Wednesday, 21 March 2012

On dunsu, nokohunggata and oonsom

Once, going years back, a couple of young children were sparring words with each other. I overheard one was saying to the elder and bigger one: I'll mallet you. Now, what is the equivalent in Kadazan? Dunsuvon ku iziau. They just came back from abroad around that time. I wanted to smile. Oh, I guess I did. See, I took a listen.

It always tickles me whenever I hear or read : It went 'belly up'. Think me weird. Perhaps, I am sometimes. Certain sounds just catch my fancy. So, is belly up = nokohunggata. Do we say nokohunggata to mean bankrupt or nodingkalap/nobingkalap/nobingkrap?

I recall oonsom is not just sour. What about " 'Oonsom ko' (k)ada kama" ? "You will get into trouble"? "You'll be in a pickle"?

U'uugan must be  a fire torch. Nohiihiivan ku dii. I can't exactly remember.

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