B “comb.”

to hold	tau	gulu
to hold out hand	dodo(ka)	donia
hole	qara	qwara
a hollow	dreke	tete
honey-eater, yellow wattled	kikau	kitou
to hop (frog)	tido	rido

The Y is used in B for persons.

hornet	vī (English bee)	vī
hornet	lagotăvoivoi	lagodāveivei
hot	katakata	karasa
house	vale	sue (N)

The Y is used in B for the kitchen part of house.

how?	vakacava?	vakaeva?
how about?	vakavei?	eva?
hunger, hungry	via kana	matā kana (N)
If	ke, kevakă	ke, magā
in	e	i
inside	e loma ni	i buto ni (K)
intercourse (sexual)	veicai	vidulu
Jellyfish	dumodumokaro	dumodumokuro
joint (knife, etc.)	loki	loku
joint (of jaw)	—	qoqa-i-ră

The Y is “lower jaw” in (N), a more obvious meaning.

to jump down	rika	vila (K)
to jump up	lade	ula (K)
to Kick	rabe(ta)	caqe(tia)
to Kick forward	caqe(ta)	caqe(tia)

- 48

	Bau	Yasawa
kilt, Fijian	liku	vākuta (N)
to kiss	regu(ca)	abo(tia) (L)
kitchen	vale-ni-kuro	sue-ni-kuro
to knead	bali(a)	kadru(laka)

With the Y cf. B “to scratch.”

knee	duruduru-ni-yawa	turu-ni-lā (N)
to kneel	tekiduru	tikituru
knob (of lid, drawer)	i tautauri	i gulugulu

Cf. Y “to hold.”

to know	kilā	kila(tia) (N)
Ladder	i kabakaba	i cakecake

With the Y cf. “upwards.”

lady

marama

yalewa

The Y is “woman” in B: Y makes no distinction between “lady” and “woman.”

to land

sobu ki vanua

sovu i vovo

With the Y cf. B “shallow.”

to launch (or beach) boat	tavo(ca)	sala
to lead by hand	tube(ra)	tube(ria) (L)
leaf	drau-ni-kau	ro-ni-kai
leg	yawa	lā (N)
lest	de	sara kei
letter (alphabet)	mata-ni-vosa	tiki-ni-tata
to lie (falsehood)	lasu	rekwa
to lie back-to-back	koto vakanădaku	koto viyaloboraki
to lie face-to-face	koto vakanămata	koto viyamataraki
to lie supine	koto vakatadaicake	koto tadrake
to lie prone	koto vakatobuicū	koto luvake
to lie on side	koto vakanătutu	koto vakatutu
to lift	lave(ta)	lave(tia) (N)
to lift the side	cega	cevelia
light (not dark)	rārama	cēcē (N)
light (not heavy)	mamada	taumama
to light	tutu(vaka)	tu(nia)
line (fishing)	wă-ni-siwa	cuka
lip	tebe-ni-gusu	taba-ni-gusu (N)
to live	bula	cola
(for a) long time	dedē	yawa

The Y is “far” in B.

to loosen	sere(ka)	sere(kia)
to lose	vakayalia	vakarevania (N)
to love	lomana	lomania (N)
Mad	lialia	gāvui

The Y is “indolent” in B.

- 49

	Bau	Yasawa
maggot	ulo	ilo (N)
male (persons)	tagane	tagwane
male (animals)	tagane	e tamaya (ni ose etc.)
man of -x-	kai -x-	koi -x-
mangrove	dogo	togo (N)
many	vuqa	levu (N)

The B is in Y “full”: the Y in B is “large.”

masturbation	vakasīsī, vakatādoro	salai
masturbation, mutual	vutulaki	visalai

The B word is given as “sodomy” in Capell, in error according to Y-speakers.

mat	ibe	loga (N), but i oni for the large floor-mats (cf. “grass”)
milk	sucu	cucu (K)
mist	kabu	kwabu
moon, full	lewe-ni-lagi	buto-ni-lagi

The Y word is “navel of the sky.”

morning	mataka	roaroa (N)
mosquito	namu	yamo
moss	lumi	lumelume (N)
mountam	ulu-ni-vanua	ulu-ni-tua
moustache	somi-ni-wai	rogomau (K)
to move	toso	toro

The Y is also used in B.

mud-skipper

tidaloko

tiloko

The Y is perhaps also used in B: the Capell entry is not clear.

mullett	kanace	tumo (when small), tumoyari (half-grown), kanace (fully grown)
to murder	laba(ta)	laba(tia) (N)
Naked	luva wale	yiva wale
nautilus	kuita-ni-waitui	voce-ni-sulua, tidre-ni-mataya

