Aneityum

v. scrape ashes off (of roasted taro)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. go up; go east

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[akro te haŋaiŋ] v. share food together

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. moonlight

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. drink

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. near morning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 61

v.n. sail without making headway

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 180

v.a. to climb

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 78

[et apanan amlep aθamoʧ] phr. he went there and he came back

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[itij] num. one

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. "good" (domesticated) kava (RPV #133)

Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inɣej] n. tree

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. red (color)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. the heart wood of a tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 85

[inhɛloŋ] n. your penis

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. vine to 1 m, flowers greenish (collection: Michael J. Balick #4904)

Example: This is an introduced species. Use ripe fruits to produce a kind of ink for writing.

Scientific name: Passiflora suberosa, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. breadfruit

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shrub, 1. 25 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3525)

Example: The young leaves are edible, after boiling for 5 minutes. A piece of coconut and a pinch of salt is wrapped in the leaves and eaten. The mature leaves are used to wrap food such as pig or cow meat and cooked in an earth oven. Tie this bundle with a piece of Pandanus fiber to secure it before putting in the earth oven. Both the green and ripe fruits are edible. This plant is used in kastom ceremonies. For a peace ceremony, if there is an argument, then this leaf is used to make peace between the parties. For many ceremonies, put on top of taro, kava or food pile, . For peace ceremony, when a person has food in an offering, give a branch of this plant to the other party to symbolize that the conflict is over. It is a "message plant" that conveys a meaning that people do not have to say out loud. When a stranger walks through a village with this plant in his or her hand, people know there is no threat or problem. When a young man first shaves, people give him a necklace of this plant. In the old days, hair was pulled out of young men, now people use razor blades.

Scientific name: Euodia hortensis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree to 15 m, dbh 50 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4918)

Example: The fruits of this tree are collected, mixed with ground coconut, boiled in water and the oil collected. The resulting oil is used medicinally, put on the skin for any condition to promote healing. Apply once a day until the condition resolves. Also can be used to treat head lice. Add the oil mixture to the hair, massage in, keep the hair dry for a day, then wash. Use once daily for 3 days.

Scientific name: Calophyllum inophyllum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. parasite in tree, flowers orange with reddish base. Growing in secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5000)

Example: This plant is said to have a type of magical use. Young men take one node of the stem of this plant and use it in an unspecified way to attract young women.

Scientific name: Amyema aneityensis, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. water; fresh water

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. the Milky Way

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

adj. adjacent

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

n. dragon plum (RPV #3)

Scientific name: Dracontomelon vitiense, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

conj. but

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. a garden of bananas

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 92

[maʊ ipiŋ] n. night of spirits; "left night"

Speaker: David Nasauman

v. like

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. giant

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[nadimi dala] phr. five men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of turtle

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. low-growing, creeping vine growing in grassy area just inland from coastal strand. Flowers purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3224)

Example: Long time ago used seeds to make necklaces, don’t last long.

Scientific name: Canavalia rosea, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. tree to 15 m tall, dbh 40 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4859)

Example: The wood of this tree is good for carving. The fibers go in one direction so it is easier to carve, for example, to make a kava bowl. In general, this is the species used to make kava bowls. If your kava is not strong, then making it in this bowl will make it stronger. The kind of bowl made from this tree has a handle on each side of the bowl and it is held with 2 hands. The place name Anumwmamlau is named after this tree. There are said to be two types of this tree--one with all green leaves (this specimen) and one with white and green leaves. If a person is going to a Tabu place and is concerned about spirits, they should take a handful of these leaves and wash the body all over with it--take a swim (bath) with it. Then the person can go to the Tabu place without risk. There are other unspecified spiritual uses of this tree. The second part of this local name "elwa" refers to the variegation of the leaves.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus ciccoides, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. bark

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

n. a gathering of inmops or horse-chestnuts

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. vine to 3 m, sori brown. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4930)

Example: Take a handful of the vine, twist it into rope with many stems of the vine, and use it to tie bundles of sugar cane. It can also be used to tie wild canes (Miscanthus) to the roof of the house. Take a handful of the vine, twist it into rope with many stems of the vine, and use it to tie bundles of sugar cane. It can also be used to tie wild canes (Miscanthus) to the roof of the house.

Scientific name: Lygodium reticulatum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. near morning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 166

n. tree, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3487)

Example: 1. To cure spirit sickness of the niteitau. Use plants that also end with "au" : niditau, intoutau, naoyerop. Go to the top of the plant to get the soft leaves of the plants niditau, intoutau, naoyerop, also take the bark. The person making the medicine should be holding the these leaves with a piece of nelmaha. Nelmaha means go away. The sick person chews the leaves and bark and swallows the juice spitting out the fiber into the nelmaha the medicine maker is holding. The medicine person then takes the spit out fiber in the nalmaha leaf and throws it into the sea in front of the village. 2. Edible fruits, when ripe or green, does not taste when green, but sweet when ripe. 3a. Leaves (young) are edible, for example wrap around coconut meat and eat or cook with island cabbage and other leaves, boil and add coconut milk and eat. 3b. The young leaves are edible, after boiling for 5 minutes. A piece of coconut and a pinch of salt is wrapped in the leaves and eaten. The mature leaves are used to wrap food such as pig or cow meat and cooked in an earth oven. Tie this bundle with a piece of Pandanus fiber to secure it before putting in the earth oven. 4. During big feast, use this a lot – circumcison or wedding feast, harvest leaves and wrap around meat and bake on earth oven – sometimes we cut down a whole tree to gather leaves. 5. To make men’s custom belt – split stem, peel outer bark off to take inner bark and peel it, tear end to make strap that can be tied. Dry in sun but not direct sunlight. 6. Older large trunks were burned by ancestors to keep fire going – did not need matches (lefre(?) matches) because embers would stay for days and when make a fire add smaller branches to make a flame.

Scientific name: Ficus scabra, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. hemlock

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 157

n. a bunch of grapes; also "nigaivaine"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. tree, 15 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3590)

Example: 1. Used as a medicine to help stop bleeding. Take the inner bark, mash it, and dip in water. Then apply the poultice to the bleeding wound to help stop the bleeding. This treatment will also promote healing of the wound. When the poultice dries it becomes hard and sticks to the wound. At that point leave it on the wound until the pain goes away and then it can be peeled off of the wound. 2. Wood good for making canoe.

Scientific name: Hernandia moerenhoutiana, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a shrub, a plant, a sucker

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

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

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. epiphyte on prop roots and main tree trunks, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4044)

Scientific name: Asplenium amboinense, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. tree, 3. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3581)

Example: This plant is used to make houseposts and for firewood.

Scientific name: Pittosporum aneityense, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[iɲom] n. house

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[nepiŋ upni] phr. Good night. (greeting after sundown, last time to walk on the beach)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the takoma or tekma, a tree with white flowers

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

[netupni] n. June (lit. good sugar cane)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[niaŋa ra ʊpsiʤman] n. fingernails (many)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. shrub to 2 m ,fruits green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4884)

Example: When the new leaves form on this plant, people say that it is time to plant taro. The wood of the larger tree is good for posts.

Scientific name: Decaspermum neoebudicum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[niʧɛn] n. tooth

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. herb to 1 m, flowers white with red bracts (collection: Michael J. Balick #4912)

Example: To treat high blood pressure. Take a half liter of water, mix a handful of roots in it, boil, drink one cup 3 times daily, warm, for three days. This is to treat high blood pressure when diagnosed in the clinic. The leaf is woven for grass skirts--dry in sun, weave into skirts.

Scientific name: Zingiber zerumbet, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. Yellow-Edged Moray

Example: Photo by Bernard Dupont, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Gymnothorax flavimarginatus via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[nijom araheθ] n. lit. "round house"

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

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. shrub to 1 m, dby 2 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4999)

Example: It is said that if you chew these leaves or boil them in water and drink the tea from these leaves it will spoil your teeth. There is assumed to be something bad for the teeth in this plant. Local name "Nijom" =tooth and "Kan" = break.

Scientific name: Psychotria milnei, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. tree, 10. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3632)

Example: This plant produces a very strong wood that can be used for an ax or knife handle or a handle for any type of tool. It is a good wood for house posts. It must be dried to use, but it can be dried without the use of fire. Made as with others in ancient days used to make a war club, shape with stone, heat in fire to make it strong.

Scientific name: Mimusops elengi, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of seashell

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[niriθ] n. gills

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. epiphytic fern, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4043)

Scientific name: Microsorum grossum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. knots where rope is tying pieces of canoe together

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[niʧin neijaŋ] n. coconut shell

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. banana (gen.)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. ripe bananas

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[nombrɛ niʧinin] n. hair

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

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. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4794)

Scientific name: Rivina humilis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. a dried or withered breadfruit tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 104

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4749)

Scientific name: Dysoxylum bijugum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. plat (a map, drawn to scale, showing divisions in a piece of land)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 172

n. the red star, the "hand" in the constellation Orion; also "necye"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. vine, growing in open disturbed area. Flowers white. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3589)

Example: To build a cyclone house, take the vine of this species to tie pieces of the house. To prepare the vine for use as rope, collect many feet of it, put it in a fire, roll it in a figure 8, wait until it softens and then use for tying. This vine is hard and needs to be heated to a high temperature in the fire to make it soft; the person preparing this must use gloves to tie it to the posts and rafters while it is still warm. When it cools, it is very strong. Rope made from this vine will last a long time--perhaps 10-15 years. It can also be used to make a regular house.

Scientific name: Jasminum didymum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. liana, climbing on fallen tree (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3500)

Example: 1. When the stems of this plant are older, and it is a vine, is used to tie thatch on roof rafters as it bends well. 2. Burned leaves and rubbed on fishing line and spear to increase catch – used with other unspecified leaves, that are forageable. When you are fishing and if you set a basket or mat it means danger and you have to return to shore – the spirit is telling you that it is enough fishing.

Scientific name: Durandea pentagyna, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[nʊmʊ] n. fish (gen.)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. the south-south-east wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

v.n. to bear fruit as a tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 105

adj. unripe

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 106

[tarinʤipnan] adj. very strong (has a lot of muscles)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

v.a. to take off sprouts of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 110

n. sprouts

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 188

adj. made of branches

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 111