The Aneityum Talking Dictionary currently has 2431 entries, with 1543 audio files and 860 images.
This image gallery has returned 100 entries.
necsap
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3534)
Scientific name: Halfordia kendack
Example: This tree has very hard wood. 1. Use the small stems to plant dry land or swamp taro, sharpening the end and pushing it into the ground to make a hole. 2. It also is useful for fence, posts for houses. 3. Small stems are also used to make a comb for the hair. 4. Plant pole for taro kava. 5. A branch is shaped and used to husk coconut. 6. The wood is hard and in ancient times people would take a forked piece and put string on one side of it, sharpen the other side and use with the string as a fish hook – need to keep rope tight until it is in the canoe. Do not give it slack – strong use AAM 17.
Semantic domains:
necsap
n. shrub to 2 m, flowers white. Red clay soil (collection: Michael J. Balick #4887)
Scientific name: Halfordia kendack
Example: The stem makes a good digging stick to plant taro. Also branches of this tree are cut to tie the canoe to the outrigger. Used for the small sticks that sit at the base of the larger sticks that hold the outrigger (see photos).
Semantic domains:
necsap̃
n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3534)
Scientific name: Halfordia kendack
Example: This tree has very hard wood. 1. Use the small stems to plant dry land or swamp taro, sharpening the end and pushing it into the ground to make a hole. 2. It also is useful for fence, posts for houses. 3. Small stems are also used to make a comb for the hair. 4. Plant pole for taro kava. 5. A branch is shaped and used to husk coconut. 6. The wood is hard and in ancient times people would take a forked piece and put string on one side of it, sharpen the other side and use with the string as a fish hook – need to keep rope tight until it is in the canoe. Do not give it slack – strong use AAM 17.
Semantic domains:
necyak
n. herb to 20 cm, flowers blue. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4922)
Scientific name: Plectranthus scutellarioides
Example: Roast the tuber of this vine on an open fire for 20-40 minutes, peel off the skin and eat like cassava or taro. Chew it and drink the "juice" while spitting out the fiber. It grows wild, season of harvesting is in May. Very tasty food for people, considered "numba wan" food for this island.
Semantic domains:
nedec
[ neθeɣ ]
n. Collared Kingfisher
Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris
Example: Photo by JJ Harrison, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Semantic domains:
nedelat
[ neθelat ]
n. basket for clothes; carrying infants; transporting plants
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nednaeñ
n. tree, 3. 5-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3472)
Scientific name: Melicope latifolia
Example: 1. This species is good for firewood when dried. 2. The wood is used as well for making house posts. 3. Use this w/ INCIPINTI (GMP 3471) for compost in the water taro field.
Semantic domains:
nednaiñ lelcei
n. partly fallen tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4055)
Scientific name: Melicope bonwickii
Example: 1. The wood of this tree is used to make rafters of traditional homes.
Semantic domains:
nednañlelcei
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3271)
Scientific name: Melicope triphylla
Example: Used as a leaf compost for planting taro, layered on the bottom of the hole and covering the taro as well.
Semantic domains:
nedouyatmas
n. small, sparsely branched tree (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3463)
Scientific name: Delarbrea paradoxa
Example: This is considered a sacred plant. People do not use this plant as it is considered "of the devil."
Semantic domains:
nedouyatmas
n. sparsely branched understory tree, 4-5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4030)
Scientific name: Delarbrea paradoxa
Example: 1. It is considered "tabu" to cover laplap with the leaf of this species. It is said to spoil the laplap.
Semantic domains:
nedwodou
n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3531)
Scientific name: Ficus glandifera
Example: 1. For a child around 1 year of age, take the inside bark, mash it, boil in hot warter and then use it to wash the child. This will ensure that the child will grow strong and make them able to crawl fast. 2. If a woman who is one month pregnant would like to have a baby, she is given 4 of the tips of the branches to chew and swallow everything before breakfast 1x only. 3. For fishing, take 4 leaves, hold top side up, tear right half of leaves off, keep left side, roll it up and put with fishing gear to have good luck when fishing in the deep sea beyond the reef.
