The Aneityum Talking Dictionary currently has 2431 entries, with 1543 audio files and 860 images.
This image gallery has returned 100 entries.
naheñ
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4066)
Scientific name: Pavetta opulina
Example: 1. Young saplings are used to prepare a fishing spear. First a straight sapling is chosen and sized. Then it is heated over a fire to render it pliable. After the length is straightened, it is decorticated. Once cooled, a portion of wire can be affixed to an end to aid in spearing fish.
Semantic domains:
nahoacen
n. vine to 3-4 m, aerial tubers brown (collection: Michael J. Balick #4872)
Scientific name: Dioscorea bulbifera
Example: Normally these fruits are considered poisonous. But, people have learned to peel off the skin of the fruits, put the peeled fruits in a conical basked and place a bamboo tube that is dripping water over it to wash the basket of fruits for 3-5 days. This is said to leach out the poison and the end result is similar in consistency to cheese. Wrap this up with leaves and put it in an earth oven to cook. This plant is eaten as a "starvation food" only, consumed in times of drought and famine.
Semantic domains:
nahod
n. young vine, still erect (1 m tall) (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3551)
Scientific name: Colubrina asiatica
Example: The leaves of this plant are used as a soap. People collect the leaves and mash them and dip in fresh water and use the water to wash their bodies.
Semantic domains:
nahoj
n. tree, 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3646)
Scientific name: Garcinia pseudoguttifera
Example: The ripe fruits of this species smell very nice and people eat the inside part, which tastes similar to a banana. When fruit is ripe the outside is yellow and the inside is purple. The wood can be used for poles to make house rafters. When kids go fishing for shrimps they use the fruit to catch the shrimp by throwing the shrimp into the water which attracts the shrimp.
Semantic domains:
nahoj
n. palm to 15 m tall, dbh 30 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4913)
Scientific name: Carpoxylon macrospermum
Semantic domains:
nahoj
n. well branched tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4083)
Scientific name: Garcinia pseudoguttifera
Example: 1. The ripe fruits (yellow) are eaten. It is considered very sweet. 2. Young saplings are used to fashion a digging stick to plant kava and taro.
Semantic domains:
nahojcei
n. low-growing vine, growing next to airstrip just beyond coastal vegetation. Flowers purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3544)
Scientific name: Canavalia rosea
Example: To trap fish, the vine of this plant is rolled in large quantity and put on the reef in a circle at high tide in order to corral and trap the fish. At low tide the fish are then speared and harvested. Placement of the circle depends on the rocks and the reef. Children fold the large leaves and bite parts of the leaf to make designs as a craft object. This is a "message plant." If a person wants to build a house or garden in a specfic place, put a piece of the vine on a stick near the area to tell others that they should not build a garden or house hear this area--this is a Tabu message. There are a few other unspecified leaves added to the stick, not only this one.
Semantic domains:
nahojcei
n. low-growing, creeping vine growing in grassy area just inland from coastal strand. Flowers purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3224)
Scientific name: Canavalia rosea
Example: Long time ago used seeds to make necklaces, don’t last long.
Semantic domains:
nahojcei
n. scrambling vine, growing in coastal strand vegetation. Flowers purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3436)
Scientific name: Canavalia rosea
Semantic domains:
naipom̃yiv
n. terrestrial plant, 60 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3498)
Scientific name: Dianella ensifolia
Example: Children take a shoot of this plant and make a whistle from it. However, when children do this, they are told not to, as it will attract the rains, or a snake, that will hear the noise and come to the person. This is a folk belief. The base of the shoot of this plant is chewed and applied to fresh cuts as a styptic. Pull out top growth of plant that has not flowered and blow on it like a whistle. Ancestors used this as a whistle to attract snakes for edible – not today. Name means “balls or heaps of snakes” refer to their attraction.
Semantic domains:
naipomyiv ~ naipomñiv
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4771)
Scientific name: Dianella ensifolia
Semantic domains:
nairek
n. shrub to 2 m, dbh 5 com (collection: Michael J. Balick #4875)
Scientific name: Leucopogon cymbulae
Example: To make a local broom, gather a group of branches of this plant, tie together, burn off the leaves when they are dry and then use to sweep (photo with Wopa).
Semantic domains:
nairo
n. sapling, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4106)
Scientific name: Dacrycarpus imbricatus
Example: 1. Sapling wood is used to make fishing spears. A straight sapling is first heated in the fire to render it pliable. The sapling is further straightened and then decorticated. Once cooled, wire can be added a prong to the end of the spear.
Semantic domains:
nairum̃an
n. tree to 30 m, dbh 75 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4911)
Scientific name: Serianthes ebudarum
Example: Stems of this tree are used to make canoes as they are always straight. Tree can also be used to for timber and as firewood.
Semantic domains:
najañ
n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3613)
Scientific name: Myristica fatua
Example: Used to make small poles for house rafters.
Semantic domains:
najeng
n. tree, 8-10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4017)
Scientific name: Myristica fatua
Example: 1. Aerial roots have a natural curve that allows them to be used as a clothing hanger. The outer bark is peeled and dried all day in the sun, before the roots are used. 2. Leaves are used to help remove fish bones lodged in one’s throat. When bones are stuck in one’s throat, then you apply young leaves to the outside of the throat. Apply once and leave until the bones are removed.
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:
nake
n. terrestrial fern, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3712)
Scientific name: Ptisana smithii
Example: The very young leaves of this plant are edible.
Semantic domains:
nakhe
n. fern. Growing in a village back path. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #29)
Scientific name: Ptisana smithii
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:
nakwei
n. large palm, 20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4080)
Scientific name: Veitchia spiralis
Example: 1. Children eat the nut of the ripe fruits. 2. The leaf bases can be used, when tied together, two at a time, to create a bowl from which to drink. 3. In the past, the trunks were used to fashion a hunting spear used in tribal warfare. Further context withheld.
Semantic domains:
nakweiwei
n. treelet to 1 m, sterile. In transition zone from pine forest to scrub forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4981)
Example: The wood is used to make a fishing spear. Cut the straight stems, heat it in fire, straighten it as much as needed, cool the stem, peel the bark off of the stem and let it cure for 1 month. In the past, the end of the spear was carved into a sharp point and used for fishing. Now steel rods are placed on the tip to catch the fish. This is used in shallow water (fresh water or sea water) as the wood is heavy and can sink. People making these spears go to older forests that are higher up to collect the wood.
Semantic domains:
nala
n. shrub to 2 m, coastal vegetation (collection: Michael J. Balick #4961)
Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum
Example: The stem of this plant is used for firewood. If a person has been drinking kava and the next morning feels hung over, they can take a handful of the leaves of this plant, crush them in cool water, and wash their face with this. This treatment will help the kava feeling to disappear.
Semantic domains:
nala
n. tree to 7 m, dbh 20 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4860)
Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum
Example: This is a common tree. If a person travels from one district to another on Aneityum, and you see the tree planted in that other district, a person knows they are free to come into this area. When the leaves are yellow, as in a young tree, the local name is nala’gay. If a person carries a branch of this tree into a village it is a symbol that the person is coming with peaceful intentions.
Semantic domains:
nala
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3533)
Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum
Example: People must not drink kava close to this tree. If you have any leaves of this plant with you when you drink kava you will not feel its effect.
Semantic domains:
nala
n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3572)
Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum
Example: It is a kastom belief that people should not drink kava under this tree.
Semantic domains:
nala
n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3217)
Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum
Example: 1a. When traveling past a community you can place these leaves in a basket or walk with it in your hand. In this way people in the community know that you are traveling in peace and will cause no harm to people in that village. 1b. Message plant – if you go to visit someone and they are not there, you leave a branch of this on the door or somewhere they can see it and they know that some relatives have come and tried to visit them.
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:
nalas
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4755)
Scientific name: Pittosporum
Semantic domains:
nalau
n. feathers
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nalau inja
n. chicken feathers
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nalauba
[ nalauba ]
n. Emerald Dove
Scientific name: Chalcophaps indica
Example: Photo by Dr. Raju Kasambe/Wikimedia Commons, License: CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Semantic domains:
naledmot
naledpen
nalgaj
n. shrub to 1. 5 m, dbh 4 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #5005)
Scientific name: Cyrtandra
Example: In areas such as this, where more traditional leaves used to wrap lap-lap are scarce, this leaf can be used as it is quite large.
