Polynesian multihull terminology, such as "ama", "aka" and "vaka" (or "waka") are multihull terms that have been widely adopted beyond the South Pacific where these terms originated. This Polynesian terminology is in common use in the Americas and the Pacific but is almost unknown in Europe, where the English terms "hull" and "outrigger" form normal parlance. Outriggers, catamarans, and outrigger boats are a common heritage of all Austronesian peoples and predate the Micronesian and Polynesian expansion into the Pacific. They are also the dominant forms of traditional ships in Island Southeast Asian and Malagasy Austronesian cultures, where local terms are used.[1][2]
A typical fishing canoe (va'a) of Samoa, showing a simple ama for balance.
The term vaka or waka means "boat" or "canoe" in most Polynesian languages. It comes from Proto-Austronesian *abaŋ, meaning "ship" or "canoe". Cognates in other Austronesian languages include IvatanAwang, Tagalog and Visayanbangka, Malaywangkang, and Fijianwaqa.[3]
"Ama", "aka" and "vaka"edit
The term ama is a word in the Polynesian and Micronesian languages to describe the outrigger part of a canoe to provide stability. Today, among the various Polynesian countries, the word ama is often used together with the word vaka (Cook Islands) or waka (Māori) or va'a (Samoa Islands, Tahiti), cognate words in various Polynesian languages to describe a canoe.
The Polynesian term vaka is the main hull, the ama is the outrigger, and the aka or iako (Hawaiian) is the support connecting the two (not three) hulls. The term ama and aka have been widely applied to modern trimarans.
In modern sailing, the term is sometimes used to refer to the outrigger on double-outrigger canoes (trimarans), or the two sections of a catamaran. However, calling the two sections of a catamaran by the word ama is not technically correct since they are of equal size. A catamaran is technically a wa'a wa'a or double canoe connected by an aka.[4]
On a proa, the ama may provide lift or ballast, depending on whether it is designed to be used to leeward or windward; on a trimaran it is designed primarily to provide lift. There are many shapes of ama; those used in proas are generally laterally symmetric, as the proa is designed to sail with either end forwards, while trimaran ama are one-directional and may have no axis of symmetry.
The most advanced ama are composed of highly curved surfaces that generate lift when driven forward through the water, much like an airplane wing. This lift may be directed to the windward, used to counter slipping to leeward, or may be oriented vertically to counter heeling forces from the sailing rig. These highly curved structures are much more difficult to manufacture than traditional ama and are therefore more expensive. The Bruce foil is an example of a type of leeboard often attached to an ama to assist in producing lift.
Use of the term in other culturesedit
Even though double-outrigger ships (trimarans, sometimes informally referred to as "proas" historically) of other related Austronesian groups in Island Southeast Asia, Island Melanesia, and Madagascar didn't reach Polynesia or Micronesia, they may also sometimes use Polynesian terminology in modern times, especially when used in sport sailing.[5]
The US Navy tri-hull Independence-class littoral combat ship refers to their outboard hull sections as an "Amah". "An Amah tip is the leading edge of the all-aluminum, trimaran-type vessel’s outrigger, or amah, and is more than seven feet across and weighs 850 pounds."[6]
^Beheim, B. A.; Bell, A. V. (23 February 2011). "Inheritance, ecology and the evolution of the canoes of east Oceania". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 278 (1721): 3089–3095. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0060. PMC3158936. PMID 21345865.
^Hornell, James (1932). "Was the Double-Outrigger Known in Polynesia and Micronesia? A Critical Study". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 41 (2 (162)): 131–143.
^Dempwolff, Otto (1934–1938). "Vergleichende Lautlehre des austronesischen Wortschatzes". Zeitschrift für Eingeborenen-Sprachen. Special Publication (15, 17, 19).
^. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
^"Alcoa Provides Aluminum Amah Tips to Austal for Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson (LCS 6)" (Press release). 16 April 2012.
