Aneityum

v. bite, sing

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[ahe] v. prepare soil for taro planting, by removing the topsoil, putting down special leaves, and replacing topsoil

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adj. driven to and fro with the wind

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. see

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[anaforofata] n. ladder (archaic)

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

v. go out

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. to fish (by moonlight)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v hide

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adj. adjacent

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

adj. healed, applied to wounds; ripe; yellow

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 77

v. to shake a branch; to make fruit fall. pl: "ereucereuc"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 78

n. beat coconut fiber

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

det. some

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. to sail

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 81

n. a place down, or westward

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 82

n. firewood

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. twig, branch

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a runner, the fruit of which is round like a cake

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 86

n. breadfruit

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the cold season; winter

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 87

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inpak] n. clouds that divide like a banyan tree

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[intas] language

n. tree, 12-14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3640)

Example: The seeds of this species are eaten, the fruits are cracked open and the seeds removed. However, perhaps of 10 fruits, maybe only 3 have seeds for eating. The flowers are known to have a very pleasant fragrance.

Scientific name: Terminalia sepicana, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub. Found in the village Unames. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #33)

Example: name = "stonefish ears" 1. To treat rashes - boil 4 leaves in water ad wait until it cools. Wash in this once a day until rash goes away. 2. Stonefish sting – very painful: 1 handful of leaves with squeezed coconut juice – coconut water – from green coconut. Mix the leaves and water and then make a cut in the wound to enlarge it and pour this juice into the wound. In 5-10 minutes the pain will stop, use 1x, very powerful. 3.If a person such as a mother touches the stonefish while preparing it for food, then does not wash hands, can infect a child – and the child will get sores. Take a small branch and boil it in the water and wash the baby with it to make pain go away. 4. Stonefish is a greatly appreciated food that must be prepared carefully by holding the fish by the mouth and not touching the body. Boil the fish to inactivate the poison and then prepare it as a normal fish for cooking. Poison is found in top spine of fish.

Scientific name: Acalypha caturus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[intisjaŋɣe] n. flower

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. seed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 182

n. vine running many meters long over clay soil and grassy area on hillside where the triangular wooden signs are that used to be a landmark for ships coming to the island. Sterile. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5008)

Example: This plant is the focus of an important legend on Aneityum. When the missionary John Geddie and colleaguse first arrived on the island in July of 1848, the Chiefs welcomed them but some of the people did not like the idea. So these people sent a basket containing a peeled coconut and a fish (nopom) to the Chief in Umej to ask him to support the idea of getting rid of the missionary that the Chief of Analcahuat had welcomed. If the Chief of Umej were to eat the fish and coconut meat, it would mean that he agreed with the opposition. The Chief refused to eat the food in the basket and he told the people a parable involving this plant. A person cannot find the tip of the stem or the end of the root in the ground. So if they were to eliminate the missionary, his activity would continue because of God’s power. As it is with this plant, it will continue to grow and flourish if you cut it or try to dig up the root. So he sent a message about this plant to the people in Analcahuat who objected to the presence of the missionary stating this parable. Those people in Analcauhat held a secret meeting and they chose a powerful and strong person to kill the missionary. During the night the person went to the missionary’s house while he was in the toilet. Returning to the house, the missionary found the person in his doorway, and that person lifted his club to strike the missionary. But at that point the attacker’s hands suddenly had no power and the club fell from his hands, and he fell over. The missionary told him to get up, and not come back. After that experience, the people of Umej realized that God’s power was great and they could not go against it. The Chief took the peeled coconut that was sent him and covered it with the skin of another coconut and planted it instead of eating it. This coconut grew and the missionary’s work continued to grow on the island. So this vine played an important role in communicating the power of God to the people of Aneityum.

Speaker: Tony Keith

n. herb, growing along the river at the edge of secondary forest. Stems pale green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3642)

Example: As a local toothbrush, take two pieces of stems, bend them and use to brush teeth with water. This plant acts like sandpaper to clean the teeth. Can also be used to brush pots.