Semantic domains:
nalgaj
n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4107)
Scientific name: Cyrtandra cf. aneiteensis
Semantic domains:
nalgaj
n. small treelet, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3682)
Scientific name: Cyrtandra aneiteensis
Example: Can be used to stop pain from toothache. Break of the top growth of a branch and remove all leaves. Chew on the green stem at the site where there is a toothache. Keep the juice from chewing in your mouth for 2-5 minutes then spit the juice out. Leave the stem fibers in your mouth at the site of pain for about 20 minutes then remove. Then repeat 2 more times. This makes the tooth thinner so it breaks more easily.
Semantic domains:
naligaj
n. herb to 10 cm, sterile (collection: Michael J. Balick #4985)
Example: This plant is a very important food during a famine. People dig up the roots and roast these on the embers of a fire for 25 minutes, then check the root to get out the starchy material, and spit out the fiber. There is said to be little taste; this is a bland food that a person eats to survive. People on Aneityum have harvested it for a very long time so there is not as much of a supply left as in the past.
Semantic domains:
nalmupeñ
n. epiphyte on tree trunks, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4103)
Scientific name: Spiridens sp.
Semantic domains:
nama u niprij
n. herb, growing along garden area. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3595)
Scientific name: Physalis angulata
Example: 1. As a medicine for dengue fever, take a handful of stem apices of this plant, boil in 1-2 cups of water and drink this amount 3x daily, cold, until the fever goes away. This treatment is said to give a person strength during the course of the illness. 2. Take top branch – 2 leaves and put under baby’s pillow, baby will fall into a deep sleep.
Semantic domains:
namaka
n. herb to 1 m, flowers yellow. Growing at edge of cultivated field. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4956)
Scientific name: Triumfetta procumbens
Semantic domains:
namaka
n. herb to 1 m,flowers yellow. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4893)
Scientific name: Urena lobata
Example: To make rope, cut the stems, tie together in a bundle and place in the sea. Cover the bundle with rocks for about a week, then take it out, wash it, dry in the sun until the fibers bleach white and use to make grass skirts. This is the process of retting. When the cyclone season is finished, the plant has flowers and fruits--in May through July--this means no danger of cyclones.
Semantic domains:
namakapasi
n. shrub, 1. 5-2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3606)
Scientific name: Hibiscus sabdariffa
Example: A type of roselle that is a weed growing in swampy areas.
Semantic domains:
nam̃am̃a
n. epiphytic orchid, growing in dense rainforest along river. Flowers pink. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4058)
Scientific name: Dendrobium rarum
Semantic domains:
nam̃ap
n. shrub, 1. 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3442)
Scientific name: Maesa aneiteensis
Semantic domains:
nam̃ap
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4777)
Scientific name: Maesa aneiteensis
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:
nam̃caca
n. vine climbing in understory, growing in rainforest along river. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4057)
Scientific name: Joinvillea plicata
Example: 1. This plant is named in relation to a winged fish. The leaves are rough and resemble the body the fish. 2. The leaves of this plant are used to wrap grated taro or manioc. After it is fastened with rope and boiled or baked.
Semantic domains:
name
n. epiphytic liana, growing in primary forest. Bracts orange-red at base. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4029)
Scientific name: Freycinetia cf. reineckei
Example: 1. The roots of this plant are used to make "Nopoy"--a traditional trap used to catch fish and lobster. The outer bark of the roots are removed and sun-dried. The roots are then split into several pieces and they are woven in an open fashion similar to a "noporapora"--a type of market basket fashioned from coconut leaflets.
Semantic domains:
name cedo
n. epiphytic liana climbing up several canopy trees, growing on slope in primary forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4023)
Scientific name: Freycinetia impavida
Example: 1. The roots of this plant are used to make "Nopoy"--a traditional trap used to catch fish and lobster. The outer bark of the roots are removed and sun-dried. The roots are then split into several pieces and they are woven in an open fashion similar to a "noporapora"--a type of market basket fashioned from coconut leaflets.
