The Aneityum Talking Dictionary currently has 2431 entries, with 1543 audio files and 860 images.
This image gallery has returned 100 entries.
inlepei u inpoded
n. pendent epiphyte, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4037)
Scientific name: Phlegmariurus phlegmaria
Semantic domains:
inlepei u inpoded
n. pendent lithophyte, growing on rock in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4036)
Scientific name: Phlegmariurus carinatus
Semantic domains:
inlepei u inpoded
n. epiphyte on a fallen branch, growing in rain forest on the mountain slope. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3287)
Scientific name: Huperzia phlegmaria
Semantic domains:
inlepei u inpoded ataheñ
n. epiphyte on dead log, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4105)
Scientific name: Phlegmariurus squarrosus
Example: 1. This plant is considered bad luck when hunting or fishing. When doing these activities, do not decorate your hair with them. 2. This plant is used to weave the sheath portion of "nambas". First the stems are retted, then the inner portion of the plant removed. Once removed, the sheath is woven with the blanched fiber. 3. This is considered the female version of this plant. See GMP #4104, Phlegmarius sp. for the male version.
Semantic domains:
inlepei u inpoded atamaiñ
n. epiphyte on main trunk (near base) of large tree, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4060)
Scientific name: Phlegmariurus squarrosus
Semantic domains:
inlepei u inpoded atam̃wain
n. epiphyte on fallen log on ground, growing in dense rain forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4012)
Scientific name: Phlegmariurus phlegmaria
Semantic domains:
inlop̃ot
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4070)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: 1. Branches of this plant are used to insulate and cover earth ovens.
Semantic domains:
inlopot jap
n. shrub to 1 m, flower white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4866)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: When making a taro patch, and removing soil, add the leaves of this plant to the soil to fertilize the taro, and prevent the bottom part of the taro from rotting. Put a layer of leaves on the bottom of the patch before planting taro and covering with soil.
Semantic domains:
inlopotjap
n. shrub to 2 m in height, flowers white. In agricultural field. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4951)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: The young leaves are used to protect food as it is being cooked on an earth oven. To prepare the oven, pile hot stones, then put a layer of leaves on the stones, and then place hot stones on top of the leaves. To make a hot oven, the stones are lined in a pit, a fire lit, more stones placed on firewood and the top layer of stones gets very hot. Then, remove the stones from the top of the wood, and cook food o the bottom layer of stones, add a layer of leaves, place the food on top of this, then cover with a layer of leaves and then pile the rest of the hot stones on top of the leaves.
Semantic domains:
inlopotjap
n. shrub to 1 m, fruits green. Secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4897)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: The leaves are used for compost in the taro patch. Dig a hole, line it with the leaves of this species, cove with earth and plant taro. The leaves of this species are used to cover earth ovens.
Semantic domains:
inlop̃otjap
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3621)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: Good for covering laplap or stone oven. Remove hot stones, put leaves down, then food, then hot stones, then put the leaves down again to cover everything.
Semantic domains:
inloptiri
n. shrub. Found in the village Unames. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #32)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: 1. To cure when the anus falls out - Pound together 1 braches worth of inpalcapnesgin leaves and of both inloptiri (2-4 leaves, any age), also take the inner bark of nekeaitimi and nakhe. Put this into your hand, or another leaf and give it to the person to use it. This should be applied to the anus whenever the anus comes out. USed to use a clam shell to extract the bark but not anymore.
Semantic domains:
inmac
n. large tree, 20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3529)
Scientific name: Trichospermum inmac
Example: 1. The inner bark of this plant is used as a general rope; peel it and weave it into rope, and use it to tie beams in the house. 2. The wood is good to start fires by rubbing two pieces together.
Semantic domains:
inmac
n. tree, 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4124)
Scientific name: Trichospermum inmac
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:
inmadidi
n. shrub, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3499)
Scientific name: Ervatamia orientalis
Example: This plant has an unspecified medical use. Children make slingshots out of the fork of the stem of this tree.
