The Aneityum Talking Dictionary currently has 2431 entries, with 1543 audio files and 860 images.
This image gallery has returned 860 entries.
nilpodou
n. herb, growing at edge of garden area. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3599)
Scientific name: Bidens pilosa
Example: This is for a medicinal tea to give energy to a person who is not feeling well. Collect a handful of young stem apices and boil in 2-3 cups of water. Drink warm to help the body be strong and healthy. It is also good to treat diarrhea. When a person feels well again, stop this treatment but they can also drink this 1x daily, once before breakfast or before lunch, as a healthful tea.
Semantic domains:
inpa
n. shrub. Growing in the village. Cultivated. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #26)
Scientific name: Euodia hortensis
Example: 1a. To stay healthy while pregnant - grate 1 coconut with nekei leaves, about a handfull (8). And 8 inpa leaves and 8 niditau leaves. Pound all of this together and squeeze juice out and bath in this then jump into a clear river to wash it off. 1b. Handful of leaves mashed with grated coconut and put in a shell, heat stones and put in shell, then take hot liquid to rub on body of woman who have just delivered to make their bodies healthy again, back to normal – when they deliver they are in huts, then wash with this and then come out of the huts and rejoin family. 2. Symbolic plant for peace (name means peace). 3. Message plant – put small tips of leaves in hair or make hat out of it and people know you come in peace. 4. When giving a gift, put this leaf on the gift, as in a basket – people wear them they are happy and peaceful – it is symbolic of Aneityumese people – so even when the people leave the island they will grow this plant. 5. People bathe with this leaf, mixed with grated coconut and cover body and hair to smell good and be strong. 6. Mosquito repellant, build fire, put green leaves on top, smoke and aroma chases mosquito away. 7. Take top of leaf with 3 young leaves and put in hair as there is the belief that this plant symbolizes the trinity. So it protects people. If a person from the island goes elsewhere and is faced with black magic they bathe with a handful of leaves, boil them and bathe with the liquid to remove the spell. 8. Decorate people with this leaf day feasts, weddings, and other events – very sacred.
Semantic domains:
naupitju
n. treelet, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3622)
Scientific name: Cordyline fruticosa
Example: People use the leaf of this plant to tie over grated banana, taro or other foods for cooking in an earth oven or boiling in a pot. The root of this species is edible. Cook it for 2-3 nights in an earth oven and then chew and squeeze the juice into your mouth, spitting out the fiber. It is a survival food.
Semantic domains:
necñopod
n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3512)
Scientific name: Acalypha grandis
Example: This plant is used as fertilzer to place on bottom of the taro patch in the same way as GMP #3456 to help "feed the ground" for next year. The leaves are used to wrap food. When a person is chewing kava, pile the chewed kava roots on the young leaves of this species. Also, an unspecified medicinal use.
Semantic domains:
anaforofata
[ anaforofata ]
n. ladder (archaic)
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
inmetla
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3579)
Scientific name: Eugenia rariflora
Example: The fruits of this plant is edible and tastes like a guava. The wood is used for house posts, and the smaller stems used to make rafters to hold thatch. Firewood.
Semantic domains:
inhosumeljag ~ nu inhosumeljag
nwujvaeñ
n. vine climbing on Myristica fatua, growing in primary rainforest. Fruits green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3615)
Scientific name: Smilax vitiensis
Example: This vine is used to make rope. Collect the stem, roll it in a figure 8, heat it on a fire and tie it on a house while the vine is still hot. Weave a ?? net to catch fish.
Semantic domains:
nepjen
n. hard outer shell of crab
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
Semantic domains:
nemered
n. tree, 16 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3709)
Scientific name: Linociera brachystachys
Example: The small straight stems of this plant are used for fishing spears and the larger poles for rafters. The wood can also be used to make combs--the name refers to "comb wood."