Cf. “Octopus.”

navel	vicovico	buto (N)
near	vōleka	vakaleka (N)
necklace	taube	rebu
next (week, etc.)	mai muri	mai taku
nose	ucu	gicu (N)
no!	sega	tikai (N)
do not	kua, kakua	kua, kwa
to Obey	vakaroro	vārorogo

- 50

	Bau	Yasawa
to obtain	rawa(ta)	rewa(tia)

Cf. “to be able to.”

octopus	kuita	sulua (N)
offal	bemu	sau
oil	waiwai	i lumi

With the Y cf. B i lumu.

old (of persons)

qase

donu

The Y occurs in B for “correct, righteous.”

old (of things)	makawa	matua (N)
only	wale gā	boto (N)
only	gā	magā
to open	dola(va)	dola(via) (N)
to open a book	tevu	cevelia
ornament (esp. hair)	i tekiteki	i tikitiki
owl	lulu	vevea
Pain	mosi, vutu	mosi is preferred
pandanus	balawa	vadra (N)

The Y word is also used in B.

path	sala	calevu
pawpaw	weleti	uto

The Y word is used in B for “breadfruit.”

to pick up	tomi(ka)	comi(a)
pig	vuaka	qo
pigsty	torō	bā-ni-qo

With the Y word cf. B bai, bā.

pith

uto-ni-kau

uto-ni-kai, bonu

The second Y word is used in B for the core of breadfruit.

to place upon	vakatiko(ra)	vānonia
to play game	qito	viseu
plover (seabird)	dilio	tilo
to point at	dusia	ducia
to poke fire	qiso(ra)	qiso(ria)
pole (boat)	i kara	i cula

The Y word is used in B for “needle” or “table-fork.”

to pound	vutu(ka)	vutu(ya)
to pour slowly	livi(a)	sovā
to pour in bulk	sova(ra)	sovā
prawn	manā	tolā (N)
to be proud prepuce.	wedewede	masamasa

Capell gives vuso-ni-uti both for the glans and the foreskin, the latter apparently in error. No special word was traced either in Y or B, other than general words B kuli, Y taba, “skin.”

to press	taba(ka)	taba(kia)
to pull	dreta	tokia (K)
to punch with fist	vacu(ka)	uso(kia)
to push	bili(ga)	bili(a)

- 51

	Bau	Yasawa
to Quench	suya	susuia, susuya
quickly	vakatotolo	vakatila
Rafter	i sā	ke i sā

The Y is probably “the thing of pairs,” with the change of a to i as in the Article, q.v.

to rain

tau na uca

luvu na uca

The Y verb is used in B for “to drown.”

rat	kalavo	kucuve (N)
raw	droka	droko (N)
reception	veiqaravi	viqwaravi (N)
rectum	sona	vede

The Y word is also used in Y for “buttocks,” but “rectum” seems to be the principal meaning.

reed	gasau	vita (N), yavita
reef (isolated)	yamotu	motu
to refuse	bese	dua
rein	wā-ni-kokomia, wā-ni-kaukaumea, i tārovi	tuli-ni-vureli
relish (added to food)	i coi	i lava (N)
to reveal	vakatakilā	vakataya (L)
rib	sarisari	sakesake
rib of boat	soka	vivita
ridgepole	doka	bewa
river	uciwai	tuba-ni-wai
root	waka-ni-kau	waka-ni-kai
rope	dali	tali (N)
rough	kakase	gagasa
rubbish	i soqosoqo	na soqorau
to run	cici	wavu

But in Y for “to cut out the meat of nuts” the B cici is used.

to run away	drō	tuba
Sailor	kai mua	koi mua (N)
saliva	weli	welu
sand	nuku	volivoli (K)
sandfly	nānā	tauya
satiated	mamau	vuse (N)
scar	wē	mawē
to scrape	kari	kakari
to scratch (hurt)	kadru(va)	kalu(cia)
to scratch (itchy)	mila	samusamu

The Y root is used in B for “to beat” or “kill.”

scrotum	qala	qwala
seashell in general	qā-ni-vivili	taba-ni-viviti
seashell, univalve	kai	tave

- 52

Bau

Yasawa

The Y word is used for one particular species in B.

seashell, one sort	diwara	qā-ni-masi
to see	raica	dania (K)

Cf. “to find.”

seed

sore-ni-kau

qele-ni-kai

Cf. “egg.”

to sell	volitaka	volitakinia (N)
serrated	tavutavu	kotikoti

The Y root is “scissors” in B.

shallow	vodea	vode
shallow, very	mātia	cēre

With the Y cf. B “high,” and English “high and dry.”

