The Nafe (Kwamera) Talking Dictionary currently has 3233 entries, with 3212 audio files and 1236 images.
This image gallery has returned 100 entries.
kind of shell. Possibly genus Vasum.
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2017
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n. well branched tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3091)
Scientific name: Dillenia biflora
Example: The leaf can be used to wrap food for carrying, for example, wrapping up crabs.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5079)
Scientific name: Psidium guajava
Example: Fruits eaten when they turn yellow and are ripe.
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Common ponyfish
Scientific name: Leiognathus equulus via FishBase
Example: Photo by John E. Randall / FishBase EOL, License: CC BY 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Striped ponyfish
Scientific name: Leiognathus fasciatus, Aurigequula fasciatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Longfin African conger, moustache conger
Scientific name: Conger cinereus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Patrick Randall, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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n. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5107)
Scientific name: Chamaesyce
Example: For Asthma, take one handful of shaved stem with 1/2 L water. Boil in a pot 5-10 minutes, a drink 1 warm cup two times a day for one week.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5141)
Scientific name: Geophila
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5159)
Scientific name: Phyllanthus
Example: To attract fish in the sea. Take the branches and mix with mashed coconut endosperm, put (throw) in sea and then use line and hook to catch reef fish there.
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[ jaku jaku ]
n. kind of herb (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3165)
Scientific name: Portulaca oleracea
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n. herb growing on roadside along coast road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3165)
Scientific name: Portulaca oleracea
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Milkfish
Scientific name: Chanos chanos via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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[ jare̤mə̤ ]
n. herb, growing along open garden path. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3084)
Scientific name: Bidens pilosa
Example: This plant is used to treat diarrhea in a baby 1-6 months old. The mother takes 4, 1" pieces and chews them, spitting it into the baby’s mouth 2x daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon until the diarrhea stops. Sometimes if the baby is sick from a spirit such as a yam, taro or sea spirit, the mother takes 2, 1" pieces of stem and 2, 1" pieces of Acalypha wilkesiana petiole (Plunkett et.al. #3081) and chews the two species together and spits on the affected baby, telling the spirit to "go away and leave the baby alone.
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n. herb, growing along open garden path. flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3084)
Scientific name: Bidens pilosa
Example: This plant is used to treat diarrhea in a baby 1-6 months old. The mother takes 4, 1" pieces and chews them, spitting it into the baby’s mouth 2x daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon until the diarrhea stops. Sometimes if the baby is sick from a spirit such as a yam, taro or sea spirit, the mother takes 2, 1" pieces of stem and 2, 1" pieces of Acalypha wilkesiana petiole (Plunkett et.al. #3081) and chews the two species together and spits on the affected baby, telling the spirit to "go away and leave the baby alone.
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Spotted Unicornfish
Scientific name: Naso brevirostris via FishBase
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Rough triggerfish, poisonous
Scientific name: Canthidermis maculata via FishBase
Example: A poison fish which can sometimes be eaten. Photo by Ross Robertson / Shorefishes of the tropical eastern Pacific online information system, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5108)
Scientific name: Achyranthes aspera
Example: When woman does not have period for 2-3 months and is pregnant, people say the lizard could eat the baby. To avoid this, boil a handful of stem shavings in 1/2 L water, for 6 minutes and give this drink to the woman twice a day for 5 days. Then the bleeding will stop. There are also dietary restrictions: no coconut, oil, salt, curry. The woman can also not swim in sea for 5 days. But the baby will be healthy if these instructions are followed.
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Tiger Cowry
Scientific name: Cypraea tigris via inaturalist.org
Example: via inaturalist.org
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n. coconut development stage 3
Example: Overripe, can be put into seawater for up to 3 months to ferment, then drunk for intoxication
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n. sprawling herb, with erect flowering stems (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3237)
Scientific name: Cyathula prostrata
Example: Children take the inflorescence of this plant and use it to find and poke lizards hiding in the bush. For treatment of an unspecified spiritual sickness, chew 2, 2" pieces of the stem to get rid of the sickness, spitting the material on the hair and body of an ill person; use only 1 time.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5108)
Scientific name: Achyranthes aspera
Example: When woman does not have period for 2-3 months and is pregnant, people say the lizard could eat the baby. To avoid this, boil a handful of stem shavings in 1/2 L water, for 6 minutes and give this drink to the woman twice a day for 5 days. Then the bleeding will stop. There are also dietary restrictions: no coconut, oil, salt, curry. The woman can also not swim in sea for 5 days. But the baby will be healthy if these instructions are followed.
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n. terrestrial fern growing in weedy patch with other herbs at edge of open forest heavily impacted by cyclone. Leaves dimorphic. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3253)
Scientific name: Blechnum
Example: Used as a medicine to treat children who cannot walk. Rub smashed leaves on the knee of a child, "he will walk." For a child about 1 year old, rub the leaves on the knee and underside of the foot. This will make the child walk "easily and quickly." and will make the leg "lighter."