Semantic domains:
nopou
n. tree to 5 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4881)
Scientific name: Fagraea berteroana
Example: The wood of this tree is used to make house-posts, it is strong. The leaves are used as a compost for the taro patch; line the hole with the leaves of this tree, then place soil over that and plant the taro. When the fruits are ripe, local people say that the hermit crabs are "fat" and ready to collect and eat. When a person is in the forest and there is no coconut fruit fiber to start a fire with, use a dry stick, shave it and use a match to start a pile of this tinder to make a good fire. The wood is said to be "oily." This gives it a nice aroma. To perfume coconut oil, drop the dry flowers in it--use 1 handful of dried flowers added to a pot of oil boiling on the fire while making it. Strain out flowers and the oil smells good. Flowers can also be added to the oil once it is bottled to perfume it.
Semantic domains:
naupiñiña
n. terrestrial fern, growing in secondary forest along the river. Leaves c. 2. 25 m long. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3656)
Scientific name: Pronephrium rubrinerve
Example: Put several leaves of this species together to wrap food, especially the fresh water eel, and to carry plants of taro, kava, holding the leaves over one’s shoulder to carry these crops.
Semantic domains:
nauhap̃ apeñ
n. treelet, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4065)
Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium
Example: 1. When a sea shell pricks you "Inlac", a person can be lifted by magic using these leaves. Further information about this use withheld.
Semantic domains:
lawog
[ lawoñ ]
n. Vanuatu Scrubfowl (Used to live here, died out, now only live up north)
Scientific name: Megapodius layardi
Semantic domains:
nahoj
n. palm to 15 m tall, dbh 30 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4913)
Scientific name: Carpoxylon macrospermum
Semantic domains:
niri nara
n. Blue-spotted stingray
Scientific name: Neotrygon kuhlii
Example: Photo by Richard Ling / Flickr.com, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nelpon nohop a nelco
[ nɛlpon nohop a nelɣo ]
n. front of a canoe
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
Semantic domains:
kidibop
nametreyeñ
n. scandent shrub, growing along strand in coastal forest. Flowers purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3688)
Scientific name: Vitex trifolia
Example: This plant is used to make head garlands as it smells very fragrant.
Semantic domains:
kowei
n. herb to 0. 75 m, fruits brown. Growing in cultivated area near village. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5012)
Scientific name: Senna occidentalis
Example: Children use this fruit as a rattle. When parents go to the gardens or fields with their children, they collect the pods for the children to use as a rattle and amuse themselves. Unspecified medicinal use.
Semantic domains:
netethei
n. shrub. Uncultivated around the village disturbed areas. . (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #27)
Scientific name: Melastoma malabathricum
Example: The fruits are edible when ripe--eating them turns the tongue purple. 1. To cure headaches - Someone other than the woman must prepare this. Break the top branch of netethae and remove leaves for use. Combine with the top leaves of the top branch of nelmaha. Chew the leaves and drink the juice. Do this when the sun is setting on the horizon. The woman gives the leftover fibers to the person who prepared the medicine and that person goes and throws the fibers in the direction of the setting sun. 2. Ancestors 4 top branches and chew and spit out remaining fiber will destroy the effects of a love potion that is too strong – meaning that the husband or wife will miss the other person too much so that they become mentally ill. 3. Edible fruits: eating them turns tongue black/purple.
Semantic domains:
inholai
n. Blue sea chub, snubnose chub, topsail drummer
Scientific name: Kyphosus cinerascens via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
intate a nelgo waj
n. boards for people to sit on
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
wakas
n. herb. Found along intra village path. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #34)
Scientific name: Sida rhombifolia
Example: 1. To make baby grow strong - Take 16 tops of the plant, no flowers, and squeeze them into baby’s bath water. Bath baby in the water and let it dry on the baby. Don’t towel dry. 2. Medicine – take a large leaf, crush and rub it but don’t break it – just soften it and open it and cover the fresh cut with it – leave it there to heal the wound. Keep changing it until the wound gets healed. 3. For headache and fever – flu – take branches with no flowers or seeds, boil it 15 minutes to extract brownish juice, drink 1 cup hot 2, per day – morning and evening for 5 days. 4. The fruits – 7 – chew and swallow for stomachache. 5. Tie stems for broom.