to share out

votā

tuvania

The Y root is “to put in order” in B.

shark	qio	iko (N)
shin	qarisiga	qwarisiga
short	lekaleka	lekeleke (N)
shoulder	vū-ni-taba	vū-ni-lima (N)
to shout	kaila	gisa
to shudder	rikō	mataku

With the Y cf. “to fear.”

to shut	sogo(ta)	sogo(tia) (N)
side (person)	yasa	sakesake

Cf. “rib.”

side (house)	yasa	kaba
to sink (person)	luvu	cidromu

With the Y cf. B dromu.

to sink (thing)	luvu	luvu, as B
to sip	ceru(ma)	cedru(nia)
sister	gane	gwane, but more usually taci, tuka: see Relationships
Sir	saka	riki
to sit (on buttocks)	dabe	nō

The Y word is used in B for “to lie,” of things not persons.

skin	kuli	taba (N)
to slap thigh (in thanks)	lali dibi	sau dibi

For Y cf. B sau, “to clap hands.”

to slip	tidara	tiasi (K)
to slip from hands	tawaru	tivari

The Y word is also used in B, in another similar sense.

slow

mālua

berebere

With the Y cf. B bera, “tardy.”

small	lailai	sewasewa (N)
to smell of	boi(ca)	garu(tia)
smoke	kubou	kobulu (K)
snake	gata	gwata (N)
sodomy	veivutusona	vidulu i vede

- 53

Bau

Yasawa

Veivutu (Capell in this sense) is normal intercourse.

some

e sō

e i sewa

Cf. “small” in Y.

sour	gaga	kolikoli
to sow	kabu(ya)	biu(ta) na qele-ni-kai
span	caga	ravo

The B word is a “tabu word” in Y, for the vulva.

to speak

vosa

tata (N)

The Y word is used for “to stammer” in B.

spear	moto	sā (N)
to spill	sova(ra)	sovā

Also “to pour.”

to spin (as does a top)	cawiri	cowiri
spinach (equivalent of)	rourou	sasau (N)

But the Y and N word is that for a different plant.

to spit	kasivi	katāsivi (N)
spouse	wati	wele
to squat on heels	toka	toko
squinting	mataceba	matasoro
to stand up	duri	tū

Also used in B.

star	kalokalo	digilo (N)
to steal	butako(ca)	driva(tia) (N)
steam	cawā	mawa
to steep	toni(a)	luvu(ya)

With the Y word cf. B “to drown.”

stem (boat)	mua e liu	mua vatu
stern (boat)	mua e muri	vede-ni-gā

The Y is “duck's posterior.”

sticky

dregadregata

bulubulu

The Y is used in B of sticky ground.

to stink	bona	mara
to stoop	cuva	ruva
to strangle	kuna	kuna nasukia
string	wā	wāwā
strong	kaukauwa	qwaqwa

With the Y cf. B for “bold.”

sub-clean	i tokatoka	i tokotoko (N)
to suck	sucu	cucu (N)

See “milk” in both cases.

to suffice	rau(ta)	rau(tia) (N)
sugarcane	dovu	tovu (N)
to sun	siga(na)	drasiga(nia)
the sun rises	sa cadra na siga	sa cedre na siga (N)
supper	i vakayakavi	i vakavayavi
swallow (bird)	lākaba	kalaba
to swallow	tilo	vodro

- 54

	Bau	Yasawa
to sweep	tavi(raka)	tavi(rakinia)
to swell	vuce	vuka
to swim	qalo	qau (N)
Tail	bui	laulau
to take	tau(ra)	gunumia
to tame	vakalaca	vakatokania
tamed	mānoa	toka
taro	dalo	doko (N)
“tavola” (tree)	tavola	tivi
to tell	kaya	kwaya
to tell	tukuna	tukunia (K)
testicles	sore-ni-qala	qele-ni-qwala
testicles, elephantiasis of ceke		qwatu

With the Y cf. “vulva” in B.

that	oqori	oki
that far-off	ko yā	konā
thatch	tibitibi	yavita (K)

The Y is also “reed.”

and then	qai	qei
there	e keri	nia oki
there far-off	e keā	nia konā
thereat, therewith, etc.	kina	kinia
thick (liquids)	sosoko	soko
thick (solids)	vavaku	kukuto
thigh	saga	vū-ni-lā
thin (solids)	mamare	meremere
thing	kā	kwā
to think	nanuma	numia (N)
thirst	viagunu	matāsomu (N)
this	oqō	kwē
to throw	viri(ka)	viri(kia)
to throw away	biu(ta)	biu(tia)
to throw away	biu(ta) laivi	dania
throwing-stick	na i kolo	ne i wala
thumb	dovidovi-ni-kākana	kuku

The Y word is used in B for “finger-” or “toe-nail.”

to tickle	kiri(ca)	kirikiri(ria)
to tie	vau(ca)	loko(cia)
to tie	vesuka	watia
tiller	dia-ni-uli	laqe

The Y word is also used for the spurs of a cock, in Y and B.

tip	vuso	sō
tiptoe	titeqe	titiqwe
to (with pronouns)	vei	veke
to touch	tere	dere

The Y is used in B for “to cleanse,” “scour.”