Semantic domains:
inmadidi
n. tree to 7 m, dbh 30 com (collection: Michael J. Balick #4870)
Scientific name: Pittosporum aneityense
Example: This plant is used for spiritual purposes. When fruits are young, the children take the fruit, cut it open and take coconut leaf midribs, impaling the seeds on the midribs and painting themselves with the fruit.
Semantic domains:
inmadidi
n. tree to 5 m, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4855)
Scientific name: Tabernaemontana anguinea
Example: To treat a flu that has resulted in a thick, runny nose, collect sap of this tree, drink 2-3 drops directly (not in water). This is for treating the type of flu that provokes yellow mucus coming out of the nose. Drinking the sap breaks up the stuffy nose. Use once, it tastes very sour. In 3-4 days the mucus will be expelled. Do not use too much! If a person has a new cut, and the bleeding will not stop, place the sap on the cut and the bleeding will stop. If you have a burn that is bleeding, applying the sap will stop the blood and oozing sore. If a person has a sore on their body, cover it with a layer of the sap from this plant. This will ensure that the sore will not get larger from infection, flies, etc. but stay its original size. This plant is also used for unspecified spiritual practices. To determine if a fish you have caught is poisonous, e.g. with ciguatera, take an 8’ piece of small branch from this tree, peel the bark and put it inside the fish before you cook it on the earth oven. If the stick turns black, then you know that the fish is not good to eat--it has a poison so should be thrown away.
Semantic domains:
inmadidi
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4768)
Scientific name: Tabernaemontana pandacaqui
Semantic domains:
inm̃aka
n. well branched tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4022)
Scientific name: Geissois denhamii
Example: 1. A durable hardwood that is used for house posts. 2. The wood is used to fashion cross members that affix outriggers to the body of the canoe. 3. 4-5 inch diameter saplings are used to create a track in the forest that larger logs can roll down.
Semantic domains:
inm̃ap̃
n. tree, 12-14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3611)
Scientific name: Inocarpus fagifer
Example: 1. The nut of this tree is edible and very good. Boil it with skin on or bake it in the earth oven and then cut it in half and eat. 2. Leaves for top of house ridge. 3. Leaves for fertilizing the water taro in swamps.
Semantic domains:
inmayinepad
n. Squaretail coralgrouper
Scientific name: Plectropomus areolatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
inmayinpak
n. Peacock hind
Scientific name: Cephalopholis argus
Example: Photo by Andrew J. Green / Reef Life Survey, License: CC BY-A 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
inmehei
n. kind of cabbage or leaf
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
inmehei
n. herb to 1. 5 m tall, sterile. Growing in weedy patch behind buildings on edge of trail. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4986)
Scientific name: Heliconia indica
Example: People use the leaves of this plant to wrap lap-lap for cooking on the earth oven or when boiling foods. The leaves can also be used as serving plates and to cover the stones on the earth oven.
Semantic domains:
inmejcop
inmejei
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3686)
Scientific name: Syzygium nomoa
Example: This tree is a source of sawn timber.
Semantic domains:
inmenyau
inmerei
n. tree to 2 m tall,dbh 40 com (collection: Michael J. Balick #4877)
Scientific name: Acacia spirorbis
Example: To treat a local disease (that causes pain in the stomach) called "Namya," peel off the outer bark, collect 1 handful of inner bark, boil with 1/2 liter of water, drink warm, 3 cups/daily, for 3 days. At that point the person will feel that "the weakness is no longer in the body." After 3 days of treatment the pain in the stomach goes away. Wood is used for posts; leaves for compost for holes that people will plant taro in--line the bottom of the hole before placing soil and taro in it.
