Aneityum

[aθ tasvi] v. break strong things (like a branch, etc.)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. to go up, or go east

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. to go ashore

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 66

v. rest

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3520)

Example: Children sometimes eat this fruit but it smells bad. Adults do not eat it. An introduced species so there is no local name.

Scientific name: Annona glabra

n. tide flowing a little, begun to flow

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 72

adj. afraid; fright

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[et amai inɣaɣen] phr. he chews kava (traditional)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

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

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[et ovan emθa] phr. the strength was really strong

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adj. happy

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. plastic bailer, bottle to get water out of canoe

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inɣej] n. tree

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[indraʊ] n. pandanus leaf wrapping for the preparation of fish

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. type of seashell

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

Speaker: Jack Keitadi

[inʤa anʤia] n. chicken blood (lit. blood chicken)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[inʤupurapni] phr. Good evening. (greeting around sunset)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. epiphyte on dead log, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4105)

Example: 1. This plant is considered bad luck when hunting or fishing. When doing these activities, do not decorate your hair with them. 2. This plant is used to weave the sheath portion of "nambas". First the stems are retted, then the inner portion of the plant removed. Once removed, the sheath is woven with the blanched fiber. 3. This is considered the female version of this plant. See GMP #4104, Phlegmarius sp. for the male version.

Scientific name: Phlegmariurus squarrosus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub to 1 m, flower white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4866)

Example: When making a taro patch, and removing soil, add the leaves of this plant to the soil to fertilize the taro, and prevent the bottom part of the taro from rotting. Put a layer of leaves on the bottom of the patch before planting taro and covering with soil.

Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4070)

Example: 1. Branches of this plant are used to insulate and cover earth ovens.

Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inmeg inʤupʤupura] n. night, night before the moon comes out

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. tree to 8 m, dbh 20 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4927)

Example: The wood of this tree is used as firewood. Children collect the dry fruits and use them for decorations and toys, for example playing with a fruit on the beach, driving it as if it were a toy truck or boat (photo).

Scientific name: Heritiera littoralis, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Steephead parrotfish

Example: Photo by charlie20 / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Chlorurus microrhinos, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. today

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 88

n. a brook that is dry in summer

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 131

n. stoloniferous herb, 15 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3561)

Example: In the past the ancestors learned to cook the leaves of this species with fish in an earth over and then eat the leaves as well as the fish. Today, fish are wrapped with small leaves and then covered with lap-lap leaf (Polyscias) and cooked in an earth oven.

Scientific name: Wedelia uniflora, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

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. the name of a plant

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 90

adj. adjacent

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

n. back of canoe

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a native pudding made of taro, coconut milk, etc.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 91

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[kurimataʊ] n. cow (lit. dog’s older brother)

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. a cultivated field

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 92

n. erect grass (called ’whitegrass’), growing in coastal forest just behind strand vegetation. Inflorescences whitish. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3440)

Scientific name: Imperata cylindrica, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

v. die

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. sterile herb, juvenile form (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3438)

Example: This plant is used as a starchy food. To prepare it, grarte it into a dish, wash with water, the starch settles to the bottom, pour off the water, dry the starch in the sun and make it into a powder. The starch can be cooked with coconut milk and eaten.

Scientific name: Tacca leontopetaloides, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the name of a species of seaweed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 94

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. kind of turtle

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[naɣai milmat] n. before sun comes up, just light enough to see green toward the east looking down from a hill, "green place"

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. cotton

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 95

[nakro] v. share

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. herb, growing along garden area. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3595)

Example: 1. As a medicine for dengue fever, take a handful of stem apices of this plant, boil in 1-2 cups of water and drink this amount 3x daily, cold, until the fever goes away. This treatment is said to give a person strength during the course of the illness. 2. Take top branch – 2 leaves and put under baby’s pillow, baby will fall into a deep sleep.

Scientific name: Physalis angulata, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of shellfish (m)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of bush

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

[ɲataʊ] n. shell (big)

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

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. dawn of day

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 141

n. north-north-east wind, between "natoga" and "natoga matahau an jap"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 168

n. a sweet-smelling plant

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. a stem

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

[nawuraniŋ upni] phr. thank you very much

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. shark

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[nɛθoʊn] n. foot, leg

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. a bunch of grapes; also "nigaivaine"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. herb, growing in partially drained marsh and along weedy areas of road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3600)

Example: This plant is used as an ornament in the hair.

Scientific name: Palhinhaea cernua, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a light wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. leaf

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. terrestrial fern, growing at edge of marsh (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3592)

Example: The root is used as a survival food, during famine, cook roots on fire and eat. Roast on charcoal.

Scientific name: Pteridium esculentum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

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. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

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. herb, 25-30 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3696)

Scientific name: Zingiber zerumbet, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb, growing at edge of garden area. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3599)

Example: This is for a medicinal tea to give energy to a person who is not feeling well. Collect a handful of young stem apices and boil in 2-3 cups of water. Drink warm to help the body be strong and healthy. It is also good to treat diarrhea. When a person feels well again, stop this treatment but they can also drink this 1x daily, once before breakfast or before lunch, as a healthful tea.

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. the Magellanic Clouds

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3627)

Scientific name: Polyalthia nitidissima, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[niseuɣ inmohoɣ] n. lit. "the moon’s walking stick"

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. small basket

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. seed (general term)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. vine, growing in coastal forest. Flowers red with yellow tinges. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3448)

Scientific name: Gloriosa superba, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[nowoɣ] n. red clouds after sunset

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. dale

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 140

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3624)

Example: Use the wood of this plant for roof rafters.

Scientific name: Syzygium myriadenum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. Ficus septica var. cauliflora

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 443

[oʔo] phr. no (traditional)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[ovan] adj. strong

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adv. down yonder

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 108