Methodology
This study combines Field Linguistics and Language Documentation methods. The team conducted field work, together with a local consultant, Mr Benediktus Delpada, to collect original and ‘first-hand’ data, documented plant species (English and Abui plant names and the scientific name). Besides looking at the medicinal properties and cultural relevance (from the perspective of the Abui people), the team also explored local myths and legends connected with the plants.
Thereafter, the team organised the data in a database which is reflected below.
| Please note that all Abui plant names, reported medical usages of plants and any associated legends or myths recorded below are the intellectual property of the Abui people. |
Collection
Sugar palm / Tuoq
| English Plant Name: | Sugar palm |
| Abui Plant Name: | Tuoq |
| Scientific Name: | Arenga pinnata |
| Etymological Reconstruction: | TBC |
Local people notice that people in Pura or Pantar (neighbouring Alor Island) may hit nuts of sugar palm on its tree to produce gula air ‘creamy sugar’.A cluster of sugar palm nuts could be hit to produce a local alcoholic product, known as tuak (which is the name of the sugar palm tree in Malay). After the nuts of a sugar palm tree produces tuak, it is then smoked/heated to produce a stronger drink called sopi.The wood of the sugar palm tree can produce beams to make house posts or beams under a house’s roof.The leaf of the sugar palm tree can be used as a cigarette. The bone of the sugar palm leaf may be used to fasten local ladle handles and shells or to plait local belt, or to sew other local products.A long piece of the skin of sugar palm’s branch can be peeled and cleaned, thus producing a woman’s belt which is called foq in Abui.
| Remarks:
Tentative |