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:
nedwonomo
nefelan
[ nefelan ]
n. a path
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nefesgamtan
n. Humpnose big-eye bream
Scientific name: Monotaxis grandoculis via FishBase
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
negejwaj
negna
n. Bluespot mullet
Scientific name: Moolgarda seheli via FishBase
Example: Photo by Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
negrecreipek
n. herb, growing in partially drained marsh and along weedy areas of road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3600)
Scientific name: Palhinhaea cernua
Example: This plant is used as an ornament in the hair.
Semantic domains:
nehel
[ nehel ]
n. paddle (for a canoe)
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
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:
nehep
n. large tree, 15-20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4062)
Scientific name: Hernandia moerenhoutiana
Example: 1. The trunk of this tree is used to make the body and outrigger of a traditional canoe. 2. The inner bark is used as a bandage for cuts and wounds. When the inner bark is grated it yields a sticky substance. The sap acts as a liquid stitch and reduced the chance of scarring. When this is dry one must use a knife to remove the residue.
Semantic domains:
neheptal
n. tree to 15 m tall, dbh 25 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4903)
Scientific name: Hernandia moerenhoutiana
Example: Wood is used to make canoe as it is very light and lasts in salt water. As a styptic to stop bleeding, when a person gets a cut in the bush, scrape off outer bark and use inner bark scrapings to put on cut. Stops bleeding, leave on for one day.
Semantic domains:
neiang
n. stage of coconut
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
neiang mesei
n. stage of coconut
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nejecjec
n. epiphyte c. 1 m above forest floor, growing in secondary forest above river. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3650)
Scientific name: Asplenium australasicum
Example: The younger,soft leaves are used to wrap local foods, for example bananas. To prepare a type of "local cheese," made from fermented breadfruit and fermented banana, mix a bit of coconut milk and wrap these two fruits in the leaves and cook under ground. Not clear about the way the food is fermented.
Semantic domains:
nejecjec
n. epiphyte on prop roots and main tree trunks, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4044)
Scientific name: Asplenium amboinense
Semantic domains:
nejecjeñ
n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3652)
Scientific name: Leucosyke australis
Semantic domains:
nejecjeñ
n. small tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4059)
Scientific name: Leukosyke australis
Semantic domains:
nejeg
n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3514)
Scientific name: Bruguiera gymnorhiza
Example: 1. The wood is strong and good to make house posts. People use these for this purpose on the coast as salt water does not bother this wood. 2. People eat fruit, split fruit in half, carefully scrape the inner part into a pot of water, keep over night – next day rinse, fry or cook with coconut milk and can add tinned tuna for example, very hard work.
Semantic domains:
nejeg
n. tree, growing in forest at edge of wide tidal stream (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3535)
Scientific name: Bruguiera gymnorhiza
Example: 1. The wood is strong and good to make house posts. People use these for this purpose on the coast as salt water does not bother this wood. 2. People eat fruit, split fruit in half, carefully scrape the inner part into a pot of water, keep over night – next day rinse, fry or cook with coconut milk and can add tinned tuna for example, very hard work.
Semantic domains:
nejeg
n. tree to 4 m, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4925)
Scientific name: Bruguiera gymnorhiza
Example: The wood of this tree is hard and used for house posts. It grows in the water or inundated areas, fish, crabs, sea creatures use the roots of this tree to hide and breed. People know that this tree stops big waves and therefore protect the trees.
Semantic domains:
nejeg tau
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3518)
Scientific name: Rhizophora samoensis
Example: People plant this tree near the coast, specifically as small fish and shellfish hide in it to breed and people know this.
Semantic domains:
nejev
n. tree, 16-18 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3722)
Scientific name: Agathis macrophylla
Example: The small stems of this plant are used to hold the outrigger to the canoe. The larger wood is good for sawn timber.
