[Mihalic] apo

[Thomas Strong]

Hi there.

"Apo" I believe is a form of "ambo," which in Gahuku (Goroka tok ples) 
and Dano (upper Asaro tok ples) means both "namesake" and (in the past) 
"co-initiate."  It is often used as a term of address, and generally 
indicates a warm and egalitarian relationship, as Volker indicates.  
Today people might well translate the term as "friend"/"pren".  When 
used in the more restricted sense of "namesake" it may also be used as 
a term of reference, so that Tom Kiripo (a clan brother of mine) I 
might refer to as "ambo bilong mi" (my name is Tom!).

Craig Volker is also right that outside Goroka (viz. outside the Asaro 
valley), people know that the term is a Gorokan (Asaro valley) trait, 
and if they know you are Gorokan, they may well grease you with it.  It 
was made quite famous relatively recently in Kenangi's hit song "Wari 
Ambo," which ruled the airwaves (both CHM Supersound and Yumi FM) in 
2000:  the song is in Gahuku (its video is a hilarious send up of karim 
lek and tainim het).

Hope that helps!

Tom Strong




On Apr 16, 2004, at 1:49 AM, C A Volker wrote:

> Re the query about "apo"--
>
> An Eastern Highlander should check me on this, but I remember from 
> when I lived
> there that apo was used in Tok Pisin and English as a term of address 
> (Apo, yu
> go we nau?). It can refer to men or women and is a strong marker of 
> friendship
> and solidarity.
>
> I don't remember it being used as an ordinary noun, e.g., *Em apo 
> bilong mi or
> *Mi no gat apo nau.
>
> Since it is used much more in the Goroka area than in Kainantu, I 
> suspect its
> origin is in Gahuku or another language near Goroka.
>
> In Goroka, it is used to address people of any ethnic group, but 
> outside the
> EHP, I've only heard it used to address Eastern Highlanders or by 
> Eastern
> Highlanders to address their close friends.
>
> Craig Volker
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