[Mihalic] type of tree: talisa/kaot

[Stuart Robinson]

Given that the name of this tree in Rotokas is 'okaoto', the term 'kaot'
is a probably neologism used by this particular speaker in the two
dictionary examples he wrote. I'm guessing that it's not the standard Tok
Pisin term for this type of tree. If anyone knows otherwise, by all means
let me know.

There is also a folk tale in Rotokas about this tree, as well as an
associated song:

http://www.zapata.org/stuart/linguistics/rotokas/matevu.shtml

I'm in the process of updating the Shoebox texts and will probably upload
new versions within the next couple of days.

-Stuart

> It sounds like Terminalia catappa - but I have never heard "kaot" in TP.
>
> For a nice "folk" account of the distinctive structure, red leaves, and
> coastal location of T. catappa "Talis", see the  (autobiographical) novel
> by Bernard Narokobi (East Sepik, Arapesh).
> [Narokobi, Bernard (2002.) Two Seasons. Madang, PNG, Divine World
> University Press, see p. 68.]
>
> Robin Hide
>
>
> At 07:26 AM 10/09/2006, you wrote:
> >Hi, everyone.
> >
> >In a dictionary I am developing for the Rotokas language of Bougainville,
> >my consultants refer to a red-leafed tree that grows on the coast as
> >'talisa' or 'kaot' in Tok Pisin. I was just wondering whether anyone was
> >familiar with these terms and could provide more info. More specifically,
> >I'm trying to find the common and/or scientific name of this tree in
> >English.
> >
> >Here's an except from my Shoebox dictionary:
> >
> >\ex Okaoto evaoa vo raga toupaivera avakava sirova.
> >\xp Diwai talisa em i save grow arere long nambis.
> >\xe The talisa tree only grows here on the coast.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Stuart
> >
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