An example search has returned 100 entries
-ahupwén
-akwɨpahar
-apwini
-arisi
kapuapou
Teal Emo Skink
Example: Photo by flecksy / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkkarwase
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5120)
Example: When parents go away to a feast or garden, children take a pile of soil 12 in. diameter, put this flower on top, surround wth some ashes and then hide in the house to wait to see if the dwarf spirit appears (Karwase Haruase). Sometimes the spirit will come and then scare the children. Ancestors used these spirits and games to teach children to stay together and not wander alone. As the dwarf spirit will take you.
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kieri
konuwak arwerew
Leopard hind, leopard grouper (deep sea)
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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kuanuiru
[kwanwi:ru] n. well branched tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3036)
Example: Tools: The roots of this plant are used as a rope to fasten pig’s feet during the kastom ceremony. Landscape: This tree is planted as a shelter tree. Hunting: Pidgeons are known to eat the fruits of this tree. When hunters desire these birds, they will gather near to this tree. Fuel: The dried wood of this tree is used as a firewood.
bookmarkkwanapa
kwanasanas
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5166)
Example: For the kastom ceremonies, this can provide the face paint color yellow. Cut open the ripe fruit and paint directly with this. Prior to artificial colors, people used this for yellow and Bixa orellana for red to paint faces and skin.
bookmarkkwareren akuang
[kwarenem akwaŋ] n. herb growing on large rock in middle of flowing stream. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3114)
Example: The stem of this plant is a hollow tube, its local name means "inside out." When a person sings a kaostum song, they chew the stem and it is said to give the person a "big" voice. It also helps a person shout and sing loud as it helps to clear the throat.
bookmarkmakhum
Highfin parrotfish
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkmimi sei nikajirew
Hibiscus Harlequin Bug
Example: Photo by flecksy / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkminin tonga
namatamai
Ambon emperor
Example: Photo by FAO / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknarer
[nahrɨr] n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2993)
Example: Construction: The timber of this plant is used as a hardwood for any part of a house. Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Hunting: Pidgeons are known to eat the fruit of this plant. As a result, hunters will cluster about these trees to hunt this animal.
bookmarknasar
nathan
nawawa
nefara
n. tree growing in disturbed forest area along kwataren kastom road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3095)
Example: The leaves are woven to make mats, hats, baskets, fans. When pollen is released from the flower it is said that fish in the sea are healthy. The roots are used for tying things, pound pieces of root and strip them off and weave into rope. A person can cut a root in a way that makes a brush to paint grass skirts and other objects. This rope can also be used to tie various leaves that are used to cover lap-lap. The leaves can be harvested, the fiber removed and woven into rope.
bookmarknekaferang
[kəfe:rəŋ] n. epiphyte growing on cyathea trunk, growing along garden trail. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3066)
Example: This plant is used to reduce the pain of toothache. Take the stem and peel it, remove the bark and place the bark against a sore tooth. Keep it is place, until the person feels better. Can use this treatment 2-3 times. It is said to "take the pain away." The tooth may rot away naturally, but this is good for the pain that accompanies toothache. The dried fruits and seeds of the plant can be mixed with pig food, such as coconut, and when the female pigs eat it, they will not have piglets. This is said to be used when a person has too many pigs.
bookmarknepekesi
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5035)
Example: Root is sold to earn money, as perfume and oil is from this. Grandparents used to dry the wood over a cooking fire in a kitchen when a person would get the flu. To help, they’d take dried and heated wood, scrape one cup’s worth into hot water, and then breathe over the steam bath. Drink water afterwards. Do thhis once a day for three days.
bookmarkniar
nipina
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5015)
Example: Take 1 double handful of leaves, mix with dry coconut, roast in fire -- cover w/ banana leaf, tie up roast in fire for 5-10 min, take it down to the sea and the boys who have been circumcised 2 weeks before wash the sore with it. Dries up sore faster and wash skin and adds a fragrance to it. To treat strong fever, take knife and squeeze stem and put shavings on a leaf take 1 handful and mix with water and fill up a cup and pout into 1 bottle -- in morning and afternoon and consume 1 liter/day repeat for second day fever will do down in a few days.
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
nuak
n. vine climbing up ficus wasa tree to a height of 5 m above ground, growing in open forest heavily impacted by cyclone. flowers purplish-blue with white throat. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3242)
Example: When women go to the garden and have a backpack or basket, they tie it up with this vine--the vine makes an excellent rope overall. When a person catches a bird, climb a tree and put sap from this vine in its eye to blind him so he does not fly away. Apply this to small chicks in their nest. Birds then will grow to eating size and not fly away. When children have an ear infection that yields pus, chew the young leaves of this plant and spit into their ear to stop the pus that is coming out. If a person wants to drink from a pool of dirty water, put the vine in it to help purify the water.
bookmarknukuk
[nukwuk] n. epiphyte growing on a main branch of a glochidion tree, 2-3 m above ground (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3073)
Example: People use this to treat skin sores, by boiling a handful of leaves in a small amount of water and washing the sores with this. Wash 2-3x daily until the sore is better. It may take 3-4 weeks to heal the sore.
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nɨkafereng
nɨkwesi
takiew se tasi
Coi’s Goniobranchus
Example: Photo by eschlogl / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarktekɨ- ~ tiki
toupar toupar
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5132)
Example: Flower for decorating things like at marriage, church, opening of new building like dispensary. Ancient people, when needed water, take stem, mash 4-6 pieces and squeeze into coconut shell and drink it. So squeeze the stems together after mashing them along their entire length with wood post. This can be used to collect water today when a person is in the forest and thirsty. Leaves wrap banana laplap. Put in saucepan boil 20 minutes, toss out water, take leaf off and eat laplap. Leaf folded not tied. People say its native to Vanuatu
bookmarktumien
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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