[Mihalic] apo

[Vince]

In my day in Goroka in the late 70's and early 80's apo (I prefer ampo) 
was used only by tok ples speakers as a greeting and for that reason I 
would not consider it a Tok Pisin word.

Ampo was also used by catholic priests at communion time. If the 
communion receiver did not open his/her mouth, the priest would say: 
ampo to tell the person to open his/her mouth.

Vince

Thomas Strong wrote:

> 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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> 
> 
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