Aneityum

v.

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.a.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 62

v.

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[dowaŋ nadimi] phr.

Speaker: David Nasauman

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 166

v.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 78

[et emθan] phr.

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 80

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 84

[inɣej] n.

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n.

Scientific name: Pandanus tectorius, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Example: 1. The wood of this species is strong and used as house posts. 2. Spear as other – fishing.

Scientific name: Dysoxylum bijugum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Scientific name: Ipomoea aquatica, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[inhɛlʤa] n.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n.

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.

Scientific name: Phlegmariurus squarrosus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

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.

Scientific name: Tabernaemontana anguinea, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 87

n.

Example: Edible fruits, very well liked.

Scientific name: Eugenia rariflora, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inpak] n.

Speaker: David Nasauman

[inpwain ~ inhwain] n.

Example: Photo by Arthur Chapman, License: CC BY-NC 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Egretta sacra, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

[inwei] n.

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n.

Example: This plant is the focus of an important legend on Aneityum. When the missionary John Geddie and colleaguse first arrived on the island in July of 1848, the Chiefs welcomed them but some of the people did not like the idea. So these people sent a basket containing a peeled coconut and a fish (nopom) to the Chief in Umej to ask him to support the idea of getting rid of the missionary that the Chief of Analcahuat had welcomed. If the Chief of Umej were to eat the fish and coconut meat, it would mean that he agreed with the opposition. The Chief refused to eat the food in the basket and he told the people a parable involving this plant. A person cannot find the tip of the stem or the end of the root in the ground. So if they were to eliminate the missionary, his activity would continue because of God’s power. As it is with this plant, it will continue to grow and flourish if you cut it or try to dig up the root. So he sent a message about this plant to the people in Analcahuat who objected to the presence of the missionary stating this parable. Those people in Analcauhat held a secret meeting and they chose a powerful and strong person to kill the missionary. During the night the person went to the missionary’s house while he was in the toilet. Returning to the house, the missionary found the person in his doorway, and that person lifted his club to strike the missionary. But at that point the attacker’s hands suddenly had no power and the club fell from his hands, and he fell over. The missionary told him to get up, and not come back. After that experience, the people of Umej realized that God’s power was great and they could not go against it. The Chief took the peeled coconut that was sent him and covered it with the skin of another coconut and planted it instead of eating it. This coconut grew and the missionary’s work continued to grow on the island. So this vine played an important role in communicating the power of God to the people of Aneityum.

Speaker: Tony Keith

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n.

Example: Ornamental. Some have red flowers. Red birds drink the juice. Normally flowers July, August, September.

Scientific name: Metrosideros collina, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

Example: Wood used for timber.

Scientific name: Burckella, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n.

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

[naŋɛsɛŋa ratha] n.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n.

Example: from leaves taken internally as a laxative to treat ciguatera and against asthma

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 439

n.

Example: 1. To cure the sea snake (nispev) curse that causes missed periods. First the husband must combine 4 young leaves of incispev and 4 young leaves of nafanu and mash and squeeze the juice into a small bamboo (1-1.5 inch diameter) The nafanu is important because it is a plant that connects to the sea. Use wildcane leaves cover the bamboo closed. Go to the sick person and unwrap the snake from her. Start from the top and let the woman drink a small part of the potion then wash her with the mixture, making sure to wash head, elbows, knees, feet, and belly. Then take a leaf of naha and break it over the woman’s belly button to break the snake off. Smash the bamboo vessel to pieces. Leave the woman there until the wash dries on her. This takes one whole day and the ceremony in the evening so she can sleep and she must not eat. This ritual is performed by men. 2. Wrap leaf around fish to cook it on fire, tie with pandanus or any bush, vine. Also used to bake Cyrtosperma merkusii in same way as AAM 1 because it has thick watery leaves. 3. For a person who has been burned by the fire, cut the leaf and drip the sap on the burn to cool it – stops burning feeling. 4. If your joints – elbow, wrist, knee, ankle – feel so cold that they are painful, then heat the leaf on both sides and lay it on painful area. It will take the cold and pain away.

Scientific name: Furcraea gigantea, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[naɣai milmat] n.

Speaker: David Nasauman

n.

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.

Scientific name: Myristica fatua, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[nakro] v.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n.

