Bunama-English and English-Bunama Dictionary

59 Pages·0.327 MB·Austronesian-English

by  Lithgow Daphne.

Bunama - English Dictionary

English - Bunama Dictionary

Compiled by Daphne Lithgow

2007
12/3/2007 Bunama - English Dictionary 1
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BUNAMA ALPHABET AND GRAMMAR

ALPHABET

In Bunama there are five basic vowels: a e i o u.
There are 14 simple consonants: b d g h k l m n p s t w y '. The
symbol ' represents the glottal-stop in which the breath is
stopped at the larynx in the throat, and then suddenly released.

There are six labialised consonants: bw gw hw mw pw 'w.
Labialised consonants are made by rounding the lips as the
consonant sound is released.

NOUNS

Nouns are the names of things. They can be possessed in three
ways which are represented by three different groups of morphemes.
The groups are Intimate, Intermediate (sometimes called Edible),
and Distant.

a. Intimate Possession includes body-parts and close kin
relatives.
b. Intermediate Possession includes the things we eat or wear.
c. Distant Possession is used for things which are not closely
related to us.

For Intimate Possession, a suffix is attached to the noun.
The morphemes for Intermediate and Distant Possession act like
prefixes, but are usually written as a separate word.

Intimate natu-di
child-their (their child)

Intermediate 'adi hudi
their bananas

Distant 'idi 'edewa
their dog

Note that 'idi 'edewa refers to a pet dog, but a dog which
they will kill and eat is 'adi 'edewa.

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The following table shows the three sets of affixes.

INTIMATE INTERMEDIATE DISTANT

1 sg. -gu 'agu- 'igu-
2 sg. -u 'a- 'ino-
3 sg. -na 'ana- 'ina-
1 pl.excl. -da 'ada- 'ida-
1 pl.incl. -ma 'ama- 'ima-
2 pl. -mi 'ami- 'imi-
3 pl. -di 'adi- 'idi-

Most nouns are made plural by adding the suffix -o/-ao/-yao/
-wao. For a few nouns the plural is formed by reduplication of the
first two syllables of the verb stem.

English Bunama Plural

dog 'edewa 'edewao
grave gogo gogowao
necklace bagi bagiyao
man loheya loheloheya

There are noun specifiers or demonstratives, meaning "that
one". They are formed by adding suffixes. The singular form is
-ina/-nina with other variations according to the ending of the
noun. The plural form is -edi/-nidi also with variations according
to the ending of the noun:

'asa-ina village-that (= that village)
bagi-yina necklace-that (= that necklace)
deba-u-wedi hair-your(sg) (= those hairs of yours)

These singular specifying suffixes can inflect for all persons,
singular and plural. Nouns can also have two specifying suffixes,
two of the same, or two different ones:

loheya-igu-ina man-my-that (= I, that man)
'oya-ina-ina mountain-the-that
(= that particular mountain)
tomotai-nidi-nina people-they-that
(= those particular people)
sipi-yao-wedi sheep-plural-those (= those sheep)

For most questions to- is prefixed to the appropriate noun:

to-hada what-house
to-had-ega what-house-from (= from what house)
to-sauga what-time (= when)
to-'eha what-place (= where)

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VERBS

Verbs denote actions. Each verb has a subject prefix
indicating the person and number of the doer(s) of the action. The
suffixes of transitive verbs denote the person and number of the
receiver of the the action.

'u-paihowa ma 'a-'ita
you(sg)-work and we(excl)-see

si-'ewe-di ma si-'ebwae-gita
they-took-them and they-gave-us(incl)

The following table shows the subject prefixes and the object
suffixes:

SUBJECT PREFIX OBJECT SUFFIX

1 sg ya- -gau
2 sg 'u- -go
3 sg 'i- -ya or -i or nothing
1 pl(incl) ta- -gita
1 pl(excl) 'a- -mai
2 pl wa- -gomi
3 pl si- -di

Further suffixes may be added to the verb including:

-ma to the speaker
-wa to the hearer
-ya/-wa completed
-ne/-we/-he/-ye transitive

The transitivising suffix, when it occurs, precedes the
object suffixes.
'i-bwau-we-go
he-calls-transitive-you(sg)

A number of causative affixes are used between the subject
prefix and the verb stem, and they modify the meaning of the verb:

'ahu/'au with the hands
'apu with the mouth
'ahwa/'aha by speech
'eno lying
ha, hutu, tutu travelling
lo going for a purpose
he, 'e, 'abi common general causatives
'eto, 'ebe, ya undefined causatives

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Two causative prefixes can be combined as in 'ehe, gihe,
lohe, 'elo.

