An example search has returned 100 entries
-afa
kaepaepae kequahu
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5108)
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.
bookmarkkamumu
kavnavini
konapwit
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5045)
Example: If a person comes to your garden and tries to spoil it with a special leaf by rubbing it on his foot and walking around or rubbbing it on a stick and tossing it into a garden, take 8 branches of this species (MB 5045) and put 2 in each corner of a new garden. If branches are placed when the garden is planted, it will not be spoiled by this black magic. To stop having children chew 4 pieces of young stem 2 in. long. 2 times daily for one week and the woman will no longer have children.
bookmarkkonianaker
Giant grouper (deep sea)
Example: Photo by Deb Aston / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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konkamun
konkamun
kuankuma
kwanare-yaku
kwanepit
n. herb growing on roadside along coast road. flowers bluish-purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3164)
Example: The leaves of this plant are used to treat diarrhea. Take a handful of leaves, chew them and suck out the liquid and swallow it, then spit out the fiber and all that remains in the mouth. Also known to be good as a cattle feed.
bookmarkkwaninihi
kwotpitasi
namatamai
Longfin emperor
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknanen
nareg
n. tree, 10-12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2997)
Example: Hunting: Flying foxes are attracted to this plant for their fruits. As a result, hunters gather around this plant when they desire to hunt the flying fox. Food: The green leaf of this plant is used as a wrap when cooking fish over a fire. Clothing: The peeled inner bark of this plant is dried and then used as fastener or strap for other clothing during kastom ceremonies.
bookmarknarer
n. well branched tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4248)
Example: 1. The stems can be used as posts or rafters in traditional houses. If used as a rafter, it is used as mid-roof brace placed longitudinally on the roof, going from one end of the house to the other. This part of the roof is known as kuar kuo. 2. When in flower, taro is considered soon to be ready. When the fruit is falling, it is considered time to harvest the taro.
bookmarknaruakiri
[naruwakiri] n. herb, 2.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3082)
Example: To make a strap to hold the ornamental fiber "Nisei" (Plunkett et al #3077) on a person’s arm. Dry the stem, remove the fibers, and weakve into a strap. There is a legend that is told about this plant, concerning a rat and a fox. The rat and fox stole a banana from the Devil’s garden. The Devil caught the fox and told him not to come back. The rat said "lets go to the garden" and the fox said no. The rat said "go take these leaves, and tie the leaves with coconut fiber--and he told the fox to lie down and the rat sewed the leaves on the fox. ...
bookmarknaskou
nefweng
n. damaged tree, growing in open forest heavily impacted by cyclone. flowers pale-yellowish tan. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3234)
Example: The wood of this tree is used for building houses. When a person has a large cut, chew the young leaves of this plant until soft, roll up into some of the same leaf, heat on the fire for 5 minutes, put the heated leaves directly on the wound and secure this with a cloth. To treat diarrhea in small children, parents chew the leaves and give the juice that extrudes to the kids, 1 teaspoon, 2x daily for 2 days or until the condition goes away.
bookmarknekava kava
n. liana growing on trunk of hedycarya dorstenioides, in dense forest along ridge. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3004)
Example: Hunting: Flying foxes are attracted to this plant for their red fruits. As a result, hunters gather around this plant when they desire to hunt the flying fox.
bookmarknekeimap
nerer
ning
n. large grass, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3104)
Example: When thatching a house, put the coconut leaves on the crossbars, and then push the stem of this plant into the coconut leaves and bend them over to hold the coconut leaves. Use the stems of this plant as a support for yam vines. Use the stem to make arrows.
bookmarknisai-apran
[nisi apram] n. tree to 3 m, dbh 4 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4727)
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. 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. If you need to go to a "tabu" place, where the spirit can make you sick, a person can bathe with the leaves of this plant ...
bookmarknkhaourakou
nurpiteu
pawpawuk
Australian Lurcher
Example: Photo by birdexplorers / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkpenesu
Bleeker’s parrotfish
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkRamasikin
takiew
African Giant Snail
Example: Photo by buggirl13 / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkwipin iariman
Bluefin trevally (male); powerful fish, with the power of a young cow
Example: Photo by Jan Messersmith, License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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There 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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