An example search has returned 100 entries
-aiu
-arari
-ataki
ia-kamani manioto mene nipikao
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.
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keraha
n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3151)
Example: The bark of this tree has a strong smell, and people macerate it and use it to bath. It is said to perfume the body, particularly after hard work. People use it to cover all of their body. A piece of the bark can be put with a person’s clothing to add a nice smell.
bookmarkkonphar
Blubberlip snapper
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkkonuwak
Whitespotted grouper
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkkonuwak arwerew
Coral hind, coral grouper (deep sea)
Example: Photo by Jan Messersmith, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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.
bookmarkkwanasanas
[kwenasənas] n. epiphyte growing on neonauclea forsteri trunk, about 2-3 m above ground (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2977)
Example: Ornamental: The tiny seeds, appearing as a powder, are used to decorate one’s face during kastom ceremonies. The plant is used when the fruit is yellow.
bookmarkkwankasikap
marao
Whitetip soldierfish
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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namatamai
nanen
nasiapu-a-nasiapu
n. herb growing on roadside along coast road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3168)
Example: This plant can be used to tell the sex of an as yet unborn baby. Two people hold the stem and tear it. If three threads from the corners of the stem come off, the baby will be a boy; if all 4 corners of the stem come off, the baby will be a girl. Two people start tearing the stem from both sides of the cut stem.
bookmarknauri
[newri] n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2989)
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.
bookmarknawan
nepar nepar
n. small sapling, 1.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3029)
Example: Fuel: Firewood Construction: Used to construct posts for houses. Tools: Wood is used to fashion handles for axes. Hunting: Wood is used to make the limbs of a bow. It is not considered the most suitable wood for this purpose.
bookmarknepikesy
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.
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nifar
niras
nisai-apran
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 and can go anywh
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. ...
bookmarknoukwerang
pagaivii
Floral wrasse
Example: Photo by Andy A. Lewis / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkpawpawuk
t.o Gossamer-winged Butterfly
Example: Photo by birdexplorers / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkpawpawuk
Tailed Rustic
Example: Photo by obinfiji / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC via inaturalist.org
bookmarkphuma phisir
Three-stripe fusilier
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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tafha, nafwerouk, kahimaregi, namitɨg , napuei mhia, kormahak, nwera
tuwai
twe twe
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
bookmarkwipin pitew
Blue trevally (female) (deep sea)
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkyesu
Cinnabar goatfish
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkyesu
Finstripe goatfish
Example: Photo by Robert Pillon / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 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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