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palettes

10:48 Sep 6, 2009

This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History

French term or phrase: palettes

Letter from 1848 about a ceremony in Tonga, relating a feast in Wallis Island: "Les danseurs se servent de palettes ou de lances qu'ils font tournoyer en tous sens et d'une manière très régulière et adroite."

erickl KudoZ activity Questions: 3 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 62 New Zealand
Local time: 15:09

Summary of answers provided

3 +1

purerehua

Bourth

Summary of reference entries provided

wikipedia article

Stephen Chalk

Answers

18 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

purerehua

Explanation:
Since you're in Godzone you may not need translation to understand what this is, but your audience may need a description.

I realize Tongan and Maori culture will be similar but not identical, but your description makes me think of the whirling of purerehua and of taiaha as on ceremonial occasions.

I originally though of poi for palettes but slats of wood fits the French more closely.

Purerehua
Also known as "Bull-roarer" and made of bone, wood or stone, they are blade-like and swing on a long cord producing a loud, deep whirring that can be heard from a distance. Uses vary from luring lizards, summoning rain and attracting a soul mate to several being played together at a Tangi (funeral).
http://www.carving.co.nz/puoro.html

Purerehua
Also known as "Bull-roarer" and made of bone, wood or stone, they are blade-like and swing on a long cord producing a loud, deep whirring that can be heard from a distance. Uses vary from luring lizards, summoning rain and attracting a soul mate to several being played together at a Tangi (funeral). Custom tell's that the player's spirit travel's throught the cord to create the sound, which then travel's on the wind's to take the word's and the dream's of the player to the world
http://www.tahaa.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=art...

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Note added at 22 hrs (2009-09-07 08:49:53 GMT)
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Well, I did say "bull roarer" too ... But I think you're right, "dance paddle" makes more sense.

http://www.nma.gov.au/cook/artefact.php?id=304

Bourth
France
Local time: 03:09
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 143

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks for your answer; however, the missionary uses a French word in the original and I need to use an English word in the translation; this is a historical document written long before the modern usage of using local words; I also do not think that it is the bull-roarer, but believe I finally my answer, which would be a "dance paddle" see: http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/ethnology/collections/display.php?ID=107335

Reference comments

1 hr

Reference: wikipedia article

Reference information:
Another reference to complement Bourth's

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullroarer_(music)

Stephen Chalk
France
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: