wenekutaku

Wauja

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɛˌnɛ.kuˈta.ku/

Noun

wenekutaku

1. central plaza (center of the village)

   Iyeneu, iyene wenekutaku wi.

   [They] went [back] to the center of the village.

   Minya waka, ojo onaatsa kamo yiu, iya akapitse wenekutaku wi.

   [A] little later, when [the] sun was here in [the] sky [gestures to indicate position of sun], [he] went to wrestle [in the] center of the village.

   ...putaka owanakala tua wi, pataka wenekutaku wi. Ou amunaun putuka paukula okaho yiu, iye eu. Kityekojawe eu ... kityekojawe eu, kityekojawe eu, kityekojawe eu, wenekutaku hojojokata waka opalu wiu han. Auwiu, INUPA paisejo onumana.

   ...ceremonial messengers [from] neighboring tribes have arrived; [they] are seated [in the] central plaza. [The] chief emerges [from his house] and approaches [them], carrying his rifle. [He] will speak... speak, speak, speak, [in the] central plaza, standing opposite [the] messengers. [When at last he is] done, [only then he] looks in the direction [of] his brother.

Usage notes

• Wauja villages are circular, with the houses arranged in one or more rings, all facing toward the center. This central space, called the wenekutaku, consists of an expanse of earth that is regularly swept smooth and kept clear of weeds. In roughly the center of this village plaza is the men's house (kwakwoho).

See also

• kwakwoho (“men's house”)

References

• "Iyeneu, iyene" (transcript p. 4) and "Minya waka" (p. 21) uttered by Itsautaku, shaman and elder, recounting traditional Wauja tale, the "Man who Drowned in Honey" (Paisityawalu) in the presence of his adult daughter, Mukura, adolescent son, Mayuri, and others. Recorded in Piyulaga village by E. Ireland, December 1989.

• "putaka owanakala" (transcript p. 3) uttered by 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.