- 55

	Bau	Yasawa
tomorrow	e na mataka	i roaroa (N)
tongue	yame	me (N)
to tread on	butu(ka)	butu(kia)
to tremble	nini	saga

The Y is used in B for “to strive.”

trevally (fish)	saqa	dole (K)
true	dina	sadu
trumpetshell	davui	tavui (N)
to try	tovolea	tovelia
turmeric (plant)	cago	reregwa
turmeric (spice)	rerega	reregwa
to turn over, capsize	vuki(ca)	vuli(cia)
to turn end-for-end	sauma(ka)	sauma (kinia)
to turn round	moi(ca)	iri(kia)
to turn the head	gole	tulemata

The Y root is used in B for “to push aside.”

turtle	vonu	bula (K), ika-bula
to Undress	luva	liva
to unhook fish	vali(a)	tava(kinia)

The Y root is used in B for “to cut with knife.”

unripe

vou

droko

The Y word is also used for “raw.”

upwards	cake	yata
to uproot	cavi(ta)	cavi(tia)
Valley	buca	tovatova (N)

The Y word is used in B for an old yam-garden on flat land.

valley	qakilo	qiloto
very	rui	beke
village green	rārā	dārata (N)
voice	domo	lio
to vomit	lua	luelue (N)
vulva	qatu	caga

The Y word is “span” in B. The B word bebe is also used in Y.

to Wait for	wāra(ka)	wāra(kinia)
to wake	yadra	mata (N)
walkingstick	i titoko	i toko (K)
wall	lālaga	tutu-ni-sue (K)

The Y root is used in B for the inside corner of house.

wall-plate	kau-tabu	kai-tabu
to want	vinakata	vinătia
to warm oneself	tatalai	taliku
wart	somu	sogo
to wash the face	tavoya	verau (N)
water	wai	wei (K), wai
water salt	waitui	weitaci (N)
waterfall	savu	bati-ni-savu (N)
weak	malumaluma	mamalumu

- 56

	Bau	Yasawa
to weep for	tagi(ca)	tagi(cia)
well (health)	bula vinaka	cola vinā
wet	suasua	lūlū (N)
what?	a cava?	na eva?
when?	e naica?	e gica? (N)	i gica
where?	e vei?	i vai?
to whistle	kalu	kwalu
white	vulavula	sesevu(N)
whole	taucoko	kece

The Y word is also used in B.

“wi” (tree)	wī	maoli (Rewa, Capell)
to wink	boto mata dua	katarimo
with	kei	qai
withered	madu	samasama
to wonder	kidacala	kuraria
to wrap	vivi(ga)	vica(kinia)
wrinkle (of age)	sokidi	sulogi, suloqi
Yard (ship)	karikari tū	karikari yata
to yawn	lāmawa	mawa (N)
yellow	dromodromoa	dromodromo (N)
yesterday	e na noa	ni yavi (N), ni yaci
a youth	cauravou	saravou (N)

Some 3,500 B. words were checked to obtain the above.

It is of interest that Waterhouse (see the Bibliography) noted in 1866 a number of dialect variations. They are as follow, the second and third columns being respectively what he calls “supposed immigrants” (East Fijian) and “supposed aborigines” (West Fijian).

God	kalou	nanitu	Cf. Y “devil”
chief	turaga	viagane, momo
pig	puaka	vurei
house	vale	were, sue	Cf. Y
temple	bure	bito
human being	tamata	e cola	Cf. Y “to live,” and note the article “e”
wood	buko	guta	Cf. Y “fire”
anger	cudru	oca	B “tired”
hand	liga	lima	Cf. Y
male	tagane	seiqane
bow	dakai	vucu	Cf. Y
song	meke	wesi	A Vanua Levu dance in Capell
cold	liliwa	driwadriwa	Cf. Y
hot	katakata	tunutunu	Also B, “stuffy”
sick	tauvi mate	raraci	Cf. B, “smart”
to strangle	kuna	nasu	Cf. Y
grave	bulubulu	lovolovo	Cf. B, “oven”
kiss	regu	yabo	Cf. Y