Semantic domains:
inmerei hau
n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3692)
Scientific name: Acacia spirorbis
Semantic domains:
inmetapau
n. treelet, 1. 75 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4077)
Scientific name: Ixora aneityensis
Semantic domains:
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:
inmetla
n. tree to 4 m tall, dbh 6 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4941)
Scientific name: Eugenia rariflora
Example: Edible fruits, very well liked.
Semantic domains:
inm̃okom
n. Steephead parrotfish
Scientific name: Chlorurus microrhinos
Example: Photo by charlie20 / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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:
inmora
n. Foxface
Scientific name: Siganus vulpinus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
inmorantejed
n. Coral hind, coral grouper (deep sea)
Scientific name: Cephalopholis miniata via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jan Messersmith, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
inmoupog
n. tree to 8 m, dbh 20 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4927)
Scientific name: Heritiera littoralis
Example: The wood of this tree is used as firewood. Children collect the dry fruits and use them for decorations and toys, for example playing with a fruit on the beach, driving it as if it were a toy truck or boat (photo).
Semantic domains:
inmowad
n. vine to 40 cm, flowers blue (collection: Michael J. Balick #4949)
Scientific name: Ipomoea
Example: To heal cuts, select a piece of the larger part of the stem (woody) cut a 6 inch piece and blow on one end; the sap comes o ut on the other end and this can be used to cover the wound. As a pig feed, people collect the stems and leaves and feed these to the pigs.
Semantic domains:
inmowad itouga
n. vine climbing on Geissois denhamii (GMP #3522), growing in open (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3524)
Scientific name: Operculina turpethum
Example: The word itougo means from a different country or place outside of Aneityum. The plant was introduced by the first missionaries who came to Port Patrick. Calendar plant – sea cost people see this flower in the forest and they know it is time to go into garden and harvest taro or make new gardens– see GMP 3263. This is also good firewood.
Semantic domains:
inmowad o picad
n. large leaf
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
inmowad u pikad
n. vine to 5 m tall in trees, fruits maturing yellow-brown. Growing in agroforest/secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5009)
Scientific name: Operculina (?) turpethum
Example: People collect this vine and feed it to pigs. It also has an unspecified medicinal use. The vine of this plant forms a thick canopy so some people plant it around the house near trees that do not give much shade in order to reduce the intensity of the sun on the house and thus keep the temperature lower. The vine grows quickly into the trees.
Semantic domains:
inmowanijvañ
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3270)
Scientific name: Oxera lehuntei
Semantic domains:
inpa
n. shrub, 1. 25 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3525)
Scientific name: Euodia hortensis
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. This plant is used in kastom ceremonies. For a peace ceremony, if there is an argument, then this leaf is used to make peace between the parties. For many ceremonies, put on top of taro, kava or food pile, . For peace ceremony, when a person has food in an offering, give a branch of this plant to the other party to symbolize that the conflict is over. It is a "message plant" that conveys a meaning that people do not have to say out loud. When a stranger walks through a village with this plant in his or her hand, people know there is no threat or problem. When a young man first shaves, people give him a necklace of this plant. In the old days, hair was pulled out of young men, now people use razor blades.
Semantic domains:
inp̃a
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:
inpa u natmas
n. tree. Growing near village. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #13)
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
Example: 1. To cure toothache when pregnant - Take the inner bark from Intejed and boil it in a pot of seawater (about 1 liter) along with 2 leaves from each of inpoutnatmas, narayag, nahayag, and nelmaha. Boil until juice is visibly leaving the plants. Put this water into your mouth and hold it there for 2-3 minutes. Do this this with one cup in the morning, 1 cup in the afternoon, and 1 cup in the evening. 2. This plant is special and people grew it – use it after burial of a chief – wash hands with these leaves and water to cleanse the people who buried the chief. 3. Name means belongs to the spirit
Semantic domains:
inpakanhas
n. fallen tree, growing in coastal vegetation along strand. Flowers orange. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3554)
Scientific name: Cordia subcordata
Example: The stems are used for house posts as they are very strong.
