An example search has returned 100 entries
-arkarekɨr
-árɨgɨn
karuarua
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5143)
Example: Use this plant to stop the rain, take 4 tips of the plant’s branch and place them in a cross formation, with the tips pointing N, S, W, E, wash them in sea water, and then call for the rain to stop. Hang these tips in a tree with rope for five days. Stem used to weave roof rafter to attach coconut fronds to stick. Young men hunting in bush with slingshots, when run out of stones, use these young fruits to hunt birds.
bookmarkkuankuma
kwanapa
kwanepit
[kwanapwɨt] 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.
bookmarkkwarwasei
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.
bookmarkmak irenha
Tanna fruit dove
Example: Photo by Doug Janson / Wikimedia Commons, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
bookmarkmakhum
Globehead parrotfish
Example: Photo by J. E. Randall, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkmanhewao apamus
Rainbow runner
(Bislama) Rainbow Runner
Example: Photo by J. E. Randall / EOL, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkmarao
Sabre squirrelfish
Example: Photo by Andy A. Lewis / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknakongar
[nako̤ŋhar] n. tree, 7-7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3100)
Example: This plant has an aroma, and people are said to take the leaf and squeeze it on them in a shower or while bathing with the purpose of keeping evil spirts away. In particular, this can be used when a person is doing a Toka dance, or when that person is visiting a cemetary, burying a person--to avoid having a problem with the spirits. This can also be used with Euodia hortensis (Plunkett et al. 3077) or alone.
bookmarknamatamai
Thumbprint emperor, blackspot emperor
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarknamatamai
Yellowlip emperor
Example: Photo by Anthony Pearson / Flickr, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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nare
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5039)
Example: This is the female type of 5037. Leaf is used to cover the top ridge of a roof on a house. Lasts 5 or more years. Women use the leaf for grass skirts. Take leaves, twist, tie in a line, dry in sun and then use to make skirt. Leaves have a nice fragrance.
bookmarknasar
natan
n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4242)
Example: 1. A variety of local pidgeons, including nawimba, manuapen, and kieri, eat the ripe fruits. 2. The leaves are used to seal roof seams in traditional houses. At the apex of the roofline, first coconut husk is placed, then the leaves of this plant, then finally, coconut leaves. The practice is referred to as kaweri nimaira.
bookmarknatuan
[natuwan] n. large tree, 10-14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3124)
Example: The wood of this plant smells bad. It is locally called a type of "stink wood." When young children get circumsized in kastom ways, to change the leaves for their bandage, take off the bark of this stem, take the inside part and scrape it--mix a handful of the scrapings with grated coconut, put it together in a leaf, put it on the fire, heat it, when the coconut is browned, squeeze it together to get the "milk" that is yellow in color. When young children swim in saltwater to dry the cut from the circumcision, squeeze this on that area to help heal it.
bookmarknauan
[nawa:r] n. well branched tree, 10-12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3032)
Example: Construction: The wood of this tree is used as timber wood. Hunting: Flying foxes are known to eat the fruits of this tree. If they are desired, hunters will gather near the tree when fruits are in season. Food: The ripe fruits (black) are consumed occassionally.
bookmarkneapar
nefeng
neknapus
n. sparsely branched shrub, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3081)
Example: The leaves of this plant are warmed over a fire and put warm on the legs of a person who is cold or has a headache, such as from a fever that comes with the flu. See 3076 for additional comments on this technique.
bookmarknepen
n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5076)
Example: Leaves used in cooking to flavor soup. To cure sore known as "yaush" that is the size of a 50 vatu coin or larger, take 2-3 branches, collect leaves, put in pot, and warm. Wash the sore 3x day wash for 1-2 weeks. This disease is caused by flies and mosquitos. Yaush is the English name. Mosquito or fly bites the person, passes worm similar to filariasis, then a boil erupts and scratch it becomes big sore. Dry leaves and flowers, put in tin, and light it up to keep mosquitoes away. The smoke from this burning plant chases away mosquitoes like a coil.
bookmarkngarehma
nkhaourakou
n. shrub, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3160)
Example: When a person is growing watermelons, you put a knife in the roots of the watermelon plants, and then cut a stick from this tree and drive it into the roots as well, to ensure greater numbers of watermelons will be grown.
bookmarknoawatikerehy
noukwerang
nurapw
penesu
Highfin parrotfish
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkpringsiwir
Lined surgeonfish
Example: Photo by Erik Schlogl / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmarkreiai
Whitespotted Surgeonfish
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmark
tikinao
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
bookmarkturlmata
[turma:ta] n. vine in hibiscus tiliaceus tree, growing on rocky roadside cut along coast road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3163)
Example: The vine is used for rope. Collect a length of vine appropriate for the task, heat it over a fire, peel the outer "skin" off and use the rest of the vine, fresh, to tie the poles and rafters used to make a traditional house.
bookmarkyapha iwis
Orangespine unicornfish
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
bookmark
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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