Wauja

Numeral

mepiaunwaun wojoku

1. (cardinal) A numerical value equal to 10; the number following mepiaunwaunwakataputa. This many dots (••••••••••)

Usage notes

Theoretically, the number 10 could be followed by the construction "one toe," to signify the number 11, but I have never heard this used. Quantities greater than ten are typically described in Wauja as okuma (many), or less frequently, paunwaun ikitsapa (one foot, signifying roughly 15), or mepiaunwaun ikitsapa (two feet, roughly 20).

Those Wauja elders who speak little or no Portuguese commonly use the numbers one, two, and three, but rarely any higher numbers. Regarding usage of numbers above three, see Usage Notes under Appendix:Wauja numerals.

Related terms

• mepiaunwaun (two)
• mepiaunwaun ikitsapa (two feet, ten)
• mepiaunwauntaputa (seven)
• mepiaunwaunwaka (four)
• mepiaunwaunwakataputa (nine)
• paunwaun ikitsapa (one foot, fifteen)
• paunwaun wojoku (one hand, five)
• wojoku (hand)

References

• E. Ireland field notes. Needs to be checked by native speaker.