Stunud

Stunud is a term in ethnographic and linguistic literature within the fictional Arinai archipelago, describing a ceremonial practice among its coastal communities. It denotes both the ritual object used in the ceremony and the act of performing the ritual. The term derives from the Stundu language, where the root stundu means "to gather voices," and the suffix -d marks the noun form.

In practice, stunud ceremonies involve a circle of participants who exchange spoken contributions and silent signals to reach a collective decision or remembrance. The ceremony is typically held at seasonal transitions. The ritual object, commonly a carved disk or token, is passed around and placed at the center to symbolize equal participation. The token's design varies by village, with motifs representing local geography and ancestry.

In scholarly literature, stunud is discussed as an example of deliberative ritual that combines spoken oratory with nonverbal cues. It is considered important for social cohesion and the reinforcement of communal memory. There are regional variants: some communities emphasize the token's placement, others rely more on vocal improvisation or chant.