Semantic domains:
nilec
n. epiphyte. Growing on tree in village area. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #1)
Scientific name: Epipremnum pinnatum
Example: Makes period normal again. Take three young leaves from the very tops of the plant and pound and squeeze out the juice from the leaves. Mix with small amount of water to help juice come out. Drink this 3 times a day for 3 days. Pig food – feed the leaves to the pigs. Leaves used to wrap around Cyrtosperma merkusii to cook for several days—this taro needs a lot of cooking. So this leaf is particularly used for that purpose because it is very watery. Will keep the taro from becoming too burned or dry – it will cook soft after a few days – keep tasting it until the calcium oxalate sensation is gone. Check it 3 times – cook, open, taste and it should be good. Wrap fish and put directly on charcoal fire. – also cover top rocks in earth oven.
Semantic domains:
nejecjeñ
n. small tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4059)
Scientific name: Leukosyke australis
Semantic domains:
nyihivac
n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3263)
Scientific name: Metrosideros collina
Example: 1. A "calendar plant". When this flowers in the bush, and people are making their gardens in that area, it means the garden is ready to harvest. 2. Firewood, calendar, and message plant – for people who live up in the forest can see this coastal plant and when it flowers it is a good time to go fishing or to move to the coastal area for a few weeks to relax. July-August. Tide is low so everything is exposed so it is a good time to fish for there, 2 months. 3. Flowers have a nice nectar, sweet, kids drink.
Semantic domains:
nokoko
n. tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3540)
Scientific name: Hernandia nymphaeifolia
Example: The straight trunk of this tree is used to make canoes. The black seed in the fruit is used to make necklaces. The inner bark is peeled and crushed in sea water and rubbed in the hair to make it curly. People do this treatment every day to make long hair curl like a rasta.
Semantic domains:
nepekhau
necñanman
n. tree to 5 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4901)
Scientific name: Plerandra tannae
Semantic domains:
nusjau
n. tree fern to 5 m tall, fronds 2. 5 m long (collection: Michael J. Balick #5014)
Scientific name: Sphaeropteris lunulata
Example: Trunk of this plant is used to make food. Cut the stem in 2-3 foot pieces, peel the outer stem, put the peeled stems in an earth oven to cook for the afternoon through the night--about 12 hours. It will be ready the next day. Peel off any remaining fibrous tissue, slice the stems and eat. They are said to taste like sweet potato. The young fronds are boiled for 5 minutes and coconut milk is added, this mixture is then eaten. It is important to collect only the inrolled fronds that have not yet fully opened. The fronds are used to make temporary houses when camping in the bush. They are used to make a roof. To make a cassava grater, take 2-3 pieces of the frond stype, connect them together by piercing them on the sides with a piece of bamboo or any stick such that they are held together in parallel fashion, and use this to grate uncooked cassava to make lap-lap and to grate banana or any food that needs to be processed in this way. The thorny part of the stipe grates the food.
Semantic domains:
nariko
n. shrub to 3 m, flowers yellow with red outer coverings (appearing red when closed) (collection: Michael J. Balick #4957)
Scientific name: Cajanus cajun
Example: This plant is used to fertilize fields, especially by growing it in fields that have been used for other crops for a very long time. The seeds can be cooked when dry and hard, boiled in water, or eaten directly without preparation when green and soft.
Semantic domains:
nohor
[ nohor ]
n. Woodford’s Rail
Scientific name: Nesoclopeus woodfordi
Example: Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans / Wikimedia Commons, License: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Semantic domains:
nithwunitei
tree fern, trunk 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4102)
Scientific name: Cyathea
Example: 1. There are kinds of this plant. This is considered the white one. See GMP # 4100, textit{Cyathea sp}, which is considered the black one.
Semantic domains:
inmopoñ
n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3516)
Scientific name: Heritiera littoralis
Example: The young stems are used to make fishing spears. These stems are also used to make the poles that connect an outrigger to a traditional canoe, as they are light and strong. The large trees have extensive roots and stumps and are used as a pen for pigs by making a fence from these.
Semantic domains:
inrejei
n. trees, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4133)
Scientific name: Caryota ophiopellis
Semantic domains:
nehep
n. tree, 15 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3590)
Scientific name: Hernandia moerenhoutiana
Example: 1. Used as a medicine to help stop bleeding. Take the inner bark, mash it, and dip in water. Then apply the poultice to the bleeding wound to help stop the bleeding. This treatment will also promote healing of the wound. When the poultice dries it becomes hard and sticks to the wound. At that point leave it on the wound until the pain goes away and then it can be peeled off of the wound. 2. Wood good for making canoe.