Semantic domains:
nejev
n. Skipjack tuna
Scientific name: Katsuwonus pelamis via FishBase
Example: Photo by Krw130lm / Fishes of Australia, License: CC BY-A-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nejev
n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3214)
Scientific name: Agathis macrophylla
Example: This tree makes good wood for canoes as well as timbers that are cut for building houses. A decoration that is placed around the head, known as salu-salu is made from these leaves. If you wear it, people know you are from Aneityum. In the early 1950’s-1960’s, Aneityum was the main place for logging this species. Now it is rare and in need of replanting. A project from New Zealand planted pine trees in its place and they have thrived here. In the same way, the sandalwood tree was overharvested and is rare now. Timber, very resinous so good to start fire – branches good for fire. They are the ones that have the sap, if a person in in the bush and finds young tree – sapling – they will make headdress from the leaves to show they came from the bush. Also, this is a Kastom name.
Semantic domains:
nejev
n. canoe rudder
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nejomti
n. terrestrial fern, 30 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3716)
Scientific name: Tapeinidium denhamii
Example: The leaves of this plant, along with other leaves, are used to make an unspecified traditional medicine.
Semantic domains:
nejoplec
n. shrub to 2 m, flowers pale green-white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4899)
Scientific name: Psychotria aneityensis
Example: If a person chews the branches of this tree, their teeth will not grow or will fall out. Common name refers to "bad teeth.
Semantic domains:
nekei atimi
n. fern. Growing in a village back path. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #28)
Scientific name: Angiopteris evecta
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:
nekeiatimi
n. terrestrial fern, growing on rocky area in secondary forest above the river. Leaves c. 3 m long. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3654)
Scientific name: Angiopteris evecta
Example: The leaf is wrapped around the head as an adornment by both men and women. If a person gets burned by a fire, scrape the petiole of this plant and squeeze juice on the wound to cool and heal it. Use as long as needed. The ancestors are said to have cooked the stump of this plant in an earth oven, over 2-3 nights, and then ate it. It is said to have no taste but was more of a famine food during periods of drought.
Semantic domains:
nekia
n. terrestrial, occasional (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2487)
Scientific name: Ptisana smithii
Semantic domains:
nekrei
n. Sailfin tang
Scientific name: Zebrasoma velifer
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nekro
n. tree, 5-6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3522)
Scientific name: Geissois denhamii
Example: This is a "calendar plant." When it flowers, people know that the taro is ready to harvest. It does not grow in the forest, but only along the coast in grassy areas. Use wood as posts for roof of house.
Semantic domains:
nekro
n. tree, 18 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3667)
Scientific name: Geissois denhamii
Example: Children suck the nectar from the young flowers just as they open. Wood from this plant is used for poles for rafters as well as for firewood. Flying foxes drink juice from the flowers.
Semantic domains:
nekro
n. tree to 8 m, dbh 20 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4916)
Scientific name: Geissois denhamii
Example: Boil inner bark in seawater to treat scabies, a skin condition. Take one handful of bark and put in one liter of water, wash the affected area once daily for a week .
Semantic domains:
nekrolas
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4126)
Scientific name: Spiranthemum
Example: 1. The wood of this tree can be used as posts and rafters in traditional houses.
Semantic domains:
nekrou
n. Two-spot red snapper, twinspot snapper, red bass
Scientific name: Lutjanus bohar via FishBase
Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nelas
nelas
nelgo waj
n. sailing canoe
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nelgou waj
[ nelgoʊ waj ]
n. toy float, lit. "flying ship", "fast ship"
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nelka
n. terrestrial fern, 1. 5-2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3501)
Scientific name: Dicranopteris linearis
Example: These ferns can cause injury during the dry season as they can stick into a person, so they are intentionally burned to avoid this.
Semantic domains:
nelka
n. terrestrial, rare (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2486)
Scientific name: Histiopteris incisa
Semantic domains:
nelkap̃aeñ
n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3466)
Scientific name: Sarcomelicope simplicifolia
Example: The wood of this species is very hard and therefore useful for making houses. In fact it is so hard that a person cannot drive a nail through it. This wood is used to make spears for fishing.
Semantic domains:
nelkasau
n. shrub to 4 m, fruits green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4987)
Scientific name: Ricinus communis
Example: This leaf is used as the upper layer of leaves on the earth oven. If the leaves of #4986 are in short supply, people cover the first layer of stones in the earth oven with these. The stems of this plant are used as tinder to light fires. The seeds are poisonous.
