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Category:

Language(1)

Topic:

Counting Food

Consultant:

C.Jacobsen

joralili = cat's eyes.They were counted in pairs
poahe = ten
poahe sanghul = 1000 [100?]

fish: saiga = ten
ka'toa 100 [kato'a hundred fish]

cattle, pigs, fowl: sava'a = ten

According to Churchward's dictionary, poa (in counting alili) = ten pairs; alil asoa he saghul = twenty

Category:

Language(2)

Topic:

Coconut stages

Consultant:

C.M. Churchward

The successive stages of the coconut's growth are:

• niu susa very small
• niu kafimo
• niu varvari
• niu ma'ata
• niu tahroro
• niu kaskele or fu'fu'i
• niu fea
• niu mafu
• niu hara sprouting net
• niu pou young coconut

Category:

Language(3)

Topic:

Fekei: puddings

Consultant:

C.M. Churchward

1. Her here - coconut and arrowroot (mara)

2. 'A'ana - taro and niu

3. Mara ma 'a'ana

4. Niuafo'ou - white mara

5. Siuakeli - mara black in color

6. Fakai - banana (sa'e) mara

7. Fekei 'uhi - yam and coconut

8. Fekei 'ulu - breadfruit

8a. Fekei tuk 'ulu - pounded
(= tuk) breadfruit

8b. Fekei sasasa

9. Fekei ifi - Tahitian chestnut

10. Mar pari - banana but not arrowroot. black

11. Kokono' 'uhlei - small yam

12. Kokono' säe - säe banana

13. Fekei Nasu - nasu = bake

14. Vai sala - mara, used for sick people

15. A'a'u - yam (lit. dig)

16. Totok 'ulu - dip

17. Totok 'uhi

18. Totok 'ifi

19. Fekei papai -

a. fekei nasu

b. fekei sua (= stir)

20. Fekei tapiko - tapioca

Category:

Language(4)

Topic:

Chiefly Language

Consultant:

Varomua

There were many words used to the sau which Varumua does not remember. They have not been used for a long time. Language called fäeag fak gagaj.

• Okalog = reply to a chief when one is summoned
• Fi = name of chief's kokona
• Te i'ita = name of chief's food
• Aiata = chief's word for eating
• Tatakai uha = kilt of chief
• Takaua ia aiat = finish eating said of chief
• Farautuapuaki = ex-sau or a chief who has come off his stool

kokona = food shelf suspended from rafters

Category:

Language(5)

Topic:

Chiefly Language

Consultant:

Niua

Terms for various chiefs:

• Farau e fata puaki: addressed to sau or ex-sau
• Fa Riroa: addressed to mua
• Fa ne Sahoa: addressed to other big chiefs. Sahoa is a place in Noa'tau

Category:

Language(6)

Topic:

Chiefly Language

Consultant:

Urakmata

The sau had a throne or high pile of mats called farava. Faraftapuak is a word of address to the sau. Later it came to include all his family, but this was incorrect use.

Category:

Language(7)

Topic:

Chiefly Language

Consultant:

Nataniela

There was no chiefly language as such on Rotuma, but there were a great number of words which were used between commoners in the presence of chiefs or in addressing them. They were the polite form to use.

Category:

Language(8)

Topic:

Sialeva

Consultant:

Marasia

Sialeva is a small spotted bird with a long tail. When it flies many other birds collect about it. The word is synonymous for a man who is very attractive and popular and always has many people gathered about him [see song]; sia'leva: bird (now scarce) about the size of a pigeon, spotted with a long tail. It is said that other birds like to congregate around it. Astur Cruentus (Gm.)]

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