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Collared Kingfisher
Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris
Example: Photo by JJ Harrison, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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American Cockroach
Scientific name: Periplaneta americana via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by buggirl13 / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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t.o Golden Silk Orb-weaver
Scientific name: Nephila tetragnathoides via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by saw_it / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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t.o. Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Athamas whitmeei via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by flecksy / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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Dome Web Spider
Scientific name: Cyrtophora moluccensis via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by givernykate / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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Giant Golden Orbweaver
Scientific name: Nephila pilipes via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by givernykate / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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Scarlet Percher
Scientific name: Diplacodes haematodes via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by givernykate / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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Yellow-striped Flutterer
Scientific name: Rhyothemis phyllis via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by givernykate / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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Yellow-banded snapper, hussar
Scientific name: Lutjanus adetii via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Mangrove red snapper, mangrove jack
Scientific name: Lutjanus argentimaculatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Sascha Schultz / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Two-spot red snapper, twinspot snapper, red bass
Scientific name: Lutjanus bohar via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Spanish flag, stripey
Scientific name: Lutjanus carponotatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Ian Shaw / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Dory snapper
Scientific name: Lutjanus fulviflamma via FishBase
Example: Photo by Andrew J. Green / Reef life Survey, License: CC-BY 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Humpback red snapper, paddletail
Scientific name: Lutjanus gibbus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Common bluestripe snapper
Scientific name: Lutjanus kasmira via FishBase
Example: Photo by Lyle Vail / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Bigeye snapper
Scientific name: Lutjanus lutjanus via FishBase
Example: Photo by J. E. Randall, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Malabar blood snapper, saddletail snapper, large-mouthed nannygai
( Bislama ) Red Snapa
Scientific name: Lutjanus malabaricus via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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n. tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3102)
Scientific name: Hedycarya dorstenioides
Example: People use this plant for firewood
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Plicate Nerite
Scientific name: Nerita plicata via inaturalist.org
Example: via inaturalist.org
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5109)
Scientific name: Mimosa pudica
Example: To treat strong fever or flu, boil one handful of stem and leaves in 1 liter of water for 5 minutes. Drink this liquid warm, one cup a day for two days.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5110)
Scientific name: Leucaena leucocephala
Example: Leaves fed to pig. Women string the seeds to make necklaces to sell. If the libido of a male is too strong ("bamboo is too strong"), mix juice from leaves and mix with 1/2 L water and drink 2 cups 1 day.
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n. Cassias, type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5110)
Scientific name: Leucaena leucocephala
Example: Leaves fed to pig. Women string the seeds to make necklaces to sell. If the libido of a male is too strong ("bamboo is too strong"), mix juice from leaves and mix with 1/2 L water and drink 2 cups 1 day.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5109)
Scientific name: Mimosa pudica
Example: To treat strong fever or flu, boil one handful of stem and leaves in 1 liter of water for 5 minutes. Drink this liquid warm, one cup a day for two days.
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Teal Emo Skink
Scientific name: Emoia cyanogaster via inaturalist.org
Example: Photo by flecksy / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
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[ kəkwapu ]
n. tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2978)
Scientific name: Hedycarya dorstenioides
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.
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n. tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2978)
Scientific name: Hedycarya dorstenioides
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.
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n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3226)
Scientific name: Hedycarya dorstenioides
Example: This is a "calendar plant," tied to the sea. When it flowers, it is time to harvest sea urchins. The dry wood is used to mke a fire when a person has no matches.
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n. sapling, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4235)
Scientific name: Hedycarya dorstenioides
Example: 1. When in flower, it is s a good time to hunt swefa, a type of sea mollusc.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5028)
Scientific name: Achyranthes aspera
Example: To reduce the pain of labor, squeeze double handful of leaves into 1 cup of cool water and give to the mother to drink.
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n. type of fern (collection: Michael J. Balick #5073)
Scientific name: Adiantum
Example: To treat scabies, collect 5 whole plants, remove the soil, then boil in a bucket of water for 10-20 min and wash the scabies 2x daily for 2 weeks or until the scabies is dry.
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5072)
Scientific name: Melicope
Example: House posts, rafters, good for building in Tanna. Scrape stem in cup and squeeze with water into a glass to give someone with heavy menstrual bleeding. 1 stem to fill a cup, mix with water, 1 liter /day for 7 days. Shark causes bleeding, maybe the person ate too much shark. This will solve that. This plant is called "medicine of the shark".
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5161)
Scientific name: Canavalia
Example: Leaf mixed with Malaxis sp. (MJB 5154) to treat broken bone. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) drip juice from the stem intp the eye 2x day 3 days. Fertility: To cleanse womb squeeze on stem into bottle with water and drink 1L a day for four days to get pregannt.
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Deep-bodied silver-biddy
Scientific name: Gerres erythrourus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Rick Winterbottom / FishWise Professional, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Whipfin silver-biddy
Scientific name: Gerres filamentosus via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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Common silver-biddy
Scientific name: Gerres oyena via FishBase
Example: Photo by Andrey Ryanskiy / FishBase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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kind of sea shell; droga
( Bislama ) Droka
Example: eatable shell, boiled in the saucepan or roasted in the fire
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n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5164)
Scientific name: Entada phaseoloides
Example: Fresh vine is collected and used to tie parts of the house together. Can drink water from stem. Fruits-seed used as necklace especially for kastom dance.
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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