The term "Awumbuk" is used by the Baining people of Papua New Guinea to describe a sense of sluggishness or emptiness felt after the departure of guests. It is believed that the departure of guests leaves a weighty feeling in the home, and this sensation manifests as inertia and distraction that can last for days after the separation.
The Baining people believe that the departure of guests alters the atmosphere of the home, leaving behind a kind of "decaying air." This air is cleansed through a special ritual; after the guests leave, a water bottle is placed, and it is expected that the bottle will absorb the air overnight. The next morning, the water bottle is ritually thrown into the trees, and once this process is completed, the family returns to their daily life.
Awumbuk is not just an emotional state but also part of a cultural practice of the Baining people. This term, as an example of how language shapes emotions, is discussed in Tiffany Watt Smith's "The Book of Human Emotions."