'i-lo-he-mahe-di-ya
he-go.for.purpose-cause-full-them-completed
(= he has filled them)

For repeated or continuous actions, the first syllable or the
first two syllables of the verb stem are reduplicated. (Causative
prefixes function as part of the verb, so reduplication involves
them if they are present.)

si-gwae-gwae
they-say-say
(= they were/are saying)

si-lo-lo-gwale
they-go-go-copulate
(= they are copulating)

Occasionally reduplication of the first syllable only of a
verb indicates that the action is about to happen.

si-ge-gelu
they-about.to-embark
(= they are about to embark)

LOCATIVE SUFFIX

There are three locative suffixes:

-ega/-yega from
-a/-ya/-wa at/to/in
-i at/to/in

hada house
had-ega house-from (= from the house)
'oi-gu-wa place-my-to (= to me)
'oi-n-ega place-his/its-from
(= from it/therefore/and so/then)
hada-i house-at (= at the house)
hada house-at (= at the house)

In the last example the suffix -a is fused with the final a
of the noun: hada-a becomes hada.

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PRONOUNS

There are basic and emphatic free-form pronouns:

Person Basic Emphatic

1 sg taugu yaboi
2 sg 'owa 'uboi
3 sg tauna 'iboi
1 pl(incl) tauda taboi
1 pl(excl) tauma 'aboi
2 pl 'omi waboi
3 pl taudi siboi
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'a'ala 'ahwa'iya'iyagu
A - a

