A as in Aenōṃṃan Peace in Kajin M̧ajeļ or Marshallese in a Daily Dose of Peace
A Daily Dose of Peace. Each week, I focus on Love, Joy, and Peace in the World Languages. February’s second week focuses on words of peace that start with “A” around the word.
“Aenōṃṃan” is peace in Kajin M̧ajeļ or Marshallese spoken in the Marshall Islands.
Umeyo Language Identity
I grew from the Marshall Islands
the Marshallese language at home
with my parents and my grandmother
I am one
of 50,000 speakers of Kajin M̧aje
our language is our identity
like a mantra I say
as I delve into my culture and heritage
keeping my language thriving
seeking peace “aenomman” or “ainemon”
in Marshallese or Kajin M̧aje spoken in the Marshall Islands
where I grew
- A Persona Poem
Marshallese is also spoken in several large communities in the United States including the Midwest (Springdale, Arkansas (12,000 residents (including more than 3.300 children who are enrolled in the Springdale School District), Pine Bluff, Huntsville, Berryville, and Pocahontas, Arkansas; Enid, Oklahoma; Dubuque, Iowa; Missouri, and Kansas) and the Northwestern US (Salem, OR, Spokane, WA.
Marshall Islands: Languages of Marshall Islands — English, Marshallese (98%), (two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family), Japanese
Marshallese, Kajin M̧ajeļ, Kajin Majōl, Ebon (mah), Ebon (Malayo-Polynesian), a Micronesian, an Austronesian, M:C:E:O:C:R:M:M, Marshallese language — “Aenōṃṃan” (calm, peace, tranquility, to be calm, to be peaceful, to be tranquil), “Ainemon” (peace), “Aenōm̧m̧an” (peace), “Hayẹnẹṃṃan” (peace, peaceful; pacified), “Jokwane” (calm), “Jeqaney” (pacified, calm), “Koṇkōtaa” (harmony), “Lur” (calm), “iakwe, lan̄lōn̄, aenōm̧m̧an, kijenmej, meanwōr, ļojokmen, tōmak, kōjatdikdik, im kainōm̧m̧an” (love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, gentleness, faith, hope, and comfort), “Ainemon en bed ion lol in” (may peace prevail on earth), “ye)-mʷan” (good) — Marshall Islands, Nauru. The language is spoken by about 44,000 people in the Marshall Islands, making it the principal language of the country.
Marshallese English (eng-050) — “Peace” (peace) — Marshall Islands.
Marshall Island Weather
“Añkidid” describes the onset of the calm season
and “lur” spells out calm
while “añinlur” is a breeze forecasting calm weather
over this island nation
in Kajin M̧ajeļ also known as Marshallese
“jo” portrays the interim period between stormy seasons
usually a calm spell
“aenōṃṃan” is calm, peace, tranquility
“lae” is smooth and calm
said of water and ocean waves
aeniñeañḷọk or “hayeynigyagḷaq”
is when the currents are flowing northward
A Peaceful Walk Through the Marshallese Dictionary
“Aen” or “Hayen” means iron
“aeṇak” or “hayeṇak” is dripping wet
drenched to the skin
“aeniñeañḷọk” or “hayeynigyagḷakʷ”
a current flowing northward
while “aenōṃṃan” or “hayẹnẹṃṃan”
is peace; peaceful; pacified
and almost the opposite
“aeñwāñwā” or “hayegʷaygʷay”
is chatter, gabble, clamor, noise, row, turbulence, turmoil
Education Goals in the Marshall Islands
Marshallese — Udhr Education “Jelalokijen en ilok non kokmonmonlok juon armij im non kokajuror kautiej maron ko an armij im anemkwoj ko an relaptata tokjeir. Ej aikuij in lemnok im kokmonmonlok melele, bwe en ejelok kalijoklok im en wor jimjera ikotan lol ko, jowi ko ak drolul in kabun ko, im bwe en men in ko-wonmanlok jerbal ko an United Nations non an kejbarok im drebij ainemon eo.” (Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace).
Originally Published in Peace Poetry Dictionary, The Meaning of Peace and Calm in 5000 Languages on February 17, 2021.
