Central Pacific languages

Central Pacific
Fijian–Polynesian
Geographic distribution	Fiji and Polynesia
Linguistic classification	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Central–Eastern Central Pacific
Proto-language	Proto-Central Pacific
Subdivisions	West Fijian – Rotuman East Fijian – Polynesian
Glottolog	cent2060
The Central Pacific languages Pink is Western Fijian – Rotuman; ocher East Fijian – Polynesian (not shown: Rapa Nui)

The family of Central Pacific or Central Oceanic languages, also known as Fijian–Polynesian, are a branch of the Oceanic languages.

Classification[]

Ross et al. (2002) classify the languages as a linkage as follows:^[1]

• Western
  • Rotuman
  • Western Fijian linkage: Namosi-Naitasiri-Serua, Western Fijian (Nadroga, Waya)
• East Central Pacific linkage
  • Eastern Fijian linkage: Bauan (standard Fijian), Gone Dau, Lauan and Lomaiviti
  • Polynesian family

The West Fijian languages are more closely related to Rotuman, and East Fijian to Polynesian, than they are to each other, but subsequent contact has caused them to reconverge. Rotuman has been influenced by Polynesian languages.

References[]