Semantic domains:
indejen
n. basket handle
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
inwou itoga
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4758)
Scientific name: Pyrostegia venusta
Semantic domains:
niprij
naipomyiv ~ naipomñiv
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4771)
Scientific name: Dianella ensifolia
Semantic domains:
incipiñti
n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4072)
Scientific name: Geniostoma rupestre
Example: 1. The flower and bark are known to reek a foul smell.
Semantic domains:
nauyerop
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3505)
Scientific name: Ficus storckii
Example: The young leaves are edible, after boiling for 5 minutes. A piece of coconut and a pinch of salt is wrapped in the leaves and eaten. The mature leaves are used to wrap food such as pig or cow meat and cooked in an earth oven. Tie this bundle with a piece of Pandanus fiber to secure it before putting in the earth oven. Both the green and ripe fruits are edible.
Semantic domains:
namaunirij
n. herb to 30 cm, fruits green. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4934)
Scientific name: Physalis angulata
Example: Take the leaves, squeeze out the juice in a cup of water, drink 3x daily for 3 days to treat dengue fever--use one handful of leaves in a cup of water and drink cool. The fruits are edible. Peel the outer part off and eat like a tomato.
Semantic domains:
inharmejicop
n. Ocellated eagle ray
Scientific name: Aetobatus ocellatus
Example: Photo by Anne Hoggett / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
naledpen
muri muri
n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3539)
Scientific name: Ochrosia elliptica
Example: The fruit of this species are poisonous. In ancient times the ancestors used the "fork" (branch growing out of main stem) of this wood to catch lobsters between the two parts of the stem. v
Semantic domains:
neiang mesei
n. stage of coconut
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nelm̃ai
n. tree to 4 m tall, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #5004)
Scientific name: Nothocnide (?) repanda
Example: This plant is used to make fishing line, perhaps moreso in the past than today. Collect young shoots form the sides of the tree, peel off the bark, soak the stem in salt water or fresh water for 1-2 weeks to ret the stems then separate the fibers, dry in the sun and use to make string for fishing. The leaves are used for feeding pigs.
Semantic domains:
incetcanalaeñ
n. terrestrial sedge, c. 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3496)
Scientific name: Gahnia aspera
Example: Children pull out the young shoots of this plant and play with them as a spear to throw.
Semantic domains:
nirid unmu
n. terrestrial fern, growing in primary rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3614)
Scientific name: Schizaea dichotoma
Example: People who go fishing take this plant along with other unspecified leaves, crush them and rub them on the fishing line that the person is using. This is said to attract more fish to the bait. It is also a "message plant" to be put in a person’s hat when they come back from fishing and then people know that they caught fish. Local name means "fish gill."
Semantic domains:
norasjei
n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3274)
Scientific name: Cyrtandra obovata
Semantic domains:
intelgal
n. Whitespotted surgeonfish, northern dialect
Scientific name: Acanthurus guttatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nap̃at
n. terrestrial fern, growing in dwarf cloud-forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3268)
Scientific name: Trichomanes
Example: For performing a weather magic ritual to produce fog, this plant is fermented along with another plant (nirid u numu) in a hole in a sacred stone (called "Naemoso") at a secret location on Aneityum.
Semantic domains:
intop̃asiej ura
n. stoloniferous herb, 15 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3561)
Scientific name: Wedelia uniflora
Example: In the past the ancestors learned to cook the leaves of this species with fish in an earth over and then eat the leaves as well as the fish. Today, fish are wrapped with small leaves and then covered with lap-lap leaf (Polyscias) and cooked in an earth oven.
