[Mihalic] gespaia na mistim

[Fr Patrick Gesch, SVD]

This is my first contribution, after having my name down below so long.

"gespaia":  "mi painim Philip i stap we. Mi gespaia na go long Papindo. Tasol mi no lukim em."

    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.

"mistim": "Dispela moni mipela i mistim, mi inap usim na go long ples."

    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".

    My little offerings. Pat Gesch.
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