An example search has returned 100 entries
-amhua
ia-kesi nukuaii-nahii
kapapu
kasimi
Eastern Barn Owl
Example: Photo by Christopher Watson, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
bookmarkkirepine
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5161)
Example: Leaf mixed with Malaxis sp. (MJB 5154) to treat broken bone. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) drip juice from the stem into 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 pregnant.
bookmarkkotauiruan
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.
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kuanmasekum
kwanarai
n. tree, 6-7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3101)
Example: People use this plant as a medicine to treat bad knees. Peel the bark, take 1 handful and put it in a cup of water until the water becomes black. Drink it 3x daily as needed until the knee pain disappears and the knee heals. Children use the seeds as a glue in school work.
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makhum
Yellowband parrotfish
Example: Photo by Andy A. Lewis / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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manhewao asori
Giant trevally (deep sea)
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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marawta
Pink squirrelfish
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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naskou
natis
naturan
n. epiphyte. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2624)
Example: 1. The plant is used entirely to produce grass skirts, known as raus. First the plant is retted in hot water and left to sun dry. Then portions of the plant are sewn together or draped over a waist band to form an ankle-length skirt.
bookmarknauri
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5118)
Example: Young stems are used to support the roof of ther house. Use yellow sap for glue. Fruits and flowers eaten by flying fox. Same effect as poison tree, they do not fly correctly, often falling and can be harvested to eat.
bookmarknava
nawes
[nawes] n. tree to 6 m tall, dbh 40 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4740)
Example: Fruit used for local medicine. When a person is diagnosed with "cancer" in the local hospital, take a ripe fruit in a cup of water and macerate it until the smell of the fruit comes out in the water, drink every other day, 3x daily, morning noon and night. Also used for firewood.
bookmarknek-ke-hmap
[neke hmup] n. herb to 2 m tall, growing on the edge of a homestead (collection: Michael J. Balick #4723)
Example: This plant is used to lift a person up--take two leaves together and make a "seat" and put it under a person, they can then be lifted up by the two people with a leaf on each side of that person. Use the leaf of this species to wrap rolled leaves of wild tobaco, to protect it and keep it fresh and moist.
bookmarknek-ke-hmap
n. herb to 2 m tall, growing on the edge of a homestead (collection: Michael J. Balick #4723)
Example: This plant is used to lift a person up--take two leaves together and make a "seat" and put it under a person, they can then be lifted up by the two people with a leaf on each side of that person. Use the leaf of this species to wrap rolled leaves of wild tobaco, to protect it and keep it fresh and moist
bookmarknekemap
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5016)
Example: When a person is sick put two of these large leaves together and use them to "carry" a person to the medicine specialist. If the sick person is a man, six people line up and put many leaves on the palm of their interwoven hands and then they carry the sick person while saying a special incantation. This is a very old practice. If a person has a stomach pain take 2 of the white inflorescences with the right hand and give them to the person to eat, twice a day (in the morning and eveing) for 4 days. The pain will go away. When kava is chewed to prepare the beverage, the roots are sp
bookmarknekes kes
nemrapoep
newou
[ne̤wo] n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3079)
Example: Used to treat pain. When a baby has an injection in the hospital, such as a vaccine, people take 1 handful of leaves, boil in a small amount of water to concentrate the resulting "juice" that comes out of the leaves, and put this fluid on the site of the pain, the injection, covering it with a leaf for 5-10 minutes, 2-3x daily until the baby stops crying.
bookmarknisai-arman
[nisi erman] n. shrub to 1.5 m, flowers white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4728)
Example: The leaves of this plant are used to make a women’s grass skirt. Men use these leaves to put in a band around the arm as decoration. These leaves are also used to tie a kava root for a ceremony in the nakamal. For kastom ceremony, take coconut endosperm, chew with this leave and covery body. It makes the body smell very nice. When a person has a fever, mix this leaf with other leaves including Annona muricata and Citrus species. Then the person sits over a steaming pot and inhales it to reduce the fever and symptoms. ...
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nuamera
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 week, 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 and bec
bookmarknurpiteu
nɨkava tapuga
nɨmnave, nemnave
penesu
Steephead parrotfish
Example: Photo by charlie20 / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkpirawa ~ firawa
Longspine emperor
Example: Photo by Museum of New Zealand / Te Papa Tongarewa, License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkrayai
Whitespotted surgeonfish
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarksap sap
n. herb, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3146)
Example: The leaves of this plant are used as a styptic, to reduce blood flow from a wound and promote faster healing of a sore. If a person has a sore or fresh cut that is oozing, the leaves are mashed and their "juice" is put directly on the affected area, twice daily until the wound is healed.
bookmarktuitui
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5090)
Example: Take a coconut leaf, take out the midribs so it becomes a sharp spine, impale the seeds on this, and light them for use as a torch. Leaf used to cover earth oven, and can be put between the stones and the wrapped cooking leaves in order to keep the food clean. Children play with the seeds as marbles
bookmarkwarakou
ray (general)
Example: Photo by Anne Hoggett / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkyaku
Green Sea Turtle
Example: Photo by questagame / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY via inaturalist.org
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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