Semantic domains:
incetevak
n. Pink Squirrelfish
Scientific name: Sargocentron tiereoides via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nahed u paralelcei
n. epiphyte on main trunk of large mango tree, growing in secondary forest above river. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3657)
Scientific name: Ophioderma pendula
Semantic domains:
injedete anawanarin
[ iɲeθite anawanariɲ ]
n. a sand drawing
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
inharisihau
nasjiñao
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4769)
Scientific name: Breynia disticha
Semantic domains:
inhau amai
n. moderately branched treelet, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3203)
Scientific name: Hibiscus tiliaceus
Example: 1a. This type of hibiscus has young leaves that are reddish in color and it is an edible type. The stems are eaten during April-July. Harvest the stems, beat them and cut off the outer bark. Collect inner bark, slicing it off the stem and wrapping it in a banana type leaf with coconut milk added. Bake all night at least 8 hours, then it is eaten. Said to taste like a root vegetable. Used during the dry season when there are not many crops available. 1b. Take young shoot of the tree then pound the base to separate the base of the bark from the stem but leave it on the stem, say pound 4-5 inches around the base, then come back 3-4 months and the rest of the bark would be thicker. Then cut where it was pounded, cut stem in 1.5-foot pieces, bake on an earth oven, leaves on bottom layer (on top of charcoal) then sticks, then leaves on top, then hot stones, and then more leaves. Bake for 1.5 hours, then remove a stick at a time and use shell to scrape away outer bark, cut into 6 inch pieces, put on log, pound to make softer, put in lap lap leaves leaf wrapping, add coconut milk, put in stone oven, cook for one hour then open lap lap leaves and eat. 2. This variety is for this purpose just like Pohnpei. 3. This variety is not used for grass skirt.
Semantic domains:
nasjiñao
n. shrub, 0. 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3603)
Scientific name: Breynia disticha
Example: This plant has an unspecified use that is considered secret.
Semantic domains:
nap̃udve
n. epiphytic fern, fallen to ground (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3494)
Scientific name: Aglaomorpha rigidula
Example: When a dog is poisoned by cuguatera from eating a fish, the root of this species is collected, cleaned and a handful is boiled in 1-2 cups of water and given to the dog to drink. This treatment should be done 3x daily, in the morning, around noon and during the evening meal for as long as the dog is sick.
Semantic domains:
nedwodou
n. tree to 6 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4865)
Scientific name: Ficus glandifera
Example: To bring luck when fishing. Take 4 leaves with stems still on them-- first thing in the morning, when it is cool and quiet and there is not much noise, break the left hand side from two leaves and the right hand side from two leaves (total 4 half leaves) and take those pieces and put in the bag containing your fishing gear. The meaning of the local name is that "these leaves will please the Sea God" who will not understand it if a fisherman does not have leaves with them on their trip. There are groups of people who are part of the Sea Gods and you must notify these people before you go out to fish. If you have these leaves in your bag, you are said to get many fish. In the past certain people were responsible for the harvest from the sea; these people used to know this ritual. Not much known at present. Birds eat the fruit of this tree as does the flying fox.
Semantic domains:
inrokdania
n. epiphyte on trees, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4093)
Scientific name: Psilotum complanatum
Example: 1. Sickness blo namya. When a man accidentally has intercourse with a woman during her menstrual cycle, he can become sick. The leaves are squeezed, along with others, to produce an extraction. The dose and duration varies according to the degree of the symptoms. Further information about the preparation withheld.
Semantic domains:
namou
n. tree to 10 m, dbh 20 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4929)
Scientific name: Xylosma guillauminii
Example: The wood is hard and used as a spade to dig holes for planting taro. Make spears for fishing out of the stems, either by sharpening them or putting wires on the end.
Semantic domains:
napleañ
n. tree to 15 m, dbh 30-45 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4938)
Scientific name: Adenanthera pavonina
Example: The wood is good for making paddles as well as to make canoes.
Semantic domains:
incacas
n. green peppers
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
intowosjei
n. terrestrial orchid, growing in dense rainforest. buds greenish. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4112)
Scientific name: Calanthe chrysantha
Example: 1. The name means "white hair". It is not known why that is the case.
Semantic domains:
masoa
n. herb to 1 m, fruits green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4915)
Scientific name: Tacca leontopetaloides
Example: This plant was said to have been brought in by the early missionaries, used to starch their clothes and grown as a crop for export to England. Used as a food crop as well, the root is mashed, dried in the sun and kept until needed. To process, put the roots in a bowl, add water and soak for 1 day and night, pour off the water and keep the starch. Prepare this food like lap-lap that is cooked on a fire in a pan.