Scientific name: Equisetum debile, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4772)

Scientific name: Cerbera manghas, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb to 0. 75 m, fruits brown. Growing in cultivated area near village. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5012)

Example: Children use this fruit as a rattle. When parents go to the gardens or fields with their children, they collect the pods for the children to use as a rattle and amuse themselves. Unspecified medicinal use.

Scientific name: Senna occidentalis, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. the seven stars; the children of Kumnyumoi

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 91

n. an astronomy term; no definition given

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

[maja ga oʔo] phr. yes or no (traditional)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. vine to 3-4 m, aerial tubers brown (collection: Michael J. Balick #4872)

Example: Normally these fruits are considered poisonous. But, people have learned to peel off the skin of the fruits, put the peeled fruits in a conical basked and place a bamboo tube that is dripping water over it to wash the basket of fruits for 3-5 days. This is said to leach out the poison and the end result is similar in consistency to cheese. Wrap this up with leaves and put it in an earth oven to cook. This plant is eaten as a "starvation food" only, consumed in times of drought and famine.

Scientific name: Dioscorea bulbifera, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. tree, 8-10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4017)

Example: 1. Aerial roots have a natural curve that allows them to be used as a clothing hanger. The outer bark is peeled and dried all day in the sun, before the roots are used. 2. Leaves are used to help remove fish bones lodged in one’s throat. When bones are stuck in one’s throat, then you apply young leaves to the outside of the throat. Apply once and leave until the bones are removed.

Scientific name: Myristica fatua, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub, 1. 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3442)

Scientific name: Maesa aneiteensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. shrub to 1. 5 m, flowers white. Red clay soil (collection: Michael J. Balick #4882)

Example: Use the leaves to make compost to be placed at the bottom of the hole where taro is to be planted, cover with soil and grow the taro in that hole. Serves as a fertilizer.

Scientific name: Scaevola neoebudica, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3456)

Example: 1. The leaves of this plant are used as a fertilizer when a person plants taro "to help to feed the ground for next year." 2. Sapwood of this tree, and one more [GMP 3591], in old days take from west side and cross mountain to the east, and on red clay mountain, burn it to make spirits to give more sun instead of rain so that gardens will grow well.

Scientific name: Scaevola cylindrica, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[nawʊnoan] n. neck

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. vine, growing on rocks at end of strand near coastal forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3690)

Example: As a medicine to treat toothache, the latex from this vine is put into the tooth as soon as the person feels pain. Use 3x daily until the pain has subsided. The flower is used as a decoration behind the ear. When there are rough seas because someone has trespassed in a tabu area you can take 12 leaves from the napalhat and put them in a pond for about 1 week until they start to stink. Then use we leaves from the naojapdak and drown those leaves in either a fresh water pond or salty water. (No further information given). Can also take an armful of napalhat and place on top of a stone in the tabu area with a smaller stone on top of the napaphat. The stone must be a large permanent stone. Has also heard people say it can be used for toothache if you put the leaf on the tooth.

Scientific name: Hoya australis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[napat irenmeʤup] n. smooth, small cloud

Speaker: David Nasauman

[napʊlaoʊ] n. shin

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. the skin or rind of food

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. bean

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

n. fence-forming shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3206)

Example: 1a. Cultivated in gardens. Cook seeds of this species or eat them raw before they are fully ripened. The green pods can also be cooked in a fire and eaten. 1b. Cultivated plant for its edible seeds, can be prepared in a pot of bamboo. OR could take branches w/ seeds and put directly on the earth oven for cooking. 2. Planting this species adds nitrogen to the soil--grow it on soil that is said to be "tired."

