Kapingamarangi English

n. fence, wall of a house

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

bottom fishing

n. blue sky

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

paternal grandfather

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

vi. defecate

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. flatfish (flounder, halibut, etc)

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

v. dribble

n. scallop

vi. octopus

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

adj. dumb

n. rabbitfish species

Scientific name: Siganus sp.,
Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. tooth brush

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

tooth brush

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

ai. broad space

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

v.phrase to go spearfishing

vi. confused, be

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

adj. always late

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

vi. to misunderstand, not able to understand

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

adj. unsuccessful

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

adj. too small, misfitted

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

adj. to grow poorly, unable to grow

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

which

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

adj. forgetful, absent-minded

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

angelfish species

Scientific name: Pomacanthidae sp.

barb of a stingray used to pierce ears

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

Peck

n. sister

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

poorly balanced

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. octopus ink

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

tired

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. term referring to young things, young children

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

copra dried in the wind

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

vi. bathe

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

phrase we roast a fish

n. broad, open place

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. midnight snapper; black and white snapper

Scientific name: Macolor macularis; Macolor niger,
Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

school of red snapper

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

vi. to limp

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

adj. multi-colored

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

chest

Speaker: Hawortson Heinrich

think

vt. level (e.g. ground)

vt. distort

vt. add more coconut meat

vt. to squint

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

vt. amaze

vt. get drunk

v. be fast

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

to accumulate school of fish by feeding them, to attract by baiting

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

to Mash

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

vt. memorize

welcoming feast

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

v. surf

find

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. bath house

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. lionfish in general; red lionfish

Scientific name: Pterois volitans,
Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

an islet of Kapinga Atoll (uninhabited)

Source: Buck 1950, Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

choose

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. appendage; fin

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. fish fin

beard

n. sponge

lie (down)

boiled

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. thorn branch

n. tree

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. flame

plywood

escape

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

vi. shake one’s head

n. perfume

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. red warrior ant

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

v. shake

n. dolphin

Example: Photo by manoellemos February 9, 2007 via Flickr License: CC BY-SA 2.0

Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus,
Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. open area around the house

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

dull

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

going any direction

worm

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

insect

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

phrase a double hook

n. frying pan

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

have breakfast

n. a fiber of coconut husk

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. chin

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. eyeball

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

n. tin roof

vt. mumble

n. a knot that unties when pulled

n. paternal grandmother

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

breadfruit pancake, grilled on a fire

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. ghost crab

Scientific name: Ocypodinae sp.,
Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. branching coral

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. double lined mackerel

Scientific name: Grammatorcynos bilineatus,
Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

Box

vi. happy, be

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,

name of coral head in Kapinga lagoon

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

noise of knocking

an islet of Kapinga Atoll (one of only two that is inhabited)

Source: Buck 1950, Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

noun bark

Speaker: Howartson Heinrich

n. rib cage

Source: Lieber & Dikepa 1974,