'a'ala a place. 'aha'ahai float on water.
'aba place of eg. 'aba'ununa = place of head. 'aha'ahala load, burden.
'abahasahasane walk along the shore. 'ahala carry.
'abatau flat land. 'ahalalagasi start a hymn.
'aba'ununa place of head. 'ahalamuya suffer.
'abe really(?), purpose(?). 'ahalana shoulder.
'abehega for, in order that. 'ahalayahuleya throw from shoulder.
'abehene however, in order to. 'ahe leg, foot.
'abi build, make patterns with string. 'ahepwasi crack of stepping on a stick.
'abi'aipela slacken. 'ahetulasa kneel.
'abibala reach across. 'ahili prepare garden, work, do.
'abibaula make to sink in mud or sand. 'ahole lime.
'abieyena call, choose. 'ahu dust.
'abiguna walk with a stick. 'ahu'ase'ase slap on face.
'abihe'asilala make clean. 'ahubibi squeeze, swell.
'abihegala ruin, wreck. 'ahuboda lid, cover.
'abihelatuya show, display. 'ahubode close door, lid.
'abihelohala child-birth. 'ahubwale break and make a hole.
'abihelolo healer. 'ahudeba hit on head.
'abihemanasami tame. 'ahu'e'e knock.
'abihemasaleha show openly. 'ahugogona gather together eg. dogs.
'abihenewa slip from grasp, lose grip of. 'ahuhe'abobo cover.
'abihepwayo'e make crooked. 'ahuhe'ala'alapwasi clap, applaud.
'abihesinuwa make decision, appointment. 'ahuhemate kill by hitting.
'abihetayahali cure blindness. 'ahuhepa'ine cast it up (tide).
abihete help, save. 'ahuhesalolo skirt comes off.
'abihetupwe spare, leave. 'ahuhutu rub dust off.
'abiheyawesai heal of sickness. 'ahu'igala split, crack in two.
'abilagasi raise up. 'ahululube'u deep passage, chasm.
'abilatuheya make appear, spread. 'ahumaga hit throat.
'abilohihile cause to turn around, repent. 'ahunahe slap.
'abilolo break if off (wheat heads). 'ahupanapanawa argue.
'abimuya cure pain, heal. 'ahupasa decoration.
'abitoho touch. 'ahupeina get rid of with force, hurl away.
'abitoholohila raise again. 'ahupisala crack.
'abiwalata put food in pot to cook. 'ahupiyapiya mash up, crush, bruise with stones.
'abiyahi grab, seize, hold firmly, waste someone's 'ahupoha break to open.
time. 'ahusamu cover over.
'abiyahimomosi hold very tight. 'ahusapi sweep down.
'abo lie, trick, deceive, false. 'ahusapuli miss.
'abwa later. 'ahusepala throw off, cast off.
'abwa nata later on. 'ahusu'wa block ?
'abwa tuwa still doing it. 'ahusu'wa block.
'abwalu fence. 'ahutao throw stone over.
'abwama still, later. 'ahu'upa cut through with one hit.
'abwapa'ipa'i'i complain, argue. 'ahuyahi put on top of, cover.
'abwaulena still, lagging behind. 'ahuyemate hit person, kill.
'abwaulena while. 'ahwa mouth, door, passage, creek.
'adale dawn breaks. 'ahwabwebwe'ana praise, approve, bless.
'adau sail by boat. 'ahwadumwaluwe justify, declare good.
'adewala cliff. 'ahwa'eda door, gate, entrance.
'adigeyageya left hand. 'ahwaheliya call (him) friend.
'aee exclamation of surprise. 'ahwahenahena talk quietly, whisper.
'aga'agalina barren woman. 'ahwa'iya'iyagu call me friend.
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'ahwamui 'awa'awasi'i
'ahwamui kiss. 'am'am chicken.
'ahwanoi beg, pray, request, ask for. 'amasa die, death.
'ahwapanapanawa argue. 'amayaba respect.
'ahwayalayala hot like pepper. 'amna taste.
'ahwayali criticize, curse. 'amo'isamo exclamation, truly! Goodluck!
'ahwayaliye jealous talk, spiteful talk. 'amo'u'u orange, citrus.
'ai eat. 'amuge lest (= tabu ma).
'ai'ai eat. 'amweyahi sweat, perspiration.
'ai'aigedadi few. 'ana food, yam.
'ai'aihale become old woman. 'ane functor showing recall, adornment, then, soon,
'ai'ainina sharp. so that.
'aibadi caulk (?)canoe. 'aneyage and so, so that, then.
'aido'o exchange. 'anilose angel.
'aigeda one, a, another. 'ani'ona neck.
'aihale old woman. 'aniyana supernatural sign or bad omen.
'ainuwadawada riddle. 'ao'ao crow.
'aipate try( in vain), try hard. 'apana copulate.
'aipate'asaya fail. 'apuhedehedei hold crooked in mouth.
'aipele let go. 'apu'igaliya chew.
'aisine let go of. 'apulagata begin to speak.
'aiwe fire, wood, tree. 'apusana seize in mouth.
'aiwesabelulu flame, fire. 'apusine release from jaws.
'aiyawasi rest. 'asa place, village.
'aiyoi cry of grief. 'asawe mango.
'ala'alapatuna sticky, stuck together. 'asaya in vain, vainly.
'ala'alawana green, blue, living leaves. 'asegwahuhu beard.
'alabwau wail. 'aseluwa take second wife.
'ala'ewa catch. 'asematuwa first wife.
'alai food for journey. 'asilala clear, clean.
'ala'i'iwasa fed up with pestering or annoyance. 'asisiyane respect.
'ala'ili burn completely. 'asiyala black palm.
'alama'i'ita patience, endurance. 'asona shout in fear or anger.
'alamanimanini hurry, angry talk. 'asu smoke.
'ala'ohe'ohe persist, argue. 'asudibwalala noon.
'alapwaipwaila crackle. 'asudiladila noon.
'alapwasi explode. 'ata wind stops.
'alasilili groan in pain. 'atamana outside, centre of village.
'alata burn. 'ate liver.
'alatutu squat. 'atemuyamuya pity, compassion.
'alawagula keep quiet. 'atenuwa'ole'ole pity, mercy(Dobu).
'ale'alele ? 'atepatu courage, brave, confidence.
'aleha enemy, war, fight. 'ateyani canoe side opposite outrigger.
'ale'o cloth. 'ateyoho surprise, startle, fear.
'ali fence. 'atoha roofing material.
'aliboda barricade, block entrance. 'atu seed, peel pandanus string.
'ali'e servant, worker, helper. 'atububu prepare.
'alihasahasa outside fence of garden. 'atunanosa stroke with hand.
'aliliya spear. 'atupiyepiye shake.
'aliliyapaipai spear for fish, fish spear. 'atusapwala embrace, hug.
'aliupa division in house, room. 'atuya catch fish.
'aliwena green tree ?raw, uncooked. 'au'au lame.
'alo harbour. 'auhuina bad.
'alo'alona inside. 'auli bring a person.
'alomau lastborn. 'ausala beautiful, lovely.
'alomauna youngest. 'ausi prevent.
'alona inside. 'auta hila turn back.
'alu'aluwana spirit. 'autai sail off on a long trip.
'alusa current. 'awa'awasi'i unmarried men.
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'awa'awawa bwa'omatan
'awa'awawa person, human. childbirth.
'awala creep, crawl. 'awata weed garden, weeds of garden.
'awaladobi get down out of canoe. 'awatu'watu bark (dogs) see 'watu'watu.
'awalalatu(ma) crawl out. 'awawa empty.
'awalasulu go outside after confinement for 'awawala preach, exhort.
B - b

