rai
1
8.2
- noun
- /raɪ/
:
rai
- At ten feet in diameter, more than one and a half feet thick at the center, and weighing eight tons, it was indeed the stone money, or rai, of the Yapese—one of the largest objects ever carved to be moved across open ocean by native Pacific Islanders.
Examples
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Most rai in Yap have a pedigree; the names of previous owners are passed down to the new owner.
Academic text (2004) -
In Yap today, smaller rai carved with traditional shell or stone tools and without the help of Europeans are still considered much more valuable.
Academic text (2004) -
With Rai, however, the history behind each piece was equally important.
Academic text (2004) -
Many rai today, as in the past, are placed in front of meeting houses or along pathways known as "money banks."
Academic text (2004) -
More than thirteen thousand pieces of rai were recorded on Yap by the Japanese in the 1930s.
Academic text (2004) -
As chiefs in different villages tried to obtain more prestigious pieces of stone money, rai became larger and better carved over time.
Academic text (2004) -
Algerian rai music features a mix of traditional melodies and modern rhythms.
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She loves to listen to rai at parties because it always gets everyone dancing.
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The festival showcased several popular rai artists who captivated the audience with their performances.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Rai comes from Algerian Arabic raï, meaning 'opinion' or 'advice'. Singers used it to give their personal views about life and love, so that style of music became known as rai.