Aneityum

v. go down

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

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

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. sleep

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. sleep

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. go after

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. to go ashore, to go from sea, to arise or overflow, as sea over land.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 62

adj. healed, applied to wounds; ripe; yellow

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 77

v. to peel off bark

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 75

[ek amʤeŋina] phr. I am sleeping

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adj. green, blue

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

adj. sick

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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

Scientific name: Rivina humilis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. the candle-nut tree; also "inhaig"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 85

n. Ocellated eagle ray

Example: Photo by Anne Hoggett / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Aetobatus ocellatus, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. stump of a tree; shaft of a candlestick

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 86

n. a bamboo flute

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 86

n. the thick end of a coconut leaf used as a target

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 86

n. a collection of plantations

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 87

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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 banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. top posts of house under construction

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the following day

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 61

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. boards for people to sit on

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. terrestrial plant and epiphyte at base of trees, growing in cloud forest in valley between inrerow and adjacent summit. Inflorescences pale yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3278)

Scientific name: Collospermum montanum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. bush land where forest trees grow; also "intucjip"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. a crop, but not the first ripe

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. the day before yesterday

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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

v. to chip off small branches

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 90

n. tree to 10 m tall, dbh 50 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4908)

Example: Wood used for timber.

Scientific name: Burckella, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

adj. dry

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adv. (already?)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4797)

Scientific name: Coix lacryma-jobi, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. day

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

[nadimi dowaŋ] phr. six 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

[nafirama] n. a kind of basket

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. terrestrial fern, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3712)

Example: The very young leaves of this plant are edible.

Scientific name: Ptisana smithii, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. fern. Growing in a village back path. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #29)

Example: 1. To cure when the anus falls out - Pound together 1 braches worth of inpalcapnesgin leaves and of both inloptiri (2-4 leaves, any age), also take the inner bark of nekeaitimi and nakhe. Put this into your hand, or another leaf and give it to the person to use it. This should be applied to the anus whenever the anus comes out. USed to use a clam shell to extract the bark but not anymore.

Scientific name: Ptisana smithii, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. shrub, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3502)

Example: The young stems of this tree are used to make bows and arrows. Cut the young, straight stems, dry them and use to carve the bow.

Scientific name: Rhamnella vitiensis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[nanaθ] n. shrub, 2-3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3455)

Example: Fertilizer, take fresh leaves and put in area where plant taro.

Scientific name: Psychotria milnei, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub. Growing near the beach. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #4)

Example: 1. Dried branches from this plant can be used to roast vegetable crops that women eat if they have problems becoming pregnant. 2. Firewood, burns well. 3. Some people will eat the green fruit for protection against black magic. Eat 5 fruits for this. Eat it only once – will last for a year.

Scientific name: Scaevola taccada, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. epiphytic fern on main tree trunk, growing in dry forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3504)

Example: This is a medicine to treat fresh cuts. Take the leaf of this species, macerate it and add 1 tablespoon of water and wrap in a Macaranga leaf, and then heat it on a fire. After heating, puncture the side of the Macaranga leaf and drop the hot juice on the fresh cut. This is said to be good before going to see the Dispensary or if you do not have access to a health care professional.

Scientific name: Pyrrosia confluens, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a reed frame for supporting the tendrils of yams

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. kind of fern (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4780)

Scientific name: Adiantum hispidulum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb, growing on roadside in open disturbed area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3607)

Scientific name: Ischaemum muticum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. withered banana leaves

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

n. low mountain

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 166

n. a bunch of grapes; also "nigaivaine"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. a bundle of reeds for a torch; a torch

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

n. species of pine

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

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, growing in forest at edge of wide tidal stream (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3535)

Example: 1. The wood is strong and good to make house posts. People use these for this purpose on the coast as salt water does not bother this wood. 2. People eat fruit, split fruit in half, carefully scrape the inner part into a pot of water, keep over night – next day rinse, fry or cook with coconut milk and can add tinned tuna for example, very hard work.