Semantic domains:
nelm̃ae
n. small tree. Found in the village, but not cultivated. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #17)
Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus
Example: 1. Ancestors used this plant to make fish line – cut young branches, remove outer bark and tie together, put in salt water or fresh water for a week, it is now strong, dry in sun, take fibers and twist them together to make a very long fishing line. 2. Leaves are used to feed pigs. 3. Take inner bark, scrape it and put on boils. Attach with any leaf and it takes out the boil. 4. Trunk for temporary bush house.
Semantic domains:
nelmaha
n. tree. Growing near village. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #6)
Scientific name: Ficus littoralis
Example: 1. To cure spirit sickness of the niteitau. Use plants that also end with "au" : niditau, intoutau, naoyerop. Go to the top of the plant to get the soft leaves of the plants niditau, intoutau, naoyerop, also take the bark. The person making the medicine should be holding the these leaves with a piece of nelmaha. Nelmaha means go away. The sick person chews the leaves and bark and swallows the juice spitting out the fiber into the nelmaha the medicine maker is holding. The medicine person then takes the spit out fiber in the nalmaha leaf and throws it into the sea in front of the village. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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 inpounatmas, 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. 5. Used to fight against black magic in an unspecified way. 6. Roll leaf and put in pocket for protection when walk in a new area. 7. Message plant if a land dispute – if a person puts this stem or leaf in another’s garden whom they are angry with it means go away!! 8. To treat sick people, especially who fall ill from black magic to save their life. Symptoms vary, for example a person with small boils over body,* a person chews the leaf and spits it on the sick person, 1x and then puts the branch with leaves near the sick person when they sleep – 3x (1x day) branch is ca. 25cm long. (*headache, severe)
Semantic domains:
nelmaha
n. tree. Growing near village. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #21)
Scientific name: Ficus littoralis
Example: 1. To cure spirit sickness of the niteitau. Use plants that also end with "au" : niditau, intoutau, naoyerop. Go to the top of the plant to get the soft leaves of the plants niditau, intoutau, naoyerop, also take the bark. The person making the medicine should be holding the these leaves with a piece of nelmaha. Nelmaha means go away. The sick person chews the leaves and bark and swallows the juice spitting out the fiber into the nelmaha the medicine maker is holding. The medicine person then takes the spit out fiber in the nalmaha leaf and throws it into the sea in front of the village. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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 inpounatmas, 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. 5. Used to fight against black magic in an unspecified way. 6. Roll leaf and put in pocket for protection when walk in a new area. 7. Message plant if a land dispute – if a person puts this stem or leaf in another’s garden whom they are angry with it means go away!! 8. To treat sick people, especially who fall ill from black magic to save their life. Symptoms vary, for example a person with small boils over body,* a person chews the leaf and spits it on the sick person, 1x and then puts the branch with leaves near the sick person when they sleep – 3x (1x day) branch is ca. 25cm long. (*headache, severe)
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:
nelm̃ai
n. tree to 8 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4863)
Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus
Example: Fiber: Collect the stems of this plant, peel off the outer bark, soak (ret) in seawater for 1 week, then put stone on top of it-the fibers are loosened by the retting, peel them off and hang in the sun to dry and bleach. Weave small baskets, grass skirts and other things from this fiber. When sticks are placed in areas of the sea, shells are attracted to these sticks and people can collect the shells used for adornment--the animals in the shells like to eat the material on the sticks. Dried fruits of this plant are eaten by birds.
Semantic domains:
nelm̃ai apeñ
n. tree 6 m tall, dbh 15 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4864)
Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus
Example: Fiber: Collect the stems of this plant, peel off the outer bark, soak (ret) in seawater for 1 week, then put stone on top of it-the fibers are loosened by the retting, peel them off and hang in the sun to dry and bleach. Weave small baskets, grass skirts and other things from this fiber. When sticks are placed in areas of the sea, shells are attracted to these sticks and people can collect the shells used for adornment--the animals in the shells like to eat the material on the sticks. Dried fruits of this plant are eaten by birds.
