An example search has returned 100 entries
atause
v.n. to go ashore
bookmarkelelehel
wind blowing
bookmarketcei nohon
n. beat coconut fiber
bookmarkfara
n. pineapple
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incipiñti
inhetelga
n. a runner, the fruit of which is round like a cake
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inhubej
n. calabash
bookmarkinje tadwain anholwas
inlelitai
n. bush land; uncultivated land
bookmarkinlepei u inpoded
n. epiphyte, growing in secondary forest along trail above river. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3664)
Example: This plant is used to make a head garland, but if you are going hunting or fishing do not put this on your head as you will not be successful in your quset. This is the grass skirt for the spirits; you can hear them but you cannot see them.
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inridjai
n. kind of plant, grass, or fern
bookmarkintal eteuc
n. the name of a plant with a white flower; a lily
bookmarkintate a nelgo waj
intesyanam̃a
inteucjip
n. bush land where forest trees grow; also "intucjip"
bookmarkintinan mese
n. dry land planted
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inwouse
iñytuplec
kowei
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.
bookmarknafaiava
n. bay (of the sea); creek
bookmarknagag ~ nacag
nahi ateuc
n. a plant with white flowers; a lily
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nala
nalak ahod
n. kind of plantain
bookmarknalmupeñ
namaj
n. kind of taro
bookmarknamop
n. kind of tree
bookmarknanad cop̃ou
n. small shrub, 0. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3219)
Example: 1. A stimulant plant. If a person is going to their garden early in the morning before the sun come up, break 2 top young leaves and chew and swallow the liquid, spitting out the fiber. This makes the person able to work harder and not feel tired while in the fields. It was noted that "a person can do the work of many people if they chew this." 2. The leaves are used for fertilizer for taro--put a bunch of leaves in a hole were taro is to be planted as a compost/antibiotic. This practice is said to kill all of the bad organisms such as bacttively impact the health of the taro plant. 3. This species is collected in the coastal areas, and is different from the one that looks similar to it, that grows in the forested areas. People take 4 leaves, chew leaves, swallow juice, gives energy to work hard the entire day. For fishing, take lots of ripe fruits and put in pocket, you will be able to catch a lot of fish. It brings good fortune when fishing. Roots – take one root, wash where a woman is giving birth to a newborn baby, give a drop of the juice from the root to clear the mucus in the throat.
bookmarknapau emilmat
n. kind of taro
bookmarknapdaj
napojev
n. sparsely branched tree, growing in open (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3477)
Example: The leaves of this plant are used in cooking, particuarly with the earth oven. Use a fire to heat stones, then when the fire burns down and the stones are hot, pile these leaves on top of the hot stones and then place the food being cooked--taro, fish, pig, cassava, banana or other foods--on top of the leaves. Then pile more of these leaves on top of the food and then place additional hot stones on top of that pile of leaves. While the food is cooking--each type of food takes a different amount of time--the leaves give off a very nice smell and help flavor the food.
bookmarknap̃at
nap̃od
narakiraki
n. a whirlwind
bookmarknaravi
n. a gathering of inmops or horse-chestnuts
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nathut u nadiat
n. dawn of day
bookmarknatimihas
n. terrestrial fern, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4095)
Example: 1. The name means "cranky person". If someone fastens this plant around his head as a deocrative lei, it means that this person is not happy. He does not want to talk or communicate with anybody. The use is no longer common, and now many people do not know the signficance.
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neandel
nedwonomo
nehgan
n. a stock; a bunch, as of fruit; also "negan" or "nigan"
bookmarknehno
n. a species of poisonous tree
bookmarkneijis ieg
n. a bundle of reeds for a torch; a torch
bookmarknejev
nelmai
n. a tree from the inner rind of which fishing lines and nets are made. na elmai or elumai, cloth
bookmarknelpon nohop a nelco
nicasau
n. the castor-oil plant
bookmarknigie
n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3537)
Example: This plant is an aphrodisiac. Eat with coconut meat to make the body strong. Take 1/2 handful of leaves and mix with coconut leaves, use as needed. Mostly men eat this combination. It is best to eat with dry coconut that has no water in it. Eat it any time you wish.
bookmarknilam
n. seaweed
bookmarknipji nomu
nipjinecei vanteigin
nop̃ou
n. large epiphyte on dead tree, growing in open forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3478)
Example: The wood of this plant is very hard and can be used for house posts. Because the wood is somewhat heavy, younger stems can be sharpened at one end and the pole can be used to plant dryland taro, to make holes for the tubers. For planting swamp taro, the leaves can be used to line the pit that the taro is planted in; it is a local fertilizer for the taro, and as it rots the soil becomes soft while the taro is growing. The flowers are placed behind one’s ear to enjoy the fragrance or can also be used to make a floral necklace (Intañ).
bookmarknop̃ou
n. tree. Found in the village, usually grows in the hills. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #16)
Example: 1. Lot of oil in the heartwood so it is good to start a fire, split it into small strips and you can light it for a fire. 2. Calendar plant – when the fruits ripen people know that this is the best season to eat the big hermit crab – meaning that they are fat.
bookmarknowat
n. Convict surgeonfish, convict tang
Example: Photo by Philippe Bourjon / Fishbase, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknucje
n. the Norfolk Island pine
bookmarknusjai um legad
n. kind of sugarcane
bookmarkpine
n. tree to 20 m, dbh 75 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4976). Loanword for introduced species.
Example: This tree was introduced as a source of timber and has been widely planted on this part of the island. The cone is used to throw on a fire as it is said that the smoke will keep away mosquitoes.
bookmarktarere
adv. near; inshore; near the shore
bookmarkuvid
n. three days ago; three days hence
bookmarkThere are currently 2431 entries, 1543 audio files, and 860 images.
All content copyright © Aneityum community. (2015)
Talking Dictionary produced by K. David Harrison, Gregory D. S. Anderson and Jeremy Fahringer. Botanical consultants: Michael J. Balick, Gregory M. Plunkett and Sean Thackurdeen. (2015-2018)
Aneityum language contributors include Kirk Keitadi, Tony Keith, Titiya Lalep, David Nasauman, Osiani Nerian, Ruben Nerian, Chris Nevehev, Romario Yaufati and others as credited within the dictionary entries. Based in part on materials from Inglis, John (1882) A Dictionary of the Aneityumese Language: In Two Parts. I. Aneityumese and English. II. English.
The Aneityum-English Talking Dictionary was made possible by award no. 1555675 from National Science Foundation for “Collaborative Research: Plant, Fungal and Linguistic Diversity of Tafea Province, Vanuatu.” This support is gratefully acknowledged.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
All rights reserved. Do not distribute or reproduce without permission.
how to cite:
K. David Harrison. 2015.
Aneityum Talking Dictionary.
Swarthmore College.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/aneityum
Interface and database design under the direction of Jeremy Fahringer and Swarthmore College ITS.
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