DKH01-034_sisis - Sisis ‘Scissors’

This string figure is transformed from the previous one (munmeri). When the final design emerges, the maker makes an action of cutting someone’s hair with it. The Awiakay say that this is an Imanmeri string figure. Given that it is one of rare figures that represent an introduced object, and that the names of both stages of the figure have Tok Pisin rather than local names, it is clearly a post-contact borrowing. This string figure requires (at least) two makers. There are two times in the process when the second maker comes in to take off the figure from the first maker’s hands. Skilled string figure-makers manage to do it on their own. Image: 02: sisis ‘scissors’, final design . Language as given: Awiakay