Semantic domains:
napojev
n. tree to 5 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4889)
Scientific name: Polyscias cissodendron
Example: The leaves are used to cover meat when baking it in a stone oven (inmawum). This will soften the meat and keep it moist. Used when other species of this genus are not available, for example if you are in the bush.
Semantic domains:
namlau elwa
n. tree to 15 m tall, dbh 40 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4859)
Scientific name: Phyllanthus ciccoides
Example: The wood of this tree is good for carving. The fibers go in one direction so it is easier to carve, for example, to make a kava bowl. In general, this is the species used to make kava bowls. If your kava is not strong, then making it in this bowl will make it stronger. The kind of bowl made from this tree has a handle on each side of the bowl and it is held with 2 hands. The place name Anumwmamlau is named after this tree. There are said to be two types of this tree--one with all green leaves (this specimen) and one with white and green leaves. If a person is going to a Tabu place and is concerned about spirits, they should take a handful of these leaves and wash the body all over with it--take a swim (bath) with it. Then the person can go to the Tabu place without risk. There are other unspecified spiritual uses of this tree. The second part of this local name "elwa" refers to the variegation of the leaves.
Semantic domains:
inhuturao
n. Common dolphinfish, mahi mahi
Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Alex Kerstitch / Shorefishes of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
inya
n. large tree, 16 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3222)
Scientific name: Casuarina equisetifolia
Example: 1. As a child’s game, some times children put the segments of the needles together to see who can make the largest one. 2. A "calendar plant"--when the needles are brown, it is an indication that people should not work hard, but should rest or they will not feel well. If they try to work they will feel sleepy--an indication of the season of higher heat. 3. Wood is used as firewood. 4. Firewood, inner bark good for ciguatera poisoning, scratch the inner bark and squeeze juice into a cup of water and give to the sick person to drink – very effective. Use the largest most mature part of the stem.
Semantic domains:
najgou
n. Orange-spotted emperor, yellowtail emperor
Scientific name: Lethrinus erythracanthus via FishBase
Example: Photo by FAO / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
necemas moso
n. terrestrial plant on forest floor, growing in disturbed forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3483)
Scientific name: Selaginella firmula
Example: 1. This is a "message plant" that signifies that there has been a death. The person holds it or puts it on their head, goes to another person’s house and hands it to the person they wish to convey the message to, without saying anything and that person knows that someone has died. It can also be handed to that person. The person receiving the message then asks "who" and is told the deceased person’s name. 2. Use it to produce more fog on top of mountain – use w/ another plant, nap̃at (GMP 3268) – put these in a hole on the sacred stone to ferment as it fills with water. After it rots there will be a lot of fog. Name of stone = NAEMOSO. So the fog helps keep the plants moist and growing well.
Semantic domains:
inhulec ~ iɣleɣ
[ inhuleɣ ]
n. Yellow-throated White-eye
Scientific name: Zosterops metcalfii
Example: Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans / Wikimedia Commons, License: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Semantic domains:
inyacelcou
n. vine running many meters long over clay soil and grassy area on hillside where the triangular wooden signs are that used to be a landmark for ships coming to the island. Sterile. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5008)
Example: This plant is the focus of an important legend on Aneityum. When the missionary John Geddie and colleaguse first arrived on the island in July of 1848, the Chiefs welcomed them but some of the people did not like the idea. So these people sent a basket containing a peeled coconut and a fish (nopom) to the Chief in Umej to ask him to support the idea of getting rid of the missionary that the Chief of Analcahuat had welcomed. If the Chief of Umej were to eat the fish and coconut meat, it would mean that he agreed with the opposition. The Chief refused to eat the food in the basket and he told the people a parable involving this plant. A person cannot find the tip of the stem or the end of the root in the ground. So if they were to eliminate the missionary, his activity would continue because of God’s power. As it is with this plant, it will continue to grow and flourish if you cut it or try to dig up the root. So he sent a message about this plant to the people in Analcahuat who objected to the presence of the missionary stating this parable. Those people in Analcauhat held a secret meeting and they chose a powerful and strong person to kill the missionary. During the night the person went to the missionary’s house while he was in the toilet. Returning to the house, the missionary found the person in his doorway, and that person lifted his club to strike the missionary. But at that point the attacker’s hands suddenly had no power and the club fell from his hands, and he fell over. The missionary told him to get up, and not come back. After that experience, the people of Umej realized that God’s power was great and they could not go against it. The Chief took the peeled coconut that was sent him and covered it with the skin of another coconut and planted it instead of eating it. This coconut grew and the missionary’s work continued to grow on the island. So this vine played an important role in communicating the power of God to the people of Aneityum.
