several words/comments

[Mesulam Aisoli]

"lang" is a common Austronesian root, the Tolai of Rabaul call house flies,
"langa", Tigak, Kara, Nalik and Tiang languages of New Ireland, all use the
name "lang" for a house "fly". It is commonly used in Pisin in the region
too. Most recently, "flai" came into use from mid 60s upwards, when English
became the formal language for Education Instruction in schools in PNG. Even
now, there is increasing breeding of "lang" by Poliamba Ltd (from oil palm
fruits) in the Nalik/Kara language region, "lang" is the name used when
complaining in Pisin by the locals.

"Ai blong Haus" yes it is a common usage in Pisin in PNG for a space where
the entrance to the house is. 

"klei" is seldom heard of, however "klap" is known in some places for
"clover". Derived from "Play Cards Leaf" where there is a look-like "clover"
leaf in a set. "King Klap", "Qeen Klap", "Jack Klap" and so on.

"Filas" is a Nalik word (New Ireland) for "salat" known in Highlands of PNG,
although plants are very different, its effect is the same. "Filas" tree
grows up to a huge tree, 10 to 15ft high while salat is only a small plant.
In my language we drop "f" sound, just "Ilas", never used in Pisin in the
region.

"kumbak" originated from Kuanua language of the Tolai people, New Britain
and Ramoaina language of the Duke of York Islands Group, and it is also
found in the dialects or languages of the southeat and west villages of the
Namatanai region of New Ireland, it is used a lot in Pisin. It is hard to
simply explain what "kumbak" is, its interpretation is a little different
from what was earlier described as being tired after a sleepless night. 
Being tired is not "kumbak" caused by you personally. You can sleep very
early and wake up early the next day, but still the effect of "kumbak" can
cause tiredness, or force you to go back to bed during the day. You could
then ask around, "who came around yesterday?" or last "night?", someone may
inform you that visitor from the next village slept here, in our hamlet last
night. Then you could describe how his "kumbak" hit you. Was it hard to bear
or what and so on. A good person his "kumbak" is light, troublesome etc,
his/her "kumbak" can even give hard hit or cause a sick person to die. In
the village people are advised not to roam around and sleep in one village,
then to the next. If there is a sick person, warning is sent out. See or
visit your boy/girl friends and return to your home to avoid "kumbak".

mesu.








> ----------
> From: 	C A Volker[SMTP:volker at ha.shotoku.ac.jp]
> Reply To: 	volker at nalik.org
> Sent: 	Friday, 5 April 2002 6:57pm
> To: 	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: 	several words/comments
> 
> Here are some interesting terms (not related in any way) that struck me
> after going back to New Ireland the last couple months-
> 
> 
> 1. flai / lang:
> The original Mihalic lists the insect "fly" as lang, and  says that "flai"
> is only a verb. Lang is certainly used throughout the NG Islands, but last
> month in New Ireland, a visiting Highlands friend said they use "flai" for
> the insect. After he said this, I noticed many younger people in New
> Ireland
> as well as a man from Buka also using "flai" or "flais" interchangeably
> with
> "lang".
> 
> 2. Ai bilong haus
>  is described on the web page as " the gable of a house". But I've heard
> it
> more as "door" in at least some parts of New Ireland. This is a direct
> translation from Nalik (New Ireland) and, I think, many other Austronesian
> languages. What would be the geographic uses of the two meanings?
> 
> 3. klei
> is used in Nalik  (New Ireland) for "clover". Some people claimed this was
> Tok Pisin as well as tok ples, but I was unable to ask non-Nalik people
> about this before leaving PNG last month. Does anyone know it from
> elsewhere
> in the country?
> 
> 4. filas
> is a broad-leafed bush in New Ireland. The leaf burns the skin and when
> mixed with dry coconuts scrapings and red ants, it is thrown into the reef
> to attract a certain species of fish. I don't know the English or
> scientific
> name of the plant.
> 
> 5. kumbak
> I've only heard this in the NGI, not on the mainland. It means an
> exhausting
> guest or the fact that one is exhausted the day after having had company.
> Often used as an excuse for being so tired.
> 
> 6. doktapis / doktafis
> A very small introduced species of fish that eats mosquito larvae and
> likes
> to nibble on people's sores when they stand still in the water. I don't
> know
> the English or scientific name.
> 
> 
> Craig Volker
> 
> ***************************
> ???????????
> ?*??"???'?w*??
> ??????????
> 
> Craig Volker, PhD
> Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University
> Gifu, Japan
> 
> volker at nalik.org
> cell: JAPAN (81) (0)90-1721-1226
> tel/fax: USA 1-206-338-2559
> ***************************
>