March 07, 2024
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Polynesian multihull terminology such as ama aka and vaka or waka are multihull terms that have been widely adopted beyond the South Pacific where these terms originated This Polynesian terminology is in common use in the Americas and the Pacific but is almost unknown in Europe where the English terms hull and outrigger form normal parlance Outriggers catamarans and outrigger boats are a common heritage of all Austronesian peoples and predate the Micronesian and Polynesian expansion into the Pacific They are also the dominant forms of traditional ships in Island Southeast Asian and Malagasy Austronesian cultures where local terms are used 1 2 A typical fishing canoe va a of Samoa showing a simple ama for balance Contents 1 Etymology 2 Ama aka and vaka 3 Function 4 Use of the term in other cultures 5 See also 6 ReferencesEtymology editSee also Waka canoe and Outrigger boat The term vaka or waka means boat or canoe in most Polynesian languages It comes from Proto Austronesian abaŋ meaning ship or canoe Cognates in other Austronesian languages include Ivatan Awang Tagalog and Visayan bangka Malay wangkang and Fijian waqa 3 Ama aka and vaka editThe term ama is a word in the Polynesian and Micronesian languages to describe the outrigger part of a canoe to provide stability Today among the various Polynesian countries the word ama is often used together with the word vaka Cook Islands or waka Maori or va a Samoa Islands Tahiti cognate words in various Polynesian languages to describe a canoe The Polynesian term vaka is the main hull the ama is the outrigger and the aka or iako Hawaiian is the support connecting the two not three hulls The term ama and aka have been widely applied to modern trimarans In modern sailing the term is sometimes used to refer to the outrigger on double outrigger canoes trimarans or the two sections of a catamaran However calling the two sections of a catamaran by the word ama is not technically correct since they are of equal size A catamaran is technically a wa a wa a or double canoe connected by an aka 4 nbsp Men carve a paopao canoe on Nanumea Atoll in Tuvalu Function editOn a proa the ama may provide lift or ballast depending on whether it is designed to be used to leeward or windward on a trimaran it is designed primarily to provide lift There are many shapes of ama those used in proas are generally laterally symmetric as the proa is designed to sail with either end forwards while trimaran ama are one directional and may have no axis of symmetry The most advanced ama are composed of highly curved surfaces that generate lift when driven forward through the water much like an airplane wing This lift may be directed to the windward used to counter slipping to leeward or may be oriented vertically to counter heeling forces from the sailing rig These highly curved structures are much more difficult to manufacture than traditional ama and are therefore more expensive The Bruce foil is an example of a type of leeboard often attached to an ama to assist in producing lift Use of the term in other cultures editEven though double outrigger ships trimarans sometimes informally referred to as proas historically of other related Austronesian groups in Island Southeast Asia Island Melanesia and Madagascar didn t reach Polynesia or Micronesia they may also sometimes use Polynesian terminology in modern times especially when used in sport sailing 5 The US Navy tri hull Independence class littoral combat ship refers to their outboard hull sections as an Amah An Amah tip is the leading edge of the all aluminum trimaran type vessel s outrigger or amah and is more than seven feet across and weighs 850 pounds 6 See also editPolynesian navigation Bangka boat Waka canoe Outrigger canoe HōkuleʻaReferences edit Beheim B A Bell A V 23 February 2011 Inheritance ecology and the evolution of the canoes of east Oceania Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 278 1721 3089 3095 doi 10 1098 rspb 2011 0060 PMC 3158936 PMID 21345865 Hornell James 1932 Was the Double Outrigger Known in Polynesia and Micronesia A Critical Study The Journal of the Polynesian Society 41 2 162 131 143 Dempwolff Otto 1934 1938 Vergleichende Lautlehre des austronesischen Wortschatzes Zeitschrift fur Eingeborenen Sprachen Special Publication 15 17 19 Rawiri Taonui Te Ara 4 March 2009 Story Canoe navigation Waka canoes The Encyclopedia of New Zealand The Tridarka Raider Archived from the original on 20 October 2007 Retrieved 2007 10 30 Alcoa Provides Aluminum Amah Tips to Austal for Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson LCS 6 Press release 16 April 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Polynesian multihull terminology amp oldid 1204983568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