Semantic domains:
inceimohos
n. tree to 8 m, dbh 5 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4896)
Scientific name: Alangium vitiense
Example: The young stems of this tree are used to make spears, either by sharpening the end or attaching several wires to the tip.
Semantic domains:
namrop̃om
n. tree, 7-8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3582)
Scientific name: Weinmannia denhamii
Example: Firewood, timber good for bush houses. Calendar plant – when it is in flower, the old people know it is time to harvest root crops, like yam and other vine crops, in the wild, as yet unspecified. Local names = INYAC, NOMODEJ TAL, NOMODEJ WOU, NOU LELCEI… etc.
Semantic domains:
incispev
n. tree. Growing in village garden. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #19)
Scientific name: Sophora tomentosa
Example: 1. To cure the sea snake (nispev) curse that causes missed periods. First the husband must combine 4 young leaves of incispev and 4 young leaves of nafanu and mash and squeeze the juice into a small bamboo (1-1.5 inch diameter) The nafanu is important because it is a plant that connects to the sea. Use wildcane leaves cover the bamboo closed. Go to the sick person and unwrap the snake from her. Start from the top and let the woman drink a small part of the potion then wash her with the mixture, making sure to wash head, elbows, knees, feet, and belly. Then take a leaf of naha and break it over the woman’s belly button to break the snake off. Smash the bamboo vessel to pieces. Leave the woman there until the wash dries on her. This takes one whole day and the ceremony in the evening so she can sleep and she must not eat. This ritual is performed by men.
Semantic domains:
nijkowai
n. Spanish flag, stripey
Scientific name: Lutjanus carponotatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Ian Shaw / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nop̃oe
n. vine, growing in coastal forest. Flowers red with yellow tinges. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3448)
Scientific name: Gloriosa superba
Semantic domains:
niri atga
n. type of seashell
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nalak u nije
n. terrestrial orchid growing in rain forest on the mountain slope. Flowers white. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3288)
Scientific name: Calanthe chrysantha
Semantic domains:
nijcel
n. tree, 7-8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3587)
Scientific name: Dillenia biflora
Example: 1. If the preferred banana leaves are not available to wrap food for cooking, then use young leaves of this species and tie taro and fish for cooking. 2. Use leaves to wrap fresh water prawns and fresh water fish and cook them on charcoal. Use as a cup by making funnel out of leaf and drink from it. 3. Used for unspecified ritual activities.
Semantic domains:
napaecei
n. epiphyte on fallen tree branch with abundant mosses, growing in rain forest on the mountain slope. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3291)
Scientific name: Davallia pusilla
Semantic domains:
inmac
n. tree to 10 m, dbh 1 m (collection: Michael J. Balick #4991)
Scientific name: Aleurites moluccanus
Example: The young trees are a good source of lumber as they are straight and can be used as poles or sawn timber. This tree is also a source of firewood and is known to be easy to light and burns well. The fruits are a source of oil. Collect the ripe fruits, remove the seeds from the shell, macerate the seeds to release the white endosperm inside, place this in a pot without water and heat it. The brown-yellow oil will come out from the crushed fruits. It is good for using on the body but not edible. It is a good massage oil, or to lubricate the skin or to heal small wounds. For the latter, drop some oil on the wound once daily until the wound heals.
