An example search has returned 100 entries
-akw(i)
gɨwava
kapuapu
n. tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2978)
Example: Agricultural: When this plant is in flower, it is said that an edible shellfish (Suefa) is ready to be harvested. Light: A dry portion of wood is also used by older men as a "lightstick". Fuel: Two dry sticks are rubbed together as firestarter, in the absence of matches.
bookmarkkawir
kotauiruan
n. subshrub, 75 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3236)
Example: This plant is used as a source of fiber to make grass skirts. Gather a lot of stems, place in seawater with a stone on top (the process known as retting) for one month. Collect the stems, pull off the bark and remove the fiber, allowing it to dry in the sun until it bleaches white, when it can be woven into the traditional grass skirt.
bookmarkkwanasuprana
manhewao sarapiran
Brassy trevally (female) (reef fish)
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkminin tonga
namatamai
Slender emperor
Example: Photo by J. E. Randall, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknanɨs
nape
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5043)
Example: Branches used to make bow and arrow for hunting. Stem used for fence posts and houses. To treat a strong cough, take a branch of 20 leaves, toss in water, boil 10-20 minutes, drink warm liquid 2 cups a day for 1 week or until cough is gone.
bookmarknauiri fum
n. sparsely branched tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3005)
Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Construction: The timber of this plant is used to createany part of a house. It is considered a strong wood. Medicine: This plant is used to treat muscle soreness. It can be prepared in tow ways. One way is to boil and branch of leaves and then bathe (“swim”) with the resulting water. Another way is to heat a branch over a fire and rub on sore area for approximately 1 minute, after showering. Note: This plant is recognized as similar to M. latifolia. However, the medicinal action of this plant is regarded as inferior to the former.
bookmarkneapsan
nekaritang
n. tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3107)
Example: Used to trap birds. Cut the stem of this plant and collect the sap. Take a small vine locally known as Nanupi, and roll the vine into a ball, infuse it with white latex which then turns brown, put it in a papaya or banana tree--when a bird comes to feed on the fruit of those trees, it gets stuck to the ball and can’t leave. This is good for harvesting small birds to be eaten.
bookmarknekavai
[nəfkafa:i] n. liana growing on trunk of hedycarya dorstenioides, in dense forest along ridge. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3009)
Example: Animal Feed: The green leaves of this plant are used to feed pigs. Hunting: The inner part of the long dry rhizome is woven to create a pidgeon trap.
bookmarknekeimap
nekeinap
nerer
nevau
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5114)
Example: Weave bark fiber to make slings, grass skirt for ladies, hats and baskets. To do this, rett outer bark in sea for 1 week to rot everything but the fiber, take remaining fiber, dry in sun and use as a fiber for weaving.
bookmark
niemhis
nuamera
[numire] n. vine on pipturus tree, growing at edge between forest and garden of sweet potato and taro. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3147)
Example: This is used as a medicine to treat babies and children with fever. Take 1 handful of leaves and squeeze the "juice" from them into a cup, add a small amount of water, just enough to dilute the strong taste of the leaf liquid. Drink 3 or 4 times a day until fever is reduced. This liquid is also good for people who have done heavy work or who are old, as it is said to strengthen the veins. So, if a person is feeling weak, they can drink a few cups of this preparation. The name "Nuamera" refers to "live veins," meaning that it will make your veins come alive ...
bookmarknur
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5157)
Example: When young baby is loosing weight, give young tops--cooked-- to mother to eat for one month to help increase milk. You can also scrape a handful of inner bark of Ficus kajewskii (5163) into small pieces with a knife, mix with a handful of the young tops of (5157) in 1L of water and cook it, and squeeze the juice into a bottle. Drink one cup twice daily for one month to help a mother who is not providing enough milk for her baby. Kids put inflorescences in hair as a sort of rasta fashion.
bookmarknurap
[nurap] n. tree to 7 m tall, dbh 49 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4733)
Example: Wood from this tree is good for making house posts, as it is very strong. The wood is considered as excellent firewood. To restore energy when a person is tired, chew the leaf, swallow the juice, and spit out the leaf--it will make the person feel better.
bookmark
pawpawuk
Australian Lurcher
Example: Photo by birdexplorers / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkPawpawuk apusan
Dot-lined Angle
Example: Photo by birdexplorers / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkpenesu
Chameleon Parrotfish
Example: Photo by Erik Schlogl / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkpenesu
pepheer phisir
Oriental sweetlips
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkphuma phisir
Three-stripe fusilier
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkriuwiru
tamuni
tapatou
Sawtooth barracuda
Example: Photo by Stephanie W. Batzer, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmark
tehmian
n. shrub, 3-3.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3245)
Example: Children eat the ripe fruits of this plant. If a person has a sore, mash the leaves and put it on the sore to heal it. To ease delivery of a child, squeeze juice from many leaves into a 1.5 l bottle and drink all at once. This will facilitate delivery.
bookmarktekɨ- ~ tiki
warakou pusan
yapha
Bluespine unicornfish
Example: Photo by Ross D. Robertson / Shorefishes of the Neotropics, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmark
yesu
Manybar goatfish
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkThere are currently 3233 entries, 3212 audio files, and 1236 images.
All content copyright © Nafe (Kwamera) community. (2015)
Nafe (Kwamera) Talking Dictionary produced by Martial Wahe, K. David Harrison, and Jeremy Fahringer (2015-2020).
Botanical consultants: Michael J. Balick, Gregory M. Plunkett, Laurence Ramon, Tom A. Ranker, Sean Thackurdeen, and Calvin Heiman. Field data transcribed by Isabella Mandis.
Nafe language contributors include Martial Wahe, Jean Pascal Wahe, Chief Johnson Noar, Emmanuel Maasi, Marie Emmanuel Maasi and others as credited within the dictionary entries. Based in part on materials from Lindstrom, Lamont (1986) Kwamera Dictionary. Pacific Linguistics. Series C, No. 95. Canberra: Australian National University.
The Nafe-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 and Martial Wahe. 2015-2020.
Nafe (Kwamera) Talking Dictionary.
Swarthmore College.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/kwamera
Interface and database design under the direction of Jeremy Fahringer and Swarthmore College ITS.
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