Last week we started with the unique way of counting the iTaukei way. These are collective nouns that are used to describe a group of something.
Just like the English language that has collective nouns, the iTaukei language also has its own collective nouns.
For example, a school of fish in the iTaukei language is na qele/yavusa ika.
This week, we look at a few more collective nouns when counting the iTaukei way.
* Tini na uto — dua na iSole/kasani (10 breadfruit is one iSole/kasani).
The word sole or kasani is the collective noun when tying together breadfruit. The stem of the breadfruit is tied together and then carried, thus the origin of the collective noun when describing that one has 10 breadfruits is the use of the words dua na isole/kasani which literally means one bundle or one bunch of breadfruit.
* Tini na lairo — Dua na iDoi (10 red land crabs is one iDoi).
When tying together 10 red land crabs or lairo, the collective noun is used when describing the bundle. In a sentence “oqo e dua na iDoi” (this is one iDoi, which literally means here is 10 red land crabs tied together in one bundle). In some other places in Fiji, the word wekai is used instead of Doi.
* Tini na ikovu vakalolo — Dua na wai (10 parcels vakalolo is one wai).
Vakalolo is cooked root crop that is first mashed and then dipped into sweet caramel cream made from cooked coconut milk and sugar. It is a mouth-watering dessert. In some places, the vakalolo is first presented to the chief.
The word ikovu means a parcel. Vakalolo is usually wrapped in heated banana leaves and this is called ikovu. The word wai when directly translated means water or liquid. So 10 ikovu means 10 parcels of vakalolo. In a sentence “oqo e dua na wai” (Here is one wai meaning 10 parcels of vakalolo).
* Tini na voivoi — Dua na iBuki (10 panadanus leaves makes one bundle).
Pandanus (voivoi) is one of the most important plants in the iTaukei setting. Its leaves are used for weaving mats.
The word ibuki means a bundle or a tie, thus the origin of the iTaukei counting that 10 pandanus leaves makes one bundle.
* Tini na Tabakau — Dua na kau (10 tabakau is one kau/wood/stick).
The tabakau is a special mat made out of two coconut leaves weaved together.
Newly woven tabakau, which are much smaller in size are used as table mats when preparing the chief’s meal.
The larger tabakau, when dried, is as strong as wood, thus the origins of the collective noun for tabakau.
* Next week we look at some traditional games that are no longer practised. Some sports one may think were introduced by outsiders. These games were played by our forefathers during the pre-contact period.