Scientific name: Hydriastele cylindrocarpa, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

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.

Scientific name: Xylosma guillauminii, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

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.

Scientific name: Scaevola neoebudica, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n.

Scientific name: Tarenna, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 177

n.

Example: 1. Use the leaves to put in a hole where taro is being planted, as a sort of fertilizer--it rots easily and adds value to the soil. To protect a person from spirits if you are going to an unfamiliar place, take the young inflorescence and put behind your ear. This plant is a sort of "spiritual kava." 2. Flowers are put behind one ear, any side, to allow a person to pass through sacred places. For protection of the spirits especially if you are familiar with this place. On EAST SIDE, put one leaf under pillow before sleeping so that the lady spirit will not disturb the person. Only for men – spirit likes men, and wants to have sleep with them. If she gets pregnant, you must follow her to look after the kids in the spirit world so you leave this one (you die). 3. The small, straight stems of this plant are used as rafters to weave thatch. 4. Children make bows and arrows from the stems as well as spears for fishing.

Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Example: 1. When a sea shell pricks you "Inlac", a person can be lifted by magic using these leaves. Further information about this use withheld.

Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus myrianthus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Scientific name: Semecarpus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

n.

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 .

Scientific name: Geissois denhamii, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Example: Flowers are used to decorate the house and other areas as they are very fragrant. The leaves are used to cover taro cooked in an earth oven.

Scientific name: Gardenia tannaensis, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n.

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Scientific name: Cyathea lunulata, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 101

n.

Example: 1. When a person has a headache from being out in the sun too long, scrape the outer bark off of the stem of this tree, take scrapings of the inner bark, wrap with a leaf of breadfruit and put in a fire for 15-20 minutes. Not a hot fire, but only in the flame. Squeeze the water out of the bark when it is warm and rub all over the forehead and face to help the headache go away. 2. Use the stems of this tree as a stick to carry taro from the field, as the stick is strong but not too heavy. The taro is tied to each end to balance on a person’s shoulders. 3. Leaf used for wrapping local medicines. This is the best leaf and put it on the charcoal to heat it. 4. Good firewood.

Scientific name: Macaranga dioica, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Example: Name means smash tooth. 1. This is part of an unspecified mixture that can be used as a spell to give another person a toothache. 2. Toothache – chew leaves on the sore tooth and leave it there for a while and spit it out – it will break the tooth and you can take it out, leave on 20 minutes.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus fimbriatitepalus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

Example: 1a. This plant is a "message plant." If a person goes to another village with a leaf of this species in their hand, then people know that someone is coming, and this is reflected in the local name. 1b. Message plant – if you pop by someone’s house and drop leaves there, people know someone has visited them. You can ask neighbors who came by. 2. The fruit is a source of a nut that children love to eat raw. 3. It is known in Bislama as "false mango" [kiyaman mango].

Scientific name: Finschia chloroxantha, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n.

Example: Photo by Richard Ling / Flickr.com, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Neotrygon kuhlii, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[niriθ] n.

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n.

Scientific name: Nephrolepis cordifolia, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

inter.

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 169

n.

Example: 1. Considered to be a relative of Morinda citrifolia.

Scientific name: Neuburgia corynocarpa, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 172

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 104

n.

Example: 1. When the stems of this plant are older, and it is a vine, is used to tie thatch on roof rafters as it bends well. 2. Burned leaves and rubbed on fishing line and spear to increase catch – used with other unspecified leaves, that are forageable. When you are fishing and if you set a basket or mat it means danger and you have to return to shore – the spirit is telling you that it is enough fishing.

Scientific name: Durandea pentagyna, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 131

[owaŋ] num.

Speaker: David Nasauman

n.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

adv.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 108

n.

Example: Collect the yellow leaves, the mature ones, roll it between one’s hands, squeezing it, and dry it in the sun for a day and hang it in the kitchen near the place where fires are made, and within a week it will turn black. It is ready to be smoked--roll paper around it and smoke it. Take 6-10 leaves, roll them up and squeeze them into a bucket of water mixing the juice with the water until it turns somewhat green. Use this water to wash crops such as legumes and other garden plants to kill insects that might be attacking them.

Scientific name: Nicotiana tabacum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

adj.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 111

adj.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 171