Tobian

English

Comments

Comment submitted by Dave Sapio: I rode my bike to the office in the rain. Julie looked at me when I came in and said, enu hapim, translated, you have a wet butt.  Of course I don't know how to say "wet" enu, and I do know how to say,"delicious" enau. Not distinguishing between the two words, I look at Albino and try to figure out if I have just been told that I have a delicious butt.  Mirth and joy.  We are rolling on the floor.  I learn new words every day.

Comment submitted by Sebastian Marino: My reason for writing this is to clarify the usage of the word hapimu, which was used by Dave Sapio. After reading Dave Sapio's recent comment, I had to laugh with disbelieve. The word hapimu, butt in English, is culturally inappropriate to be used in public. The appropriate word for butt in our language (Tobian) is tahuhum ma wototor. Tobian as always, politely use the word tahuhum to mean both back and butt. But the words wenengi (upper) and wototor (lower) give directional part of the back. Therefore, tahuhum ma wenengi, is the back part and tahuhum ma wototor is the butt part. These are the only two polite ways of identifying the back part and butt part of a human.
For example, I can't talk to either my sister(s), mother, niece(s), daughter(s) or any female members of my family using the word hapimu. Nor would I talk to any female non-familiy members other than a lover using this word. So the word hapimu as it being used is culturally inappropriate. To teach Tobian cultures and languages is to teach the appropriateness of their application. I do believe, as Dave had said, that he is learning new word everyday. But I do also hope that after reading this e-mail, Dave would also had expanded his appropriate vocab application too. Thank you very much for the time.

Word submitted by Sebastian Marino: Hachoum as commonly used mainly in term of consumption. In the old days when food and meat supplies were scarce, old people used this term "hachoum" to educate little kids so that they'll understand how to conserve and share food wisely. It mean, eat a small amount as possible with the hope that the amount of food consumed could carry you throughout the day. It also meant the same in term of sharing with others. For example, a small fish (1/4 lb) for a family of 4 or 5 which was common back in the days of depression, should be share by all. If a kid is hungry, that kid should either wait for the others or eat a small part of the fish and make sure there still enough for the others. The small part that been eaten should be mixed with other food like, taro, taro leave, coconut, and other types of food along with plenty of drinks. The drink helps to fill up the tummy actually.  Another example, which I consider it to be extreme that being used was tighten up the belly with pandanus leaves, in other words, shrink up the stomach so that a small amount of food will satisfy the hunger. This was commonly used by men. Because food was the most precious but also scarce commodity back then, people were so creative on how to preserve protect and conserve it. As I have said, they go to a very extreme approach to satisfy every member of their family, but basically to satisfy the needs of their off spring.

Comment submitted by Dave Sapio: Dave Sapio suggests "rationing" might be a good translation for this term.

Comment submitted by Sebastian Marino: I realize that my interpretation of the word conservation might be misleading. The correct Tobian interpretation of the word conservation in an environmental sense would be piheimoru. My previous translation, as Dave mentioned, was more on consumption. But in an environmental sense, the above translation might be the correct one. Yes, Dave was right. The Tobian word (hachoum) that I used, is literary mean rationing in English. Thanks to Dave for correcting me.

Comment submitted by Peter Black:  This word can also be used to refer to cities, countries and other places, I think.     

Comment submitted by Sebastian Marino:  Pete,  I think you got mixed up with the two words here. Actually you spelled   faruh okay.  However, Far Hapirim should be farihapirim.   In translation:  behind the village, that is further in ward, in reference to the island.   Anyway, is this the Hilo farihapirim or the Tobi one?      

Comment submitted by Marcus Hangaripaii:  Yes, the word faruh means island. wa  means carrier or something you ride in.  Therefore, wafaruh  means ship.  I think that early Tobians used wafaruh  to  mean an island that moves because they probably saw a huge steam boat that is bigger than their sailing canoes. Faruh is different than what is used in fari hapirim. Fari-hapirim- means under the back side of the house. this is the name of  the place where you lived on Tobi. whereas,  fari haparim means under the small house. This strikes me as a good name for  your small house in Hawaii. 

Comment submitted by Peter Black:    What I heard is that it  was a sailing ship that first came by and the Tobi people thought it was an island that had magically detatched itself from its "stem" and was now being sailed around like a huge canoe.  The masts looked like trees and the cabin with people going in and out looked like a house.  So, they called it wafrauh.   Of course that was (just a little) before my time.