Semantic domains:
nelm̃ap
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4795)
Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus
Semantic domains:
nelnjen
[ nɛʝɲan ]
n. footprints (gen.)
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nelnjen natimi
[ nɛʝɲan natimi ]
n. footprints (human)
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nelpon nohop a nelco
[ nɛlpon nohop a nelɣo ]
n. front of a canoe
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
Semantic domains:
nemdaj
n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3724)
Scientific name: Acanthus ilicifolius
Semantic domains:
nemdaj
n. Little spinefoot, scribbled rabbitfish
Scientific name: Siganus spinus via FishBase
Example: Photo by Kathleen Kresner-Reyes / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
nemeg
n. Anchor tuskfish, Orange-dotted tuskfish
Scientific name: Choerodon anchorago via FishBase
Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein, iNaturalist: CC BY-A-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
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:
nemla
n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4127)
Scientific name: Melochia odorata
Example: 1. This wood can be used to start a fire, where there are no matches. Two dried pieces of wood are rubbed vigorously together to create tinder. The tinder is then added to dried material in order to start a fire. 2. The wood of this plant is used as rafters in traditional houses.
Semantic domains:
nemla
n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4757)
Scientific name: Melochia odorata
Semantic domains:
nemlowoc
n. scandent shrub, growing in dense rainforest. Fruits purple-red. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4117)
Scientific name: Medinilla cauliflora
Semantic domains:
nemlowoc
n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3273)
Scientific name: Astronidium aneityense
Semantic domains:
nemtanla
n. herb to 1 m, flowers yellow. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4892)
Scientific name: Sida cordifolia
Example: If a person is coming to a "new" village, e.g. not their own, and they have a branch in their hand, it means that they are coming in peace and not trying to harm anyone else in the new village. Or if they are asking for something that might be found in the new village, they hold the branch of this species and pass it to a person from that village so they will accept you.
Semantic domains:
nemtav
n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3666)
Scientific name: Dysoxylum
Semantic domains:
nemtav
n. tree to 20 m, dbh 50 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4910)
Scientific name: Dysoxylum molle
Semantic domains:
nemtokei
n. tree to 7 m tall, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4861)
Scientific name: Trema orientalis
Example: When a person does heavy work and their body feels tired, they should take 1 handful of leaves, squeeze them into a cup of water and drink--this will make the person feel better. People can drink this from time to time to give the body energy even before you are tired. To treat constipation, take 4- 8’ pieces of stem from a 2 cm dbh section of the tree, peel the outside bark off, collect the inner bark and mash with a stone or hammer, put in a colander to strain out the wood, add 1.5 l water, the liquid becomes green or whitish with sticky liquid. Drink this one time, it tastes cold and then after about 30 minutes it feels like the bowel is working and then normal function returns--this does not induce diarrhea but rather returns the bowel to normal function.
Semantic domains:
nepek cat
n. type of seashell
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nepekhau
nepelvan wou
n. liana, growing along ridge in dense rainforest. Latex white (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4074)
Scientific name: Alyxia stellata
Example: 1. The outer stem is used to make an ornament call "Intyecrec". When one returns from the bush, you make this to indicate your trip to the bush. Other plants are at times including in the dressing. Each have their own significance.
Semantic domains:
nepelvanwou
n. liana, on Polyscias cissodendron (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3457)
Scientific name: Alyxia stellata
Example: 1. Macerate the young stems, remove the outer "skin" to release the odor of the stem and weave into a head garland for decoration. 2. People use it as a headdress. This is a male plant, ancestors used both male and female wrapped together for the headdress. Man would put this on head to attract a woman that he liked. Be careful when you are passing other women who will be attracted to the wearer – so the person can’t speak to them so he can focus on the one he is attracted to.