Semantic domains:
name cedo
n. liana climbing on Syzygium, growing along ridge in dense rainforest. Bracts pale to deep red. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4078)
Scientific name: Freycinetia tannaensis
Semantic domains:
name cedo
n. epiphytic liana climbing up main trunk of garcinia pseudoguttifera, growing in primary forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4014)
Scientific name: Freycinetia impavida
Semantic domains:
namesei
n. terrestrial orchid, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4116)
Scientific name: Macodes sanderiana
Semantic domains:
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:
namji
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3508)
Scientific name: Phyllanthus ciccoides
Example: 1. The stems of this plant are sharpened and used to plant swamp taro or dry land taro. 2. Break small branch top put behind ear if you go to an unknown place and keep behind ear and sleep with it. If the place is safe you will sleep if it is not you will not sleep well – only behind ear when you sleep.
Semantic domains:
namlau
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3485)
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum
Example: 1. The larger stems of this plant can be used to build houses, for rafters. 2. It is also a good source of firewood. 3. Ancestors, before go to chief’s canal and want to talk about a complicated issue – a person would cut a branch and bring it to the sea and tap the water surface and would say what he wants, ask that he would want that issue to be solved and that others would follow his ideas and then go back to the meeting place and take stick, keep wind at his back, moving stick in all directions and then he will convince the people of his ideas. This is done by the chief’s spokesman. Helps convince the opposition. Helps keep power in hands of parent(??) chief rather than subchiefs who might have other ideas.
Semantic domains:
namlau
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3490)
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum
Example: 1. The larger stems of this plant can be used to build houses, for rafters. 2. It is also a good source of firewood. 3. Ancestors, before go to chief’s canal and want to talk about a complicated issue – a person would cut a branch and bring it to the sea and tap the water surface and would say what he wants, ask that he would want that issue to be solved and that others would follow his ideas and then go back to the meeting place and take stick, keep wind at his back, moving stick in all directions and then he will convince the people of his ideas. This is done by the chief’s spokesman. Helps convince the opposition. Helps keep power in hands of parent(??) chief rather than subchiefs who might have other ideas.
Semantic domains:
namlau
n. shrub, 1.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3684)
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum
Example: People on Anietyum carve a kava bowl from the wood of this species, that is unique to this island. It is oblong in shape and has a handle on each side.
Semantic domains:
namlau
n. well branched tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4081)
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum
Example: 1. The wood is used to carve a bi-handle bowl from which chiefs would drink kava.
Semantic domains:
namlau
n. tree to 15 m tall, dbh 40 com (collection: Michael J. Balick #4857)
Scientific name: Flueggea flexuosa
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.
Semantic domains:
namlau
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4770)
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum
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:
namlau or nida
n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3684)
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum
Example: People on Anietyum carve a kava bowl from the wood of this species, that is unique to this island. It is oblong in shape and has a handle on each side.
Semantic domains:
namñiañia
n. large scandent herb, to 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3453)
Scientific name: Joinvillea plicata
Example: The leaves of this plant are used to wrap manihot, fish, banana and other vegetables when cooking them in an earth oven or open fire.
Semantic domains:
namniañia
n. herb to 3 m tall, fruits black. Secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4905)
Scientific name: Joinvillea plicata
Example: Leaves used to wrap around cassava that is being baked in the earth oven.
Semantic domains:
namohos
n. Green jobfish
Scientific name: Aprion virescens via FishBase
Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
namou
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3578)
Scientific name: Rhamnella vitiensis
Example: The young stems of this tree are used to make bows and arrows. Cut the young, straight stems, dry them and use to carve the bow.
Semantic domains:
namou
n. shrub, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3502)
Scientific name: Rhamnella vitiensis
Example: The young stems of this tree are used to make bows and arrows. Cut the young, straight stems, dry them and use to carve the bow.