Semantic domains:
inp̃al
n. treelet or shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3204)
Scientific name: Malvaviscus arboreus
Example: To treat a headache, people traditionally would make a small cut ¼ inch long with a bamboo or piece of glass around the eyebrows where it is soft and then drip juice of the crushed leaves in the cut to take away the pain. Let the cut bleed first and then put the juice in it and it will stop the pain. The bleeding will stop the pain and the leaf juice will stop the bleeding – sometimes the pain will go away immediately and sometimes it takes a few minutes. So this technique is used to treat a very strong headache like a migraine.
Semantic domains:
inp̃al anhas
n. tree to 8 m tall, dbh 1 m (collection: Michael J. Balick #4994)
Scientific name: Bauhinia monandra
Example: The flowers are used for decoration, in the yard or cut and brought into the house. The stem of this tree is good for firewood.
Semantic domains:
inp̃al apogen
n. a type of flowering hibiscus plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4751)
Scientific name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Example: Photo Gregory M. Plunkett. Further information via Wikipedia
Semantic domains:
inp̃al cap̃ nesgin
n. shrub. Found in the village, Unames. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #31)
Scientific name: Hibiscus rosasinensis
Example: 1. To cure when the anus falls out - Pound together 1 braches worth of inpalcapnesgin leaves and of both inloptiri (2-4 leaves, any age) , also take the inner bark of nekeaitimi and nakhe. Put this into your hand, or another leaf and give it to the person to use it. This should be applied to the anus whenever the anus comes out. USed to use a clam shell to extract the bark but not anymore.
Semantic domains:
inp̃alanhas
n. tree to 5 m, dbh 6 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4965)
Scientific name: Bauhinia
Example: This plant is grown as an ornamental plant, and its flowers are used in the house. The stems are also cut for firewood.
Semantic domains:
inpareihok
n. traditional broom
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
inpece
n. tree to 15 m, dbh 50 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4918)
Scientific name: Calophyllum inophyllum
Example: The fruits of this tree are collected, mixed with ground coconut, boiled in water and the oil collected. The resulting oil is used medicinally, put on the skin for any condition to promote healing. Apply once a day until the condition resolves. Also can be used to treat head lice. Add the oil mixture to the hair, massage in, keep the hair dry for a day, then wash. Use once daily for 3 days.
Semantic domains:
inpece lelcei
n. tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3286)
Scientific name: Calophyllum neoebudicum
Semantic domains:
inpecelelcei paralelcei
n. tree, 18-20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3584)
Scientific name: Calophyllum neoebudicum
Example: The young stems of this tree are very light, and used to make spears for fishing--they float. The stems are used to make the poles that connect the outrigger to the canoe. Good to make a fishing spear with as with others, timber. Leaves used with other plants to heal a sick woman who is sick from a male spirit – PARALELCEI – This lead with other leaves unspecified, tie together pound juice out of it and put juice in bamboo, cover top w/ wild cane leaf and take to sick woman before sunset, give to her to drink, before wave bamboo around her, open it and pour a bit on her head and drink a bit and wash her face, then break bamboo and discard it before sunset. Then tell spirit to go away. Symptoms such as a miscarriage or continued period, or dream and see the male spirit, or dream of snakes from the forest.
Semantic domains:
inpwain ~ inhwain
inrejei
n. trees, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4133)
Scientific name: Caryota ophiopellis
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:
inrowod
n. unbranched treelet, 1. 25 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3526)
Scientific name: Cordyline fruticosa
Example: People use the leaves for cooking any ground up food that is cooked on a fire such as manioc or bananas, roasted or boiled in water. Fish can be cooked this way. The roots of this plant can be cooked in an earth oven. These need to be cooked for 2 days or 2 nights, lke a yam. The plant has large roots that are good to eat. Chew like a piece of surgarcane, the taste is sweet like honey. Swallow the juice and spit out the fiber. The roots, once cooked, can be stored for 6 months. In ancient times they were eaten during times when there was no food. This food is said to be able to sustain a person for one day, if eaten in the morning, the person not be hungry until sunset. Today, people eat this plant at festivals, as it is no longer a famine food.
Semantic domains:
inrowod
n. shrub. Found along village pathways and in gardens. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #15)
Scientific name: Cordyline terminalis
Example: 2. To cure headaches casued by bad spirit - Take one top from Nelmaha and one from inrowod (white stripe variety) Combine and chew these then spit them out and apply to the sick persons forehead.
Semantic domains:
inrowodamya
n. shrub to 1. 5 m tall, leaves green with red stripes (collection: Michael J. Balick #4978)
Scientific name: Cordyline fruticosa
Example: The leaves are used to wrap fish, lap-lap for cooking in the earth oven. Boil the leaves as a medicine for women with excessive menstrual bleeding. Cut 2 leaves and boil in 2 liters of water, cool and drink 1 cup daily for 3 days. This is said to slow the menstrual bleeding. Local name "Amya" means menstruation.
Semantic domains:
inruwu
n. Humphead wrasse
Scientific name: Cheilinus undulatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Anne Hoggett / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
inta
n. top posts of house under construction
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
inta eled
n. rudder for back of canoe
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
intaeñtaeñ atamaeñ
n. shrub, 0. 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3616)
Scientific name: Pseuderanthemum longifolium
Example: 1. Many plants resemble this species, and are called by this name. 2. Babies who always cry – rub leaves, put them in bath where baby will bathe and this will help stop crying. 3. Ornament for around the house.
Semantic domains:
intaetled
n. canoe paddle
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
intaji
[ intaʧi ]
n. notches carved into a tree, used as footholds for climbing tree to harvest coconut
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
intakedou
n. Redface Squirrrelfish
Scientific name: Sargocentron violaceum via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
intal eref nein
n. coconut grating bench
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
intareihok
n. broom
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
intate a nelgo waj
n. boards for people to sit on
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
intate a nelgo waj
n. seat on canoe
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
intejed
n. tree. Growing in village garden. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #22)
Scientific name: Terminalia catappa
Example: 1. Timber for houses, hard wood. 2. Fruits have a highly desirable nut that is edible when fresh after cracking the fruit. 3. Medicine – 5 young tips, boiled in 3 cups of water, and steam eyes when have conjunctivitis. 1x. 3. Calendar plant – When the leaves turn red and are ready to fall off from the tree – the lobsters are ready to be harvested – best time to harvest lobsters. Firm tasty meat. This was a traditional population management so that lobsters were not harvested year around but only during this season, Oct–Nov, for a month or 1.5 months.
Semantic domains:
intejed gal
n. tree, 12-14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3640)
Scientific name: Terminalia sepicana
Example: The seeds of this species are eaten, the fruits are cracked open and the seeds removed. However, perhaps of 10 fruits, maybe only 3 have seeds for eating. The flowers are known to have a very pleasant fragrance.
Semantic domains:
intekes ~ inrowod
n. treelet, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4085)
Scientific name: Cordyline fruticosa
Example: 1. The green leaves of this plant are used to cover fish, when cooking them in a fire.
Semantic domains:
intel e cha
n. terrestrial orchid, growing in open (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3523)
Scientific name: Spathoglottis pacifica
Example: This is a "message plant." If a person puts the flower behind their ear and then stares out at you, or tosses the flower to you, then say yes and follow them, for example, to drink kava, or to go swimming. Or a man invites a woman to go somewhere with him. Alternatively, you can leave the flower on a table and this is also a message to go with a person. Leaves also used to wrap foods. Decorate yard around the house.
Semantic domains:
intelecha
n. terrestrial orchid, growing in open area at edge of forest (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3480)
Scientific name: Spathoglottis petri
Example: This plant is a "message flower." If a person puts this flower behind their ear or in their hat, and looks at another person, it is an invitation to that person to go with you to the nakamal. Or a man invites a woman to go somewhere with him. Alternatively, you can leave the flower on a table and this is also a message to go with a person. Leaves also used to wrap foods. Decorate yard around the house.
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:
inteses
n. parasite in tree, flowers orange with reddish base. Growing in secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5000)
Scientific name: Amyema aneityensis
Example: This plant is said to have a type of magical use. Young men take one node of the stem of this plant and use it in an unspecified way to attract young women.
Semantic domains:
inteses
n. parasite on branches of Geissois denhamii tree, growing in dense rainforest. Flowers orange-red. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4028)
Scientific name: Amyema aneityensis
Example: 1. This plant is known to kill other trees and is regarded as a parasite. 2. The plant is related to kastom use regarding the separation of two lovers--more information witheld.
Semantic domains:
intesjao
n. tongs for removing food from fire
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
intesyan numarei
n. Longspine emperor
Scientific name: Lethrinus genivittatus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Museum of New Zealand / Te Papa Tongarewa, License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
intesyanam̃a
n. terrestrial plant and epiphyte at base of trees, growing in cloud forest in valley between inrerow and adjacent summit. Inflorescences pale yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3278)
Scientific name: Collospermum montanum
Semantic domains:
intesyaniau
n. grass to 3 m, flowers brown. Growing in degraded secondary forest along trail. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4969)
Scientific name: Miscanthus sinensis
Example: The stem of this plant is used to make walls of houses. Collect the stem and remove the leaves, and then take one of the bush vines (any of them) and tie the stems into bundles for making house walls or fences for chicken pens. Children make a whistle from a hollow piece of stem from this plant.
Semantic domains:
intesyanyac
n. Blacksaddled coralgrouper (deep sea)
Scientific name: Plectropomus laevis via FishBase
Example: Photo by jidanchaomian / Flickr, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
intijgancedo
n. prostrate herb growing on ground in open or partly shaded area next to banana tree. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3207)
Scientific name: Centella asiatica
Example: 1. The plant is named after a "rat"s ear.’ Eat 4 fresh leaves every morning to clear the brain and help remember things. 2. This plant is an indicator of rich soil--a good place for growing vegetables. 3. Very useful plant, food and medicine. Name means rat ear. Take 5 leaves, wrap in INROWOD (Cordyline fruticosa) and cook for 15 minutes, remove it hot (be sure you do not burn it) squeeze out 1 tablespoon and give to baby to drink to treat a flu. 1x morning for 5 days.
Semantic domains:
intijganeno
n. shrub. Found in the village Unames. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #33)
Scientific name: Acalypha caturus
Example: name = "stonefish ears" 1. To treat rashes - boil 4 leaves in water ad wait until it cools. Wash in this once a day until rash goes away. 2. Stonefish sting – very painful: 1 handful of leaves with squeezed coconut juice – coconut water – from green coconut. Mix the leaves and water and then make a cut in the wound to enlarge it and pour this juice into the wound. In 5-10 minutes the pain will stop, use 1x, very powerful. 3.If a person such as a mother touches the stonefish while preparing it for food, then does not wash hands, can infect a child – and the child will get sores. Take a small branch and boil it in the water and wash the baby with it to make pain go away. 4. Stonefish is a greatly appreciated food that must be prepared carefully by holding the fish by the mouth and not touching the body. Boil the fish to inactivate the poison and then prepare it as a normal fish for cooking. Poison is found in top spine of fish.
Semantic domains:
intijgarae
n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3519)
Scientific name: Sonneratia caseolaris
Example: The stem of this plant is used for fence posts that lead to the sea, and it is resistant to salt water and lasts a long time. The wood is strong and good to make house posts. People use this wood on the coast as salt water does not bother this wood.
