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French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Anthropology / New Caledonian Chieftains | | French term or phrase: faîtage de case | Contexte:
"Le chef reçoit en même temps que d'autres emblèmes politiques comme le *faîtage de case** ou la hache ostensoir."
Mille Mercis!
femme |
| | | spear-like carving adorning chef's hut | Explanation:
case = traditional hut
faîtage = roof carving (here)
The Fleche Faitiere
The fleche faitiere home of the ancestral spirits, is the spear-like carving that adorns the top of the grande case. The fleche faitiere has three main parts. In the centre is a flat, crowned face that represents the ancestor. Above this is a long, rounded pole run through by conch shells; this symbolises the ancestor's voice. The base is planted into the central pole of the case, which connects it with the clan through the chief. At either end of the central face are pieces of wood that fan out to sharp points - these tips are barriers that prevent bad spirits from going up or down into the ancestor.
http://www.janesoceania.com/newcaledonia/index3.htm
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Note added at 6 days (2008-08-18 07:52:11 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks, femme. |
| Selected response from:
 Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:00
| Grading comment Très bien. Merci Beaucoup.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Reference
Reference information:
Other wooden carvings resembled hawks, ancient gods, serpents and turtles. They were often carved from free trunks and placed as a palisade or fence around important objects such as the grande case (chef's hut). An interesting example of these carvings - which looks vaguely like a mini Stonehenge - surrounds a religious memorial near the village of Van on Ile des Pins. War clubs were carved from the strongest trees and were fashioned with a phallic head, known in French as casse-tete (head-breaker), or as an equally lethal bird's beak club or bec d'oiseau. In conflicts, spears made from niaouli trees were used, these were often lit and thrown into the enemy's hut to set it alight.
http://www.janesoceania.com/newcaledonia/index3.htm
| Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in category: 10
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| Changes made by editors |
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| Aug 18, 2008 - Changes made by Helen Shiner: | | Edited KOG entry | Barbara Cochran's old entry - "faîtage de case" => "spear-like carving adorning cheftain's hut" | | Aug 18, 2008 - Changes made by Barbara Cochran: | | Created KOG entry | KudoZ term => KOG term |
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