Scientific name: Cajanus cajan, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. the poison of the inhac

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. a native plant, the leaves of which are used as cabbage

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. channel of a stream

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 134

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. herb. Swamp areas. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #8)

Example: 1. Cervical pain and to return it to normal size - Get a handful of Naurakiti and boil it in a pot of water. This can also be done by rubbing the handful of leaves together and squeezing out the juice into the boiling water but the leaves do not go inside. Sit in this for 2 hours or until cold for 1 a day for a week. 2. Medicine: leaf juice put on fresh cut to stop bleeding. Stomachache, headache – use 1 handful of leaves, squeeze these, put in cup, put in some water and drink it 1x day. 3. Women menstruation that will not stop, take 1 handful of leaves into a cup of water and drink 1x day for 3 days. 4. If a person’s joints are sore, take a handful of leaves, crush them and rub on the sore joints. Some people don’t like to use it internally as it can make some people sick, especially small children, but others say it is OK to use.

Scientific name: Ageratum conyzoides, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. Largescale mullet

Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Liza macrolepis via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. yellow star

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3271)

Example: Used as a leaf compost for planting taro, layered on the bottom of the hole and covering the taro as well.

Scientific name: Melicope triphylla, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. taro, a type that is more bitter, must be twice cooked (RPV #146c)

Scientific name: Caladium bicolor, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a wing, a sheath, a covering of bananas

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. stage of coconut

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree to 4 m, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4925)

Example: The wood of this tree is hard and used for house posts. It grows in the water or inundated areas, fish, crabs, sea creatures use the roots of this tree to hide and breed. People know that this tree stops big waves and therefore protect the trees.

Scientific name: Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. netted brake (RPV #232)

Scientific name: Pteris comans, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3466)

Example: The wood of this species is very hard and therefore useful for making houses. In fact it is so hard that a person cannot drive a nail through it. This wood is used to make spears for fishing.

Scientific name: Sarcomelicope simplicifolia, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. tree to 7 m tall, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4861)

Example: When a person does heavy work and their body feels tired, they should take 1 handful of leaves, squeeze them into a cup of water and drink--this will make the person feel better. People can drink this from time to time to give the body energy even before you are tired. To treat constipation, take 4- 8’ pieces of stem from a 2 cm dbh section of the tree, peel the outside bark off, collect the inner bark and mash with a stone or hammer, put in a colander to strain out the wood, add 1.5 l water, the liquid becomes green or whitish with sticky liquid. Drink this one time, it tastes cold and then after about 30 minutes it feels like the bowel is working and then normal function returns--this does not induce diarrhea but rather returns the bowel to normal function.

Scientific name: Trema orientalis, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[nepiŋ u nausej] n. dark clouds before the daylight breaks through

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. before daylight

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. type of fruit

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the castor-oil plant

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 102

n. balsam; resin

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127, 178

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3623)

Example: People use the leaf of this plant to layer on the bottom of the earth oven, and then pile food such as manioc or taro on it, then pile leaves of this species on top of that. This will help insulate the food from the high heat of the earth oven and allow it to cook better. Used especailly in feasts like weddings. Women usually collect this leaf and is used to cover very large earth ovens.

Scientific name: Cleidion javanicum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

[niprij ~ nipriʧ] n. Buff-banded Rail

Example: Photo by David Cook, License: CC BY-NC 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Gallirallus philippensis, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

[nipʧinite] n. cooking pot

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. breadfruit leaf

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. ray of light in the morning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 177

[niʧin neijaŋ] n. coconut shell

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of banana (sweet)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. orchard

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 169

[nombrɛ niʧinin] n. hair

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. a season

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 181

n. Black-spot surgeonfish

Example: Photo by zsispeo / Flickr.com, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Acanthurus bariene, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. shrub to 2 m tall, flowers pink (collection: Michael J. Balick #4955)

Example: The tubers of this variety are sweet, not bitter and are eaten after cooking. The young leaves are eaten after boiling in water until they are soft, either plain or cooked in soup. It is important to only harvest and prepare the young leaves in this way, as the older leaves will not get soft even after cooking. The young leaves are used to cover the top layer of the earth oven, on top of the stones that comprise the upper layer of the earth oven.

Scientific name: Manihot esculenta, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. leaves for an oven

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 105

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Polyscias samoensis

Example: leaf -- cold maceration taken internally against ciguatera

Scientific name: Polyscias samoensis, Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 440

prep. down there

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. first quarter of the moon

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 109

adv. over (?)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. front of canoe

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati