ngoterebakel

[johnbent]

ngoterebakel created by jimgeselbracht@yahoo.com on 2021-09-13 16:47:25

[johnbent]

jimgeselbracht@yahoo.com replied,

In the song "Imeyungs a Delad a Di Mel Tang," the last verse has:  Ulekum meng ngoterebakel a beluu / me sel bor ngii me sel kngar ngii / a dekersii el me dekiar / e kaiuekeed kau me ngak / e kaiuekeed kau me ngak.  Tekinged currently has "oterebakel" as accordion, but not ngoterebakel.  Yoichi Rengiil informs me that the translation of this first phrase is "if only the villages could trade places," with ngoterebakel meaning "trade places" or "interchange."  The word for accordion (oterebakel) is taken from the fact that when playing the accordion, the go back and forth, sort of trading places.  I wonder if ngoterebakel should be spelled differently.

[johnbent]

jlukesemiwo@gmail.com replied,

Jim,

I think "ngoterebakel" is actually just "ng oterebakel" so there's no different spell g here. It's just how it's written. You know how "ng" is added to the beginning of several words and when we say them, it sounds like the "ng" is attached to the word. Some examples: Ngulmeklatk, ngulmekedong, ngulbengeang, ngolekngemed, ngomekrur, etc.

[johnbent]

jimgeselbracht@yahoo.com replied,

Thanks Jelga.  Since oterebakel is in the dictionary as a noun (n.a.s, accordion), shouldn't there be an alternate definition as a verb?  Also, two dumb questions:  in the song the lyric is "Ulekum meng ng oterebakel a beluu."  1)  why wouldn't it be "te oterebakel a beluu" since the lyric is talking about the two villages trading places (Imeyungs as the son and Ngerbungs as the daughter)? and 2) why are there two "ng" in a row?