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:
nam̃ou
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4778)
Scientific name: liana
Semantic domains:
namp̃owei
n. terrestrial fern, growing in secondary forest along the river. Fronds dimorphic. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3644)
Scientific name: Oceanopteris gibba
Example: This is a sacred plant, it will keep crops, such as foods, in good condition and protect people from famine and loss of crops. It grows wild along the river and people leave it there and also move the plants to the house along with Terminalia fruiticosa and other unspecified plants for use in protecting their crops. For example, when people go to the garden, they take their planting stick and place it near these plants for a while, and being near it will help protect the garden as a person then works with their planting stick to plant the garden.
Semantic domains:
namrad
n. shrub to 3 m, dbh 3 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4876)
Scientific name: Croton insularis
Example: When a person is walking a long way, put pieces of the branches in your basket to make the journey shorter (easier). Leaves used for unspecified traditional medicine.
Semantic domains:
namrad
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4752)
Scientific name: Croton insularis
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:
namumuatamag
n. epiphyte on fallen tree, growing in disturbed forest. Fruit. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3474)
Scientific name: Appendicula reflexa
Example: When children feel weak, this is a good medicine for them. Squeeze the leaves and give the child (3-5 years of age) one tea spoon of the juice and it is said to make them strong again.
Semantic domains:
namuñyepei
n. shrub to treelet, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3266)
Scientific name: Syzygium aneityense
Semantic domains:
nanad
[ nanaθ ]
n. shrub, 2-3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3455)
Scientific name: Psychotria milnei
Example: Fertilizer, take fresh leaves and put in area where plant taro.
Semantic domains:
nanad
n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3553)
Scientific name: Scaevola taccada
Example: 1. A stimulant plant. If a person is going to their garden early in the morning before the sun come up, break 2 top young leaves and chew and swallow the liquid, spitting out the fiber. This makes the person able to work harder and not feel tired while in the fields. It was noted that "a person can do the work of many people if they chew this." 2. The leaves are used for fertilizer for taro--put a bunch of leaves in a hole were taro is to be planted as a compost/antibiotic. This practice is said to kill all of the bad organisms such as bacttively impact the health of the taro plant. 3. This one collected from coastal area, ?? one collected in forest area. People take 4 leaves, chew leaves, swallow juice, gives energy to work hard the entire day. For fishing, take lots of ripe fruits and put in pocket, you will be able to catch a lot of fish. It brings good fortune when fishing. Roots – take one root, wash where a woman is giving birth to a newborn baby, give a drop of the juice from the root to clear the mucus in the throat.
Semantic domains:
nanad
n. shrub to 1. 5 m, flowers white. Red clay soil (collection: Michael J. Balick #4882)
Scientific name: Scaevola neoebudica
Example: Use the leaves to make compost to be placed at the bottom of the hole where taro is to be planted, cover with soil and grow the taro in that hole. Serves as a fertilizer.
Semantic domains:
nanad
n. shrub to 2 m, flowers white. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4926)
Scientific name: Scaevola taccada
Example: Use the leaves to make compost to be placed at the bottom of the hole where taro is to be planted, cover with soil and grow the taro in that hole. Serves as a fertilizer.
Semantic domains:
nanad
n. shrub. Growing near the beach. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #4)
Scientific name: Scaevola taccada
Example: 1. Dried branches from this plant can be used to roast vegetable crops that women eat if they have problems becoming pregnant. 2. Firewood, burns well. 3. Some people will eat the green fruit for protection against black magic. Eat 5 fruits for this. Eat it only once – will last for a year.
Semantic domains:
nanad cop̃ou
n. small shrub, 0. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3219)
Scientific name: Scaevola taccada
Example: 1. A stimulant plant. If a person is going to their garden early in the morning before the sun come up, break 2 top young leaves and chew and swallow the liquid, spitting out the fiber. This makes the person able to work harder and not feel tired while in the fields. It was noted that "a person can do the work of many people if they chew this." 2. The leaves are used for fertilizer for taro--put a bunch of leaves in a hole were taro is to be planted as a compost/antibiotic. This practice is said to kill all of the bad organisms such as bacttively impact the health of the taro plant. 3. This species is collected in the coastal areas, and is different from the one that looks similar to it, that grows in the forested areas. People take 4 leaves, chew leaves, swallow juice, gives energy to work hard the entire day. For fishing, take lots of ripe fruits and put in pocket, you will be able to catch a lot of fish. It brings good fortune when fishing. Roots – take one root, wash where a woman is giving birth to a newborn baby, give a drop of the juice from the root to clear the mucus in the throat.
