Children’s speech development: English (Fiji)

Fiji English is an English dialect spoken in Fiji and among the Fijian diaspora. There are many subdialects of Fiji English (e.g., Fijian -Fiji English, Fiji Hindi-Fiji English) and considerable variability in the vowel and diphthong production of Fiji English within these sub-dialects. The consonant and consonant cluster production of all acrolectal variants is consistent with other English dialects containing up to 24 consonants. Studies of intelligibility and acquisition of Fiji English consonants demonstrate that school-aged Fijian children are intelligible and acquire Fiji English consonant
sounds and consonant clusters at a similar age and in a similar sequence to other English-speaking children around the world; however, some Fijian children present with a speech sound disorder beyond expected ages of acquisition. The Intelligibility in Context Scale has been translated into Fiji English. To date, no speech interventions have been specifically designed for Fiji English speakers.