>> politics. In this recording of history, although primacy should be
>> given to those who actually experienced it ( "zweAle yngerka: znebere
>> ymkerka," ) a collective urge from all of us must be created to
>> encourage those who are in the know before they fade out from the scene,
>> and those who have the expertise and resources to do the necessary leg
>> work.
>> . . .
Quoting the above from my postig last Thursday, Spet. 4, my brother
Abraham Zeweldi gently suggested a correction of the Tigrinya "msla" in
a private e-mail in this way:
> What do you think had you put it this way
> "zweAle yngerka: zseHate ymkerka," OR
> "zkeBere yngerka: zseHate ymkerka,"
> I felt, zweAle and znebere have the same implications
His correction on the Tigrniya "msla" is absolutely right and
acceptable. I too had an uneasy feeling about my use of that oft-quoted
msla Tigrinya. The alliteration of "zweAle" and "znebere" does not quite
work, because the two words are synonymous.
For the life of me, I could not recall "zseHate" , and that's the right
word, of course. It's the person who had erred--"zseHate"-- who can give
an advice--"mKri." Live as long away from your cultural roots as i
have, and slowly this is what happens. The instinct to quote accurately
from the rich repository of thousands and thousands of our mslatat
gradually begins to falter. All is not lost, however, "kemzi nay
abraham zmekr Haw ksab zeytesa'ene."
For the benefit of non-Tigrniya speakers, the Tigrinya saying "zweAle
yngerka: zseHate ymkerka," roughly tranlated would be, "May the one who
participated recount to you, May the one who erred counsel you." In
other words, may you be lucky enough to get the report straight from the
horse's mouth ( from the one who actually particpated in battle or other
relevant event), and counsel from a person who himself had learned from
a few mistakes.
yeQenyeley.
HawKum,
Elias