Semantic domains:
inwowityuwun
n. parasitic vine hanging off the side of a cliff, growing along coast. Fruits green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4147)
Scientific name: Cassytha filiformis
Semantic domains:
naerek
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3492)
Scientific name: Leucopogon cymbulae
Example: 1. Used for firewood. Whole plant used to make a broom for sweeping by tying the small branches together. The very topmost leaves are used when planting kava, as a “superstition” you hold a lead between your big and second toes when tamping the earth down for a kava plant, to give power to earth so kava grows well. 2. This plant is used to make a local broom. Collect a number of branches, let them dry in the sun--the leaves will fall off--then tie the branches together with a piece of Pandanus leaf or any other vine that is handy.
Semantic domains:
nida
n. shrub to 2 m ,fruits green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4884)
Scientific name: Decaspermum neoebudicum
Example: When the new leaves form on this plant, people say that it is time to plant taro. The wood of the larger tree is good for posts.
Semantic domains:
inholai mobo
n. Brown Chub, Grey Sea Chub, Grey Drummer
Scientific name: Kyphosus bigibbus via FishBase
Example: Photo by John Turnbull, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nigirid
n. tree, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3479)
Scientific name: Cleidion javanicum
Example: The leaves of this plant are used in cooking, particuarly with the earth oven. Use a fire to heat stones, then when the fire burns down and the stones are hot, pile these leaves on top of the hot stones and then place the food being cooked--taro, fish, pig, cassava, banana or other foods--on top of the leaves. Then pile more of these leaves on top of the food and then place additional hot stones on top of that pile of leaves. While the food is cooking--each type of food takes a different amount of time--the leaves give off a very nice smell and help flavor the food. The young stems of this plant are used in home construction but as they are small and thin, they are not used for posts.
Semantic domains:
inyiivac
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3683)
Scientific name: Metrosideros collina
Example: Ornamental. Some have red flowers. Red birds drink the juice. Normally flowers July, August, September.
Semantic domains:
niditau
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3507)
Scientific name: Ficus adenosperma
Example: The young leaves and fruits are edible; the fruits are eaten ripe. This species is used for firewood as well as house posts, but they don’t last as long as other types of wood so they are used in temporary structures. A sacred plant on Aneityum. Name means linkage between this world and the spirit world. Agriculture – you find this tree ?? it means that the land is fertile. Birds eat fruits; people burn the tree to release ash and fertilizer and grow their taro around it – it will give more food. Message plant – if someone puts a long brown on your door or in your garden, it means “why are you here?” Implies that you should go back to where you belong. You don’t belong in this place. For example instead of quarreling over land dispute, put the branch and it means that you should leave this place.
Semantic domains:
All content copyright © Aneityum community. (2015)
Talking Dictionary produced by K. David Harrison, Gregory D. S. Anderson and Jeremy Fahringer. Botanical consultants: Michael J. Balick, Gregory M. Plunkett and Sean Thackurdeen. (2015-2018)
Aneityum language contributors include Kirk Keitadi, Tony Keith, Titiya Lalep, David Nasauman, Osiani Nerian, Ruben Nerian, Chris Nevehev, Romario Yaufati and others as credited within the dictionary entries. Based in part on materials from Inglis, John (1882) A Dictionary of the Aneityumese Language: In Two Parts. I. Aneityumese and English. II. English.
The Aneityum-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. 2015.
Aneityum Talking Dictionary.
Swarthmore College.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/aneityum
There are currently 2431 entries, 1543 audio files, and 860 images.
All content copyright © Aneityum community. (2015)
Talking Dictionary produced by K. David Harrison, Gregory D. S. Anderson and Jeremy Fahringer. Botanical consultants: Michael J. Balick, Gregory M. Plunkett and Sean Thackurdeen. (2015-2018)
Aneityum language contributors include Kirk Keitadi, Tony Keith, Titiya Lalep, David Nasauman, Osiani Nerian, Ruben Nerian, Chris Nevehev, Romario Yaufati and others as credited within the dictionary entries. Based in part on materials from Inglis, John (1882) A Dictionary of the Aneityumese Language: In Two Parts. I. Aneityumese and English. II. English.
The Aneityum-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. 2015.
Aneityum Talking Dictionary.
Swarthmore College.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/aneityum
Interface and database design under the direction of Jeremy Fahringer and Swarthmore College ITS.
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