Scientific name: Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. tree. Growing near village. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #6)

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. To cure headaches casued by bad spirit - Take one top from Nelmaha and one from inrowod (white stripe variety) Combine and chew these then spit them out and apply to the sick persons forehead. 3. To cure headaches - Someone other than the woman must prepare this. Break the top branch of netethae and remove leaves for use. Combine with the top leaves of the top branch of nelmaha. Chew the leaves and drink the juice. Do this when the sun is setting on the horizon. The woman gives the leftover fibers to the person who prepared the medicine and that person goes and throws the fibers in the direction of the setting sun. 4. To cure toothache when pregnant - Take the inner bark from Intejed and boil it in a pot of seawater (about 1 liter) along with 2 leaves from each of inpounatmas, narayag, nahayag, and nelmaha. Boil until juice is visibly leaving the plants. Put this water into your mouth and hold it there for 2-3 minutes. Do this this with one cup in the morning, 1 cup in the afternoon, and 1 cup in the evening. 5. Used to fight against black magic in an unspecified way. 6. Roll leaf and put in pocket for protection when walk in a new area. 7. Message plant if a land dispute – if a person puts this stem or leaf in another’s garden whom they are angry with it means go away!! 8. To treat sick people, especially who fall ill from black magic to save their life. Symptoms vary, for example a person with small boils over body,* a person chews the leaf and spits it on the sick person, 1x and then puts the branch with leaves near the sick person when they sleep – 3x (1x day) branch is ca. 25cm long. (*headache, severe)

Scientific name: Ficus littoralis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

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

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. north-north-west wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. a fern tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. tree to 7 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4902)

Example: Leaves used to wrap fresh water fish before roasting on the fire.

Scientific name: Dillenia biflora, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[niʧɛn asŋa] n. teeth (all)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3491)

Example: Name means smash tooth. 1. This is part of an unspecified mixture that can be used as a spell to give another person a toothache. 2. Toothache – chew leaves on the sore tooth and leave it there for a while and spit it out – it will break the tooth and you can take it out, leave on 20 minutes.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus myrianthus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. branch (large)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 130

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 shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a bundle of reeds; also "nohudieg"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

n. bank (of a river)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

n. beach

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

[nohos umangi] n. kind of banana (big, from somewhere else)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nohos vietnam] n. kind of banana(sp. from Vietnam)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. vine to 2 m, aerial tubers and lobed leaves. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4946)

Example: This is a root crop. It is harvested in April-June. The leaves turn yellow and indicate that the crop is ready to harvest. If planted in the old days the root would get much larger. It is a good cyclone disaster food. Grows wild now. Boil the tuber in fresh water, when it is cooked add a bit of sea water to give it a salty taste. Chew the starchy root and spit out the fiber. Another variety is like sweet potato and a person can eat the entire root without spitting out the fiber. Can mix with coconut milk as well to eat.

Scientific name: Dioscorea pentaphylla, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. large tree, 13 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4052)

Example: 1. Considered to be a relative of Morinda citrifolia.

Scientific name: Neuburgia corynocarpa, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

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

n. liana, growing at edge of forest. Fruit. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3475)

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

n. tree, growing in disturbed forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3458)

Example: The stems of this plant are used to hold thatch on a roof, especially for round houses as this wood can bend easily.

Scientific name: Dysoxylum bijugum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. terrestrial fern, 0. 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3577)

Example: Join two of the inrolled fronds together at the part where the frond is opening (the tip that is curled) such that the leaves are held together by their unfolding growing tips. Place this along the path that is frequented by a wild pig (they travel along paths) and when the pig passes these two leaves, and is chased by a hunter’s dogs, these leaves in this formation are said to sap some of the pig’s energy and thus allow the dogs to catch up with it. This was explained to Tony by another person who mentioned it as a sort of magical power possessed by this type of fern.

Scientific name: Blechnopsis orientalis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. stem of coconut leaf

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 188

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

adv. seaward yonder

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 107

n. first shoots of old roots

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 183

adj. perennial (applied to water); also "etweite", "inweite"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 171

n. Lined surgeonfish

Example: Photo by Erik Schlogl / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Acanthurus lineatus via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev