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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is my first contribution, after having my name
down below so long.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"gespaia": "mi painim Philip i stap we. Mi
gespaia na go long Papindo. Tasol mi no lukim em."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> There is some non-agreement
amongst my informants whether the terms means fruitless search, or any kind of
search. If it is fruitless search then the word seems to come from a combination
of English "guess" and Tok Pisin "popaia". But the "paia" part could simply mean
"take a shot". I was surprised to hear Michael Mel (of Mount Hagen,
working at University of Goroka) recognised the word readily in the Highlands.
It had seemed a coastal and Sepik usage.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"mistim": "Dispela moni mipela i mistim, mi inap
usim na go long ples."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The expression comes from a
story from someone involved in a hold-up many years ago. They had the money, but
because they were on drugs they had to throw it away when they were chased. The
group who listened to the story (all Sepik) agreed "mistim" was a suitable word
for the event. Obviously it is a use of the English meaning "we missed out
on".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> My little offerings. Pat
Gesch.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>