An example search has returned 100 entries
-ki
affix in this direction; here; this
bookmarkaihon
v. to spit on leaves; to chew leaves for sickness
bookmarkaj
[aj] v. fly
bookmarkehcodaig
n. plant shoots; also "ehcohodaig"
bookmarkheto
v. to grow again, as hair, feathers, plants; to come out, as teeth
bookmarkincanaij yohon
n. kind of plant, grass, or fern
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incowos yag
n. plant used to make ceremonial head wreath and neck garland
bookmarkindroumu
inhau am̃a
n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3560)
Example: In ancient times this plant was used as a fiber to make skirts and rope. Take the stems, remove the leaves, rett the stems in sea water for a few weeks, sun dry the stems and then weave into rope or skirts. This plant is not much used for this purpose at the present time. This plant is used to make a medicine with an unspecified use.
bookmarkinhenid
n. kind of sugarcane
bookmarkinmadeded
n. kind of tree
bookmarkinmeraducai
n. kind of breadfruit
bookmarkinmeri
n. a stringy bark tree
bookmarkinmohoc onubidou
intejed gal
intiklancai
n. sprig
bookmarkjigkom
[ʧiŋkum] n. chewing gum
bookmarkkatupinmi
n. kind of taro
bookmarkkidibop
lelceije
v.n. to walk abroad
bookmarknabuthwä
naceijo
n. half tide when rising
bookmarknadeij
naha
n. herb to 1 m, flowers white (collection: Michael J. Balick #5003)
Example: The leaves are used to wrap fish for cooking in an open fire. If you eat a bad fish and begin to feel the effects of it a few hours later, such as with Ciguatera illness, cut the base of the stem of this plant and let the sap drip into a half coconut shell with coconut water in it, drink the shell and it will make the person vomit out the bad food. It does not taste good but is very effective in making a person vomit as it contains a toxic compound.
bookmarknahi ateuc
n. a plant with white flowers; a lily
bookmarknahoij
n. kind of tree
bookmarknared
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.
bookmarknatapin
n. hedge
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natimihas
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.
bookmarknau inwai
n. channel of a stream
bookmarknaurakiti
n. kind of plant, grass, or fern
bookmarknecemas
n. terrestrial plant, growing in dry forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3509)
Example: This is a "message plant" that signifies that there has been a death. The person holds it or puts it on their head, goes to another person’s house and hands it to the person they wish to convey the message to, without saying anything and that person knows that someone has died. It can also be handed to that person. The person receiving the message then asks "who" and is told the deceased person’s name.
bookmarknecsap̃
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3534)
Example: This tree has very hard wood. 1. Use the small stems to plant dry land or swamp taro, sharpening the end and pushing it into the ground to make a hole. 2. It also is useful for fence, posts for houses. 3. Small stems are also used to make a comb for the hair. 4. Plant pole for taro kava. 5. A branch is shaped and used to husk coconut. 6. The wood is hard and in ancient times people would take a forked piece and put string on one side of it, sharpen the other side and use with the string as a fish hook – need to keep rope tight until it is in the canoe. Do not give it slack – strong use AAM 17.
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neduodo
n. kind of tree
bookmarknehep
n. large tree, 15-20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4062)
Example: 1. The trunk of this tree is used to make the body and outrigger of a traditional canoe. 2. The inner bark is used as a bandage for cuts and wounds. When the inner bark is grated it yields a sticky substance. The sap acts as a liquid stitch and reduced the chance of scarring. When this is dry one must use a knife to remove the residue.
bookmarknekrou
n. Two-spot red snapper, twinspot snapper, red bass
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknelm̃ae
n. small tree. Found in the village, but not cultivated. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #17)
Example: 1. Ancestors used this plant to make fish line – cut young branches, remove outer bark and tie together, put in salt water or fresh water for a week, it is now strong, dry in sun, take fibers and twist them together to make a very long fishing line. 2. Leaves are used to feed pigs. 3. Take inner bark, scrape it and put on boils. Attach with any leaf and it takes out the boil. 4. Trunk for temporary bush house.
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nerophat
n. Yellowspotted trevally, Turrum
Example: Photo by Rick Stuart-Smith / Fishes of Australia, License: CC BY-A 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknetvo
n. a species of fruit
bookmarknijig an nepig
n. midnight; also "nijihgan nepig"
bookmarknijisei
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.
bookmarknijom arahed
nipyipei
n. kind of plant, grass, or fern
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nisiug
n. a tree, the leaves of which have no center rib
bookmarknitetan
n. a fern
bookmarknohoan
n. fruit; also "nohwan"
bookmarknohwan aruman
n. kind of taro
bookmarknosjacai
n. Two-striped sweetlips, giant sweetlips
Example: Photo by Ross D. Robertson / Shorefishes of the Neotropics, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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nuei
n. vine climbing up a dead tree, growing in dense rainforest. Fruits green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4056)
Example: 1. The stems are used as a traditional rope to fasten house posts. First a length of stem is coiled in a figure-eight pattern. It is then heated to render it pliable. Once heated, for several minutes, it is immediately used to fasten the posts. When cool, it is set and inflexible. Such a fastener can last 20 years.
bookmarknupsin hudain
nupsinhodaeñ
nyihivac
n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3263)
Example: 1. A "calendar plant". When this flowers in the bush, and people are making their gardens in that area, it means the garden is ready to harvest. 2. Firewood, calendar, and message plant – for people who live up in the forest can see this coastal plant and when it flowers it is a good time to go fishing or to move to the coastal area for a few weeks to relax. July-August. Tide is low so everything is exposed so it is a good time to fish for there, 2 months. 3. Flowers have a nice nectar, sweet, kids drink.
bookmarkpokmi
adv. seaward here
bookmarkrap̃ad
[rak͡pad] n. black hawk
bookmarktilaconai
n. first quarter of the moon
bookmarkyah
n. a creeping plant
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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