Aneityum

[amŋi inɣaɣen] phr. drink kava (traditional)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. Futunas (bad)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

adj. black

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.a. to ascend, to go up

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[asvii naret̚o] phr. break bread

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. passed by on the other side

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 79

[θawarivi] n. Silver Gull

Example: Photo by Bernard Spragg, License: Public domain via Flickr

Scientific name: Larus novaehollandiae, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

[deseiʧ nadimi] phr. three men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. plant shoots; also "ehcohodaig"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 183

adj. afar

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

[et aʤuʤaj an ouʤeiko] phr. he went up there

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. to swell, as reeds when near blossoming

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 80

v.n. to come

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 81

n. flax

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 151

n. tree. Growing in village garden. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #19)

Example: 1. To cure the sea snake (nispev) curse that causes missed periods. First the husband must combine 4 young leaves of incispev and 4 young leaves of nafanu and mash and squeeze the juice into a small bamboo (1-1.5 inch diameter) The nafanu is important because it is a plant that connects to the sea. Use wildcane leaves cover the bamboo closed. Go to the sick person and unwrap the snake from her. Start from the top and let the woman drink a small part of the potion then wash her with the mixture, making sure to wash head, elbows, knees, feet, and belly. Then take a leaf of naha and break it over the woman’s belly button to break the snake off. Smash the bamboo vessel to pieces. Leave the woman there until the wash dries on her. This takes one whole day and the ceremony in the evening so she can sleep and she must not eat. This ritual is performed by men.

Scientific name: Sophora tomentosa, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3676)

Scientific name: Hedychium coronarium, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb, growing in partially drained marsh. Flowers purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3596)

Scientific name: Ipomoea aquatica, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inhosumeljaŋ] n. Black-tailed whistler

Example: Photo by Lip Kee, License: CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Pachycephala melanura, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. breadfruit (gen.), breadfruit tree

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. Blacktail snapper

Example: Photo by zsispeo, License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Lutjanus fulvus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

[intas anejʧom] n. Aneityumese language

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. seed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 182

n. the Milky Way

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. tree to 15 m, 15 cm dbh (collection: Michael J. Balick #4931)

Example: Use the wood of this tree for firewood.

Scientific name: Arytera neoebudensis, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. creeping and decumbent vine, growing at edge of strand (near airstrip terminal). (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3575)

Scientific name: Stictocardia campanulata, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

v. to chip off small branches

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 90

n. a plant from which an intoxicating drink is prepared

Scientific name: Piper methysticum, Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 91

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

adj. ripe, as fruit; healed, as a wound; also "mah"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 92

adj. ripe; also "metto"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 93

n. cloth (related to nelmai)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

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

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nadimi deroʊ] phr. two men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. sapling directly under large tree of same species (20-25 m tall), growing in primary forest. Sterile. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3451)

Example: 1. Wood used for timber boards. 2. Timber tree, sawn timber young stems for spear fishing, clean bark, heat it, affix tips on the end.

Scientific name: Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3488)

Example: The wood of this species is very straight and people make fishing spears out of it. The wood, being straight, is used as well for roof rafters.

Scientific name: Pavetta opulina, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. terrestrial plant, 60 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3498)

Example: Children take a shoot of this plant and make a whistle from it. However, when children do this, they are told not to, as it will attract the rains, or a snake, that will hear the noise and come to the person. This is a folk belief. The base of the shoot of this plant is chewed and applied to fresh cuts as a styptic. Pull out top growth of plant that has not flowered and blow on it like a whistle. Ancestors used this as a whistle to attract snakes for edible – not today. Name means “balls or heaps of snakes” refer to their attraction.

Scientific name: Dianella ensifolia, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. species of palm tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 95

n. tree to 7 m, dbh 20 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4860)

Example: This is a common tree. If a person travels from one district to another on Aneityum, and you see the tree planted in that other district, a person knows they are free to come into this area. When the leaves are yellow, as in a young tree, the local name is nala’gay. If a person carries a branch of this tree into a village it is a symbol that the person is coming with peaceful intentions.

Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. the beginning of cold wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 95

n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3490)

Example: 1. The larger stems of this plant can be used to build houses, for rafters. 2. It is also a good source of firewood. 3. Ancestors, before go to chief’s canal and want to talk about a complicated issue – a person would cut a branch and bring it to the sea and tap the water surface and would say what he wants, ask that he would want that issue to be solved and that others would follow his ideas and then go back to the meeting place and take stick, keep wind at his back, moving stick in all directions and then he will convince the people of his ideas. This is done by the chief’s spokesman. Helps convince the opposition. Helps keep power in hands of parent(??) chief rather than subchiefs who might have other ideas.

Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. well branched tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4081)

Example: 1. The wood is used to carve a bi-handle bowl from which chiefs would drink kava.

Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. well branched tree, 14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3651)

Example: Poles made from this plant are used for house rafters and burned for firewood. To plant taro in a swampy area, collect the leaves of this species and put them in the hole where the taro is to be planted, mix with a bit of soil and then plant the taro on top of that. Leaves are a type of fertilizer. Used when baking with the earth oven. Hot stones cover the food and then the leaves from this plant cover the stones. The leaves stay on the branch.

Scientific name: Polyscias cissodendron, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub to 3 m, flowers yellow with red outer coverings (appearing red when closed) (collection: Michael J. Balick #4957)

Example: This plant is used to fertilize fields, especially by growing it in fields that have been used for other crops for a very long time. The seeds can be cooked when dry and hard, boiled in water, or eaten directly without preparation when green and soft.

Scientific name: Cajanus cajun, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. Brassy trevally

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

Scientific name: Caranx papuensis via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. reed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 177

n. tares

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 192

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. bunch of bananas; also "nigainohos"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

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

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

[nelɣo] n. canoe

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. tree to 8 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4863)

Example: Fiber: Collect the stems of this plant, peel off the outer bark, soak (ret) in seawater for 1 week, then put stone on top of it-the fibers are loosened by the retting, peel them off and hang in the sun to dry and bleach. Weave small baskets, grass skirts and other things from this fiber. When sticks are placed in areas of the sea, shells are attracted to these sticks and people can collect the shells used for adornment--the animals in the shells like to eat the material on the sticks. Dried fruits of this plant are eaten by birds.

Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[nɛlpon nohop a nelɣo] n. front of a canoe

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tender shoots

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. leaf

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. fruit (general term)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. sugarcane

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. a fern tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

[niaŋ aɣin] n. August (lit. nasty wild cane)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. Ambon emperor

Example: Photo by FAO / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Lethrinus amboinensis via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3507)

Example: The young leaves and fruits are edible; the fruits are eaten ripe. This species is used for firewood as well as house posts, but they don’t last as long as other types of wood so they are used in temporary structures. A sacred plant on Aneityum. Name means linkage between this world and the spirit world. Agriculture – you find this tree ?? it means that the land is fertile. Birds eat fruits; people burn the tree to release ash and fertilizer and grow their taro around it – it will give more food. Message plant – if someone puts a long brown on your door or in your garden, it means “why are you here?” Implies that you should go back to where you belong. You don’t belong in this place. For example instead of quarreling over land dispute, put the branch and it means that you should leave this place.

Scientific name: Ficus adenosperma, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. tree, 10-12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4061)

Example: 1. When cooking "Naura" (freshwater prawns), the leaves are used to wrap them before they are roasted in a fire. 2. When making lap-lap (a traditional dish made of grated root crops), and the lap-lap leaf is unavailable (Heliconia sp.), use the large leaf of this species to wrap the taro.

Scientific name: Dillenia neoebudica, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[niʧinɛθoʊn] n. knee

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

[ninɛhɛn] n. scales

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[nipatunanin] n. goat horns

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of seashell

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n sea snake

n. terrestrial fern, growing in primary rainforest. [in transect t9-3] (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3631)

Example: Use it to cover fruit of inm̃ap (Inocarpus fagifer) in earth oven.

Scientific name: Christella dentata, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Bigeye scad

Example: Photo by J.E. Randall / Fishbase, License: CC BY-A-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Selar crumenophthalmus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. a bundle of reeds; also "nohudieg"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

n. a species of seaweed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

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. coconut leaves in the middle of the cluster, neither old nor new

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 104

n. small tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3452)

Example: 1a. The stem of this plant is used to make a spear, as it is always straight and very strong. It is a small growing plant, just right for length of a spear. 1b. Make a spear for fishing, peel bark, heat stem, affix points to end. 2. Name is the name of a fish. 3. Rafters for roof.

Scientific name: Podocarpus neriifolius, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

v.n. get off the reef

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 154

n. a small red berry used as beads

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 107

adv. down here; also "sime"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 108

v.n. to sprout

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 111

n. three days ago; three days hence

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 141

n. sweet potatoes

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati