LIPIM LALAO MWECHERKETE WAYU, the roots seize the hairy yam

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Relations

Item Relations

Item: WAYU, fairy yam related through common consecutive operations (sub-procedure): This Item

Graphical representation of this item’s relations

Citation

Eric Vandendriessche and Agnès Henri , “LIPIM LALAO MWECHERKETE WAYU, the roots seize the hairy yam,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/136.
  • Overall presentation

  • Name : LIPIM LALAO MWECHERKETE WAYU, the roots seize the hairy yam

  • Creator : Eric Vandendriessche and Agnès Henri

  • Contributor(s) : Pongnaim, village of Melvat, North Ambrym, Vanuatu
    Mata, village of Fona, Ambrym, Vanuatu


  • Date : 2006
    2016-2017


  • Information on the string figure

    • General presentation of the string figure

    This string figure represents the roots of a "lalao" tree that seize a yam "wayu" tuber.

    Construction method (ISFA)

    1. Opening A
    2. Release 1. R1 kooks down both R2 loop and R5n. R2 hooks up R5f. Proximally, insert L2 into R2 loops and return to position. Extend.
    3. Pass 1 proximal to 2 loops. Proximally, insert 1 into 5 loops, pick up both 5n and 2f, and return to position.
    4. Proximally, insert 1 into distal 2 loop only, pick up distal 2n and return.
    5. Navaho 1 (the two proximal 1n over distal 1n)
    6. Release distal 2 loops.
    7. Transfer 1 loops to 2.
    8. Pass 1 proximal to 2 loops. Proximally, insert 1 into 5 loops, both 5n and 2f, and return to position.
    9. Proximally, insert 1 into distal 2 loop only, pick up distal 2n and return.
    10. Navaho 1 (the two proximal 1n over distal 1n)
    11. Pass 3 distal to distal 2f, pick up proximal 2n and return.
    12. Release 5 and turn the palms away.

    Construction method (symbolic writing)

    $\underline{O}.A:r1: \underline{h}R1(R2,R5n):\underline{h}R2(R5f)\underline{i}L2(R2\infty)\#\mid\underrightarrow{m}1(2\infty)\underline{i}1(5\infty):p1(5n)\#\mid:\underline{i}1(u2\infty):p1(2n)\#\mid:N1:ru2\infty:\overline{TF}(1\infty,2):\underrightarrow{m}1(2\infty):\underline{i}1(5\infty):p1(5n)\#:\underline{i}1(u2\infty):p1(2n)\#:N1:\overrightarrow{m}3(2f):p3(l2n)\#:r5:vr^{+}RH/vr^{-}LH$
  • Item references

  • Key words : String figures, Ambrym Island (Vanuatu)

  • Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)

  • Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

  • Format : jpeg, eaf, mp4

  • Language : English, North Ambrymese language

  • Location : Village of Fona, North Ambrym, Vanuatu, South Pacific

  • Description : Ambrymese string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects

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