Semantic domains:
nepjed
n. orange (fruit)
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
nepjen
n. hard outer shell of crab
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
Semantic domains:
nepjen epjen
n. lithophyte, growing on rock in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4038)
Scientific name: Antrophyum plantagineum
Semantic domains:
nepjenepjen
n. epiphytic vine climbing on trees, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4091)
Scientific name: Selliguea plantaginea
Example: 1. When a child is between 1 mos. and 1 yr. if the father persists too soon in resuming sexual relations with the mother, the child can become sick. In preparation for the sickness, green leaves are collected. When the sickness occurs, the leaves (now dry) are burned and the baby is washed with the charcoal. 2. After visitors leaves one’s house, one must not hurry to return to their gardens. One waits a few days, then swims with the rachis of this fern tied about their waist. If this practice is not followed, it is believed that the plants in one’s gardens will grow weak.
Semantic domains:
nepnai
n. tree to 5 m, flowers white. Growing in secondary forest with metroxylon palms and other large trees. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4954)
Example: The pear shaped fruits are eaten when ripe. Peel off the outer skin, eat inner part and discard the seed. The 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:
nepñatimi
n. epiphyte on syzygium tree, growing in secondary forest along trail above river. old fruits. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3660)
Scientific name: Procris pedunculata
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:
nepnou
n. type of seashell
Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
Semantic domains:
nepya
n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3541)
Scientific name: Pisonia grandis
Example: 1. The young leaves are placed under a pig being cooked in the earth oven, on top of stones, the fat drips on the leaves and then people eat the leaves with pig fat on it--said to be delicious. The branches are used to make pig pen fences. 2. Collect top branches, chop leaves boil and eat like island cabbage – or cook on charcoal and wrap fish w/ this leaf.
Semantic domains:
nerere
n. tree to 10 m, dbh 75 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4988)
Scientific name: Ficus kajewskii
Example: The young aerial roots are cut from the stems of the tree and used as a local rope, to tie things, help construct temporary shelters, as well as to make string for a hunting bow. Flying foxes like to eat this fruit so in the night when the fruit is mature hunters come by this tree to hunt flying foxes as well as hunting birds during the day. Hunters use bows and arrows for birds, and throwing sticks (natou) made from any plant to hunt flying foxes.
Semantic domains:
nerere
n. tree, 8-10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4141)
Scientific name: Ficus obliqua
Semantic domains:
nerere
n. strangler tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3694)
Scientific name: Ficus obliqua
Semantic domains:
nerinabod
n. Brassy chub, lowfin drummer
Scientific name: Kyphosus vaigiensis via FishBase
Example: Photo by Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia
Semantic domains:
neroa
n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3513)
Scientific name: Gardenia tannaensis
Example: 1. The flower is used to make a necklace and the wood used as poles for a house roof. The flower is very fragrant and people put it behind their ear to enjoy the aroma. The leaf is used to bake taro in 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. 2. Firewood, flower smells good, put in coconut oil to give it aroma. Grate coconut, add small amount of water, put in bowl, heat until water is evaporated, the oil is on top, take all the coconut cream on bottom save oil in another pot. Drop 2-3 flowers into coconut oil and boil, or more flowers. Try not to burn the oil. Take out flowers and use pure oil. Also used for final covering of large earth oven during feast along with GMP 3503 – esp. wedding feast. Planting pole and hard and heavy wood – sharp end. 3. This is a "calendar plant." When it flowers, people know that the taro is ready to harvest.
Semantic domains:
neroa
n. tree, 6-7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3527)
Scientific name: Gardenia tannaensis
Example: 1. The flower is used to make a necklace and the wood used as poles for a house roof. The flower is very fragrant and people put it behind their ear to enjoy the aroma. The leaf is used to bake taro in 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. 2. Firewood, flower smells good, put in coconut oil to give it aroma. Grate coconut, add small amount of water, put in bowl, heat until water is evaporated, the oil is on top, take all the coconut cream on bottom save oil in another pot. Drop 2-3 flowers into coconut oil and boil, or more flowers. Try not to burn the oil. Take out flowers and use pure oil. Also used for final covering of large earth oven during feast along with GMP 3503 – esp. wedding feast. Planting pole and hard and heavy wood – sharp end. 3. This is a "calendar plant." When it flowers, people know that the taro is ready to harvest.
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.
Supported by