Semantic domains:
intijgejei
n. Whitespotted surgeonfish
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:
intit plen
n. herb, growing on roadside in open disturbed area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3605)
Scientific name: Crassocephalum crepidioides
Example: 1a. This is an invasive weed that was brought to Aneityum by aircraft. Name means "aircraft mess". 1b. Means “planes waste” refers to white trails as this has lots of white seeds that fly.
Semantic domains:
intoho
n. tree, 10-12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3638)
Scientific name: Syzygium gracilipes
Example: This tree is a good source of firewood, wood for house posts as well as sawn timber. The ripe fruit is edible but some of these are sour. Kids eat fruits – it is black. Pick only the most ripe fruits. This species grows commonly on river banks.
Semantic domains:
intop̃ asiej
n. herb, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3221)
Scientific name: Wollastonia biflora
Example: This plant is used as a wild cabbage. The leaves are used to cover fish when baking in an earth oven and then these leaves are eaten. This is another "calendar plant" of Aneityum. When this plant flowers it means that turtles are very fat, so it is the indication that it’s time to go fishing for turtles. Also a "message plant." If a person wishes to break an agreement then the person puts the top leaves of this plant on another individual’s doorstep to indicate that the agreement is broken.
Semantic domains:
intop̃ asiej
n. herb, growing in coastal forest. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3446)
Scientific name: Wollastonia biflora
Semantic domains:
intop̃ hau
n. well branched tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3202)
Scientific name: Hibiscus tiliaceus
Example: 1. Young shoots are peeled and made into grass skirts. Scrape the stem and take the green part off, tie strips together and put under stones in the sea for retting, let sit 5 days in sea, but check these on a daily basis. When the fiber becomes soft, that is the time to take it from under the stones, clean off the excess materials, and hang it in the sun to dry for 3 days--this will bleach it and give it a whitish color, at which point it can be woven into a skirt. 2. The fiber can be used to make a small rope that is tied with shells and used for custom dances. 3. When the stems of this tree are older, the wood is very hard and it can be used to make the main frame that is arched for a cyclone house. According to Reuben these houses are not made much anymore on Aneityum Island. 4. To cook the intestines of fish that are eaten, take several leaves and put them in a small pile, making a wrapping, then use a local fiber to tie this together and cook on charcoal for as long as needed to prepare the fish parts. 5. In this area, sometimes knowledge of the plants and flowering are used as a calendar to indicate the time for planting of specific crops. Reuben will provide more details on a future trip. 6a. This species is an important "message plant." If a person is not home and you are visiting from the East--e.g. an Eastern part of the Island--that person can leave a 12 inch piece of stick in front of the door of the house so that the inhabitant knows that an eastern visitor (from Anawonjei district) has come by your home. The reason that person has come to visit is to pass an important message to you--good or bad "luck". The bad luck message might be a death, and is not told directly to the person. The good luck message might be a birth, or conflict that has been resolved. These messages are communicated using sticks--each district has a different species of plant. Reuben’s is the hibiscus. 6b. Message plant for Eastern people. If someone dies, use this plant, clip it in front of hem, in front of home, they ask “who” and you can tell them. In Eastern culture you cannot tell them directly. 7. When a person is too drunk with kava, take a branch of this and brush him with it to help make the effects go away. 8. Traditional plates for food.
Semantic domains:
intop pa
n. shrub to 2 m tall, dbh 2 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4996)
Scientific name: Melicope bonwickii
Example: This is an ornamental plant, grown around the home. People crush the leaves to enjoy the fragrance released. When bathing, grate coconut meat and crush the leaves of this plant and rub all over the body, before bathing and afterwards your body will smell very nice. To repel mosquitoes, crush these leaves and put them in the house.
Semantic domains:
intop̃asiej
n. shrub, 0. 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3562)
Scientific name: Wollastonia biflora
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. This plant is also a "calendar plant." When you see this plant flower you know that sea turtles are getting fat and ready to harvest. As a "message plant", if a person puts this flower behind their ear or in their hat, and looks at another person, it is an invitation to that person to go with you to the nakamal for kava
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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