Absence of {-ed}

The absence of the written and spoken {-ed} suffix, whether articulated as [t], [d] or [əd], in past tense forms and participial adjectives is very common in all varieties of Pure Fiji English. Some examples from Tent’s (2000) corpus of spoken Fiji English include:

Some examples of pronunciation spellings are given in (8). Interestingly, many involve the {-ed} suffix following a voiceless consonant which normally results in assimilation, with a realization as [t]. The adjoining of two voiceless consonants may further make the perception of the suffix more difficult.

(8) a. “He is bleeding internally. Its [sic] most probably a case of an aggravated ulcer in its advance stage,” he [a doctor] said. (The Daily Post, 10/4/1996).

b. A few clap down [i.e. ‘clapped out’] diggers barely able to move have been hired and can be seen digging away at penal rate [sic] working full swing during the weekends. (Sunday Post, 30/11/1997).

c. Experience Signwriters to start immediately at Vanua Signs Limited. Phone 381553 for interview. (Positions Vacant column, The Fiji Times, 19/7/1994).

d. River sand, crush metal and garden soil we deliver Phone 362663 Jalil (For Sale column, The Fiji Times, 19/5/1994, 1/6/1994, 6/7/1994, 7/7/1994, 10/9/1994).

e. The case was heard behind close doors (Daily Post, 15/10/1999)

It is worth mentioning that the addition of the {-ed} suffix to adjectives is also quite common, e.g. I am the mother of three teenaged daughters. It seems only to be a feature of written English, frequently seen with the adjective mature, often seen in positions vacant advertisements in the local tabloids:

(9) a. Housegirl required urgently, be matured, to baby sit and do housework. Have to be good with children. Phone Ferin 386348. (Positions Vacant column, Fiji Times, 10/9/1994).

b. The police are matured people and we do not expect such an order against them. (From a Fijian university student’s written answer in a test, 9/8/1994).

The following example shows both the absence and addition of the {-ed} suffix in adjoining words:

(10) An Experience matured live in housegirl required. [...] (Positions Vacant column, The Fiji Times, 2/12/1994).

Cases of {-ed} addition are either malapropisms or instances of hypercorrection (especially since this addition seems to manifest itself predominantly in writing or print), a common phenomenon in L2 English. Once again, more research needs to be conducted to unravel exactly what is going on here.