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English
Nok Wit Nam (Clay Water Whistle) — a Modelled Clay Bird with an Air Channel Through the Top of the Tail, Air-Dried, Half Filled with Water; Blow and the Water Ripples into Birdsong
นกหวีดน้ำ (nok wit nam, water whistle) is a folk toy with water inside. When it is blown, the water ripples, changing the inner cavity and the pitch in rhythm with the ripples, so it sounds like a bird singing.
This blueprint makes a real nok wit nam following the source.
Intermediate
About 1-2 hours, not counting drying the clay
Instructions
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1
Parts
Parts
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2
Bird-sound pipes, before it
Bird-sound pipes, before it
The pi siang nok changes pitch with a slide; the nok wit nam changes pitch with the water rippling inside.
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3
Read from the source
Read from the source
"The water ripples when air is blown in, changing the inner cavity and the pitch in rhythm with the rippling water." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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4
Model the bird
Model the bird
Model clay into the shape of whatever bird you like.
Materials for this step:
Clay1 piece5
5
Air channel
Air channel
Pierce a hole at the bird's tail as an air channel, through to the top of the tail.
Tools needed:
Knife6
6
Dry
Dry
Leave it in the air until the clay is dry.
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7
Real photos
Real photos
Photos of a real nok wit nam (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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8
How to play
How to play
Fill it about half full of water through the hole, then blow; the water ripples and the sound changes like birdsong.
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9
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting the nok wit nam.
Flow
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10
History and limits
History and limits
The nok wit nam holds water, which makes it sound like a bird. Take care with the knife when piercing.
Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "นกหวีดน้ำ", author not named (CC BY 4.0 licence).
**Limits** The source gives no sizes, does not describe the mouthpiece or sound hole in detail, and does not say whether the clay is fired.
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