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Huri Translations
Tel. +689 89 205 483
info@huri-translations.pf
PO BOX 365 Maharepa
98728 Mo'orea
French Polynesia
N°TAHITI 876649

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Both languages emerged through colonial contact, though under different circumstances. Tahitian French developed through French colonization of French Polynesia and continues to coexist with standard French and Tahitian. For example, in Tahitian French we see structures like "c'est fini à moi le ménage" (I've cleaned the house) which combines French lexicon with Tahitian grammar patterns (Verb Subject Object). Fiji Hindi evolved from indentured Indian laborers brought by the British to work on plantations from 1870-1920 and combining elements of some Indian languages, particularly अवधी (Awadhi) and भोजपुरी (Bhojpuri).

In schools, both languages face challenges: Tahitian French is often used informally for discipline or explanation while Fiji Hindi is primarily used in playgrounds rather than classrooms. Research shows that in Fiji schools, teachers communicate primarily in English except in vernacular classes. Similarly in French Polynesia, while Tahitian French is a widely spoken variety of French, standard French dominates formal education.

The languages serve important social functions. Tahitian French speakers use phrases that combine French vocabulary with local grammatical patterns, such as "j'ai affaire le boomblaster" (I traded the boomblaster) in informal contexts. Fiji Hindi has found new expression through social media, with YouTube videos in the language gaining popularity among both local and diasporic communities. However, both still face stigmatization - reminiscent of Raymond Pillai's Fiji Hindi play that was staged in Wellington back in 1993, and where many audience members expressed discomfort with the "low" language used.

The vitality of both languages continues through creative new domains. Tahitian French appears in local media and entertainment, with speakers using structures like "c'est nave a elle" (hers in nice) that blend Tahitian and French elements. Similarly, Fiji Hindi has seen a revival through social media, film, and radio, with artists developing their own non-standardized writing systems to express themselves in the language.

As a translation company specialized in Pacific Islands languages, we often translate texts that are solely in Fiji Hindi or Tahitian French, such as Facebook discussions, and for which our clients need standard French and Standard English language, in cases belonging to the judicial domain, cyber-security, etc.

While neither language is far from achieving official status or standardization, their de facto use in daily life, creative expression, and new media shows how heritage contact languages are evolving through community even without institutional support. As these languages are being exposed in new channels and means of expression, they challenge traditional notions of language standardization and legitimacy while maintaining their existence as markers of cultural identity and community belonging.

Fiji Hindi and Tahitian French are great examples of contact languages that emerged in the Pacific through colonialism and migration. Though developing in different historical contexts, both languages - yes, they are languages in the making, whether they want it or not - share important characteristics as heritage languages that now serve as markers of identity and community for their speakers. Their development and current status offer meaningful insights into how contact languages can maintain vitality despite limited official recognition and social barriers.

"texts that are solely in Fiji Hindi or Tahitian French"

Quick Comparison of Fiji Hindi and Tahitian French