Semantic domains:
nanad itohou
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3456)
Scientific name: Scaevola cylindrica
Example: 1. The leaves of this plant are used as a fertilizer when a person plants taro "to help to feed the ground for next year." 2. Sapwood of this tree, and one more [GMP 3591], in old days take from west side and cross mountain to the east, and on red clay mountain, burn it to make spirits to give more sun instead of rain so that gardens will grow well.
Semantic domains:
nanad op̃a
n. tree, 4-5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3542)
Scientific name: Argusia argentea
Example: Some people use the dried leaves of this plant when there is no tobacco. Roll the leaves and smoke them. This is a good plant to lay under as a shade along the coast. Good firewood. The leaves are used with other leaves as part of a ceremony to calm the sea.* Burn leaves in a special place and toss ashes in the sea – sea will be calm.* When you are paddling to another island. Carry them with you and toss in sea as you go. Also goes with fasting and cleansing when traveling in this way.
Semantic domains:
nanec
n. tree, 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3633)
Scientific name: Canthium odoratum
Example: To cook Alocasia (wild taro), use the dry wood of this plant as firewood. The leaves of this plant are also used to line the earth oven on top of the food and on bottom of the food to insulate it from the high heat of cooking.
Semantic domains:
nanec
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4756)
Semantic domains:
nanedauyan
n. Pacific yellowtail emperor
Scientific name: Lethrinus atkinsoni via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nanini
n. twining vine, growing on grassed along roadside in open disturbed area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3608)
Scientific name: Cardiospermum halicacabum
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:
napaeicei
n. epiphytic fern on fallen log, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4097)
Scientific name: Davallia pusilla
Example: 1. The name means "wood cover", alluding to the habit of this plant. It grows only on the bark of trees.
Semantic domains:
napalhat
n. vine, growing on rocks at end of strand near coastal forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3690)
Scientific name: Hoya australis
Example: As a medicine to treat toothache, the latex from this vine is put into the tooth as soon as the person feels pain. Use 3x daily until the pain has subsided. The flower is used as a decoration behind the ear. When there are rough seas because someone has trespassed in a tabu area you can take 12 leaves from the napalhat and put them in a pond for about 1 week until they start to stink. Then use we leaves from the naojapdak and drown those leaves in either a fresh water pond or salty water. (No further information given). Can also take an armful of napalhat and place on top of a stone in the tabu area with a smaller stone on top of the napaphat. The stone must be a large permanent stone. Has also heard people say it can be used for toothache if you put the leaf on the tooth.
Semantic domains:
napannopotan
n. epiphytic fern, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4098)
Scientific name: Crepidomanes
Example: 1. The name means "ground cover". It usually grow on the forest floor.
Semantic domains:
napapotan
n. epiphytic fern on tree, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4089)
Scientific name: Asplenium bipinnatifidum
Semantic domains:
naparap
n. epiphytic fern on main tree trunk, growing in dry forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3504)
Scientific name: Pyrrosia confluens
Example: This is a medicine to treat fresh cuts. Take the leaf of this species, macerate it and add 1 tablespoon of water and wrap in a Macaranga leaf, and then heat it on a fire. After heating, puncture the side of the Macaranga leaf and drop the hot juice on the fresh cut. This is said to be good before going to see the Dispensary or if you do not have access to a health care professional.
Semantic domains:
nap̃at
n. terrestrial fern, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4099)
Scientific name: Callistopteris apiifolia
Example: 1. The name means "cloud". The plant is usually found on high ridges, in areas where there is often high moisture.
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:
napdaj
napjau
n. grass. Found along intra village path. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #35)
Scientific name: Digitaria sp.
Example: 1. Bath for babies to make them healthy and walk faster, mix with plants WAKAS (AAB 34), NITIDEI (GMP 3658 or 4043), and a grass NATUTAHUT (MJB 4945). Put all in a kettle filled of water and wash them with it – use 1 handful of each leaf.
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:
napleañ
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4765)
Scientific name: Adenanthera pavonina
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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