amunaun

Wauja

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌa.muˈnɐ̃ʊ/

Noun

amunaun (plural amunaunaun)

1. chief (village chief, political authority)

   Amunaun, kehoto wekeho, sekete amunaunpei, patain ... Autopajoneu, autopajoneu, oukaka sekepei yamukutopa okaho, amunaunki. Itsapai sekunya. Itsapai aitsu.

   A chief, a village chief, would cede the chiefship to his son... He had become old, become old, therefore he would cede the chiefship to a younger man. That's how it was long ago. That's our way.

2. high-ranking (person)

   Amunaunaun iyapai.

   All the high-ranking people are going.

3. leader (person in charge, coordinator, sponsor, authority)

   Pitsu pamunauntapai.

   You can take charge [of officiating during a ritual session of trading possessions].

Inflection

    Possession of amunaun

	singular	plural
first person	namula	awamula
second person	pamula	yamula
third person	onamula	onamulapa

Synonyms

• kehoto wekeho (principal chief)
• putakanaku wekeho (principal chief)

Antonyms

• iyataku (common person)
• pukeneri (peon)
• inyaunmalun (worthless person)
• inyaunmaluntupa (kindred of a worthless person)

Derived terms

• amunaunki (chiefship)
• amunauntupa (kindred of a great chief)
• amunuleju (female of chiefly rank)

Related terms

• wakunapu wekeho (keeper of the path to the river)
• yakunapu wekeho (keeper of the path to other villages)

References

• "Amunaun, kehoto wekeho sekete" utterance from Arutatumpa, storyteller and elder, recounting Wauja history in the presence of his son and nephew. Recorded in Piyulaga village by E. Ireland, 4/25/96, transcript, page 1.
• Remaining utterances from E. Ireland field notes. Need to be checked by native speaker.