Kuanua Language

Edited 12/9/2017 Ismael K. Isikel Unlike the English possessive nouns, Kuanua has two sets of possessive nouns. One set is used for food items and another set is used for non-food items. In this post plural possessive nouns are indicated with plr and singular are indicated with s. var is used to indicate variation in word which is influenced by dialect. In everyday conversations plural possessive nouns are indicated clearly from two to three persons and more than three persons are referred to as plural in general. Note also that the letter a in the beginning of each word indicates possessive noun of food item. The letter k  in the beginning of each word indicates possessive noun of non-food item. Below is a list of possessive nouns of Food Items and Non-Food Items with examples.  Food Items adat  plr For us. More than three persons Tubugu ipare ra pa adat. My granny roasted taro for us. adatal plr For us. For the three of us. Nam ra en adatal,...

kapeo   The word kapeo means single, one , or solo . Example usage: A bul kapeo. An only child.There is a variation to the word and that is kapono .It means only one . Another meaning of kapono is old person, usually old male. Example usage: Ra kapono. The old man. An old female is tubuan. A tubuan. An old woman. The word kapeo is used by many as name for both males and females. For the female it is Ia Kapeo and for the male it is To Kapeo. This fellow standing with his bicycle is To Kapeo. He was named after his great grandfather Ruruaur To Kapeo who was one of the last "blackbirds" at Mackay sugarcane farm, Queensland. 

Midi is one of the Kuanua words that had almost disappeared from the Kuanua vocabulary and was on the brink of extinction. The closest phrase that has some relationship to midi is nuk midimidi or nuk midamida . Nuk midimidi means feast in remembrance and honor of dead relatives. Midi itself is a necklace made from a type of sea shell. From historical photographs it strongly appears that it is worn by males. Pur  is the term that is still in use as the name for the necklace worn by people during ceremonies, including dances. Pur is made from tagete leaves and other natural fibres, while midi is made entirely from one type of sea shell except for the rope that is used to string the shells together. The general name for necklace is kurkurua. This cultural piece (midi) is just beginning to be revived through study and research for a master’s thesis by Lisa Hilli. While doing her study she communicated with me and Gidoen Kakabin (New Guinea Island Historical Society...

Some ornamental plants used for body decorations (minong ba marmar ) in Rabaul during various traditional activities. Tagete is used frequently to make pendants ( midal ) and pur . The tigil and lomo are also used for other purposes such as in making ku . Tagete (iki) Tagete (iki) Tigil (iki) Labira (iki) Lomo (iki) Tagete (iki)

Galip to Gugu galip 1. A tree that bears edible nuts. 2. galip nuts. Like the coconut the galip has been a source of food for centuries and now a source of income for villagers who sell the nuts at Kokopo market. The long nut is known as gulum and there is another type whose outer soft skin is purple is called ngarikoko . The nut is also called galip . Aina galip. A galip tree. galipuna       Seedling; seedling of. var. midir; midirina Seedlings from nuts are called galip or midir. Nam a galipuna ma namo a dawaina. That is the seedling and over there is the tree. galum   Kiss. galumia - Kiss him/her/it . wargalum; n. galgalum; pres. cont. galume         Hold in the mouth. galgalume ; pres. cont. Koko u galume ra galip. Do not hold the galip nut in your mouth. galowo         A plant whose leaves are used for food and general wrapping. There are various spe...

Terms and their definitions. Edited 13/9/2017 Some more terms and their definitions are presented here. They are defined both in Kuanua and English. bobol  A kapual na tawa na ta; a kapual na ta ipupuar ma iwana tuk ipore ra keke na woawor. Wave; sea wave. A bobol na ta. bokaboko    A pakana tara matanoi ure ra turtur kai ra parau. 1 . Anchorage; boat anchorage. A bokaboko kai ra umana parau. Ships' anchorage. boko   A tunur na wawairop ba wawako. A parau itur; a parau iboko. 1. Anchor; to anchor a boat. A parau itar boko. bokaboko .p ress. cont. waboko adj. 2 . Wait; wait a little while; hold on a minute. bokon Mal bat ba turbat. 1 . Prevent. Prevent from rolling downhill. Prevent from moving. bokonia  adv      2 . Structure built to prevent soil erosion. 3. Deflect. bolo 1. Kap ra magit tara ulawara; 2. Bolo na dawai. 3. Wana pakit taranga. 1 . Carry on shoulders. 2 . Crucifix. 3 . Pass b...