ba? eh?(question word). bidabida springs of water in valley.
baa exclamation of ridicule. bidala spring of water.
babada ancestors, leaders. biga calm down.
babaga cliff, flower type. bihali streamer of crinkled dry pandanus leaf.
bada important man. bilibili wall of sago stem.
badiye stick it on. biliupa room.
baewa shark. (bisu)bisu(adi) overgrown with (short) grass.
bagodu wave of sea. bo or, question word.
bahobaho noise of people all talking at once. bo'aheliwe scornful talk.
baibaiwana all, many. bo'aheyaheyaba persuasive talk.
ba'idana with him, with it. bo'amata judgment, scold to the face.
balabala vacant place. bo'ayaga speak harshly to a person.
balahu sorcery. boda crowd, group.
banabana sores. bo'ene visit.
basahebahebate tread on, trample. boha basket of palm frond.
basahibibiya trample and flatten. boi yesterday.
basayahi tread on. bo'i indeed, already, emphasis.
basilili tattoo. bo'iyage already done.
bauli break off. bolime year, S-E wind.
bausu sharpen by rubbing. bomatana scold publicly for sin.
begula dig garden. bonewala poisen.
bela good appearance, new looking. boniboniyai don't worship God.
belabelalana yellow. bubutumana poor.
belala red(like red-eye - conjunctivitis). buda dirty, adulterous.
belu tired, weak. bugebugewana naked.
beno that. bui turn over, translate.
beno tuwa just then. buidi'wae go overland.
besa search, seek, look for. buihaneh put pot up on stones for cooking.
besa'i'iwasa seek in vain. builaga turn pot upwards (for cooking).
bese seek, search for. buki debt, credit.
besobeso empty, useless. bulu leaves to cover food in pot.
be'u fall. bunebune white pigeon (=gabubu).
be'u talutalubu'i fall face-downwards. bunetutu brown pigeon (green too).
bewa this. busa faeces.
bewama these. butu shoe.
bibigasi hit and make to fall. buwa mad, foolish.
bibinihila hit or push and make go back. buyo dip.
bibinihila turn it around. buyubuyuwa same as Dobu (?thistle).
Bw - bw

bwabwala net, small scoop net. bwaibwaina good.
bwade caulk, putty. bwala sprout, plants grow.
bwaga gap in knife or teeth. bwalabwalai handbag.
bwaga distant, far. bwalahane grow up.
bwagana in spite of. bwalu cut.
bwahiya(na) man's in-law parents. bwanabwana island.
bwai poke it out (eg eye). bwa'omatan public rebuke, judgment.
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