Читать книгу The Bulk Challenge Experience - I. Ezax Smith - Страница 5

"Across the Bridge" - all areas beyond the two bridges that connect to the City of Monrovia.

Bazzam — a local Liberian term for a type of fabric used for clothing.

Banku — a part of Ghanaian diet prepared from fermented corn. It is also processed and eaten with a variety of soups.

Charlie – a common name referred to any male. Whether the name a known or unknown, many Ghanaians calls all men, Charlie.

Chop Bar — a Ghanaian term for makeshift spots at street corners where cheap food is sold.

Cook Shop — a Liberian term for makeshift spots where cheap food is sold.

Five-Fingers — a kind of plant that looks like the leaves of potatoes grown in Liberia. The plant grows as wild vines in bushes in many places around the country. It had not been eaten as food prior to the Liberian civil war. However, when food became very scarce, risk-takers began experimenting with the plant. Soon, many more people began cutting and cooking “five-fingers,” which derived its name from being shaped like the human hand when opened with fingers spread.

Fula Bread – a long bread made in several sizes: 6 inches or 12 inches long, and sometimes, 24 inches. It got its name from the Fulanis from Guinea residing in Liberia, and who known for making them.

Fufu — a part of West African diet prepared from cassava tubers. It is often gritted, stored in bags until it ferments. And it is processed and eaten with a variety of soups.

Grad — Ghanaian local use of the word “glad.”

Lappa — a local Liberian term for wrapping cloth. The term may be used to make generic reference to any fabric for clothing.

Okaaay — suggests a response of uncertainty. When a Ghanaian is not sure of some information, he/she usually begins with the word “Okaaay.” Anyone accustomed to that will make a tacit acceptance of the response. For example, if you ask, “Where can I find the ABC Store?” Answer: “Okaaay, if you go this way and turn left, it will be right there to your left.” Perhaps, the desire to simply offer an answer is the sign that Ghanaians generally do not want to disappoint. They apparently do not know how to say “I don’t know.”

Palm Cabbage — a Liberian dish prepared from the buds of oil palm and coconut trees. Harvesting such a bud leads to the death of the tree. During the Liberian civil war, many oil palm and coconut trees were destroyed in that way. But with the scarcity of food, scavenging for palm cabbage became inevitable. In that process, oil palm and coconut trees, which normally have more economic and health values in terms of fresh air, shade, oil, brooms, etc., were destroyed.

Par – a local Ghanaian expression which suggests that something is far away.

Prace — Ghanaian local use of the word “place.”

Shake-hand – a local Liberian term, which may suggest the sign of making peace in order to put behind some dispute. It may also refer to a sign of bribery. If someone says “you’ve got to shake my hand,” it may be another way of requesting a bribe. In this situation, what may make it less of a pressure is that the amount will have to be at the giver’s discretion. What the giver does simply is to put the amount in the recipient’s pocket.

Stole-way – to steal your way is to forcefully and or illegally enter an area, event or activity without permission.

This-thing — a Ghanaian generic reference to anything. The term “this-thing” flies from a Ghanaian who cannot think readily of the name of something being referred to. For example, “I want you to give me the “this-thing.” That could be a chair, a book, cup or whatever.

“Town trap is not for rat alone” — a philosophical punch line derived from one of numerous folktales of Liberia’s indigenous population. The expression is often made to those who may ignore the need to build collective defense against external threats. It was popularized when the Liberian leader Samuel Doe, in the early months of the Liberian civil war, used it to invite a collective Liberian resolve against the invading forces of Charles Taylor and other warlords.

Wachen — a name of Kwa origin. Kwa is an African linguistic group. In Liberia, this group comprises of Bassa, Grebo and Kru. Wachen means heart-breaker.