Language-specific Insights

leaving him half dead

In Gbaya, the notion of leaving the beaten man behind in Luke 10:30 is emphasized with tɔ̀kɔ̀rɔ̀, an ideophone that expresses the act of abandoning something, such as a corpse, or of being abandoned.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

destruction

In Gbaya, the notion complete destruction is emphasized in Nahum 2:11 with kasa-kasa, an ideophone that refers to being completely destroyed, into tiny pieces.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

much plumage

In Gbaya, the notion of the meany feathers of the eagle’s plumage in Ezekiel 17:7 is emphasized with síp-síp, an ideophone that refers to numerous objects that touch each other.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

stretch out their hands to do wrong

In Gbaya, the notion of stretch out their hands to do wrong (and therefore entangling with evil) in Psalm 125:3 is emphasized with ɗak-ɗuk, an ideophone that denotes something intertwined, expresses vain efforts to untangle, to free oneself, to free oneself.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

staggered

In Gbaya, the notion of staggering is emphasized in Psalm 107:27 with giɗi-giɗi, an ideophone that refers to an oscillating movement, something that staggers.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

See also stagger and stagger with strong drink.

swirling about

In Gbaya, the notion of the surrounding flood that is “swirling about” in Psalms 88:17 is emphasized with nyɛŋtɛŋ, an ideophone referring to a space where the river widens and the water swirls around, or a crowd dancing in a circle; walking in single file.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)