Sindaun & sanap

[John Burton]

Sindaun (sorry late reply, phones out this week) is the only word I have
ever discovered that encapsulates 'our state of social development' or the
'quality of life' or 'standard of living', mentioned by Bryant, in any
language. There is certainly no English term that is as rich in meanings.

But here's another allusion. Sanap is used for lots of things, but notably
1. 'to have the right to speak' and 2. 'to stand for election'.

People often say 'em kirap na tok ...' (and PNG English has the parallel
construction 'he/she got up and said ...'). Actually the speaker doesn't
move at all, and the effect is something like 'he stirred and said ...' It's
a bit Old Testament.

In the context of a meeting between, say, several groups therefore, the men
with a right to say something are figuratively conceived as 'standing'.
'Sanap' therefore means to be in the position of mausman. ('Em i ken sanap
na toktok'.)

Yesterday, a man at a landowner meeting objected to a nominated rep and
wanted him to disqualify himself. 'Yu go sindaun long hap!' he said pointing
to grassy place outside the meeting area (actually a rather nice fish pond).

So 'sindaun' in turn means 'stand aside'.

John Burton