onupapai

Wauja

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɨˈnu.pa.paɪ/

Verb

onupapai

1. (transitive) he/she/it sees (perceives with the eyes; discerns visually)

   Munupiya okaho, AUpehehawa okaho sekunya. Aitsa nunubawe. Numutagatakonapa patai yiu.

   At Munupiya village, there were many, many people in those days. I didn't see it myself. People have just told me about it.

2. (transitive) he/she/it understands (discerns or deduces mentally after reflection or from information)

   Kitsimain, amunaun, kehoto wekeho, iyawi. Punupa, opukenejo, waka otanakatai yiu.

   The first to go to greet [visiting guests] was the village chief. Now, you see, his people were seated behind the cermonial messengers.

   Amunaun, kehoto wekeho, akamawiu, punuba opalutsato, itsityapeneme, iyeneme ... opoku miu. Punuba neke yamukunaunpai otain, aitsa neke ityehete. Pa uwein sityapene. Onaama, akamawiu, punuba, kata akama, otain -- nejo kitsimai pa, weke otain yiu, iyene pakojo opoku.

   A chief, a principal chief, when he dies, you see, his co-chief, takes over for him, and takes his place. Now, you see, his sons are still children; they're not yet grown. So his replacement takes over. Then, when [the co-chief] dies, you see, the son of the one who died -- the first one [who died], well, that son has grown, and he takes his father's place.

Usage notes

The two examples immediately above are describing chiefly office in the abstract (rules for ritual etiquette and idealized scenarios for succession). The audience could not "see" anything the narrator was describing.

See also

• etemepei (hears, understands)

References

• "Munupiya okaho" uttered by Aruta, 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 9.
• "Kitsimain, amunaun" also uttered by Aruta, same occasion, transcript page 3.