Multi-media accompanying the short paper ‘Ideophones in unexpected places‘ for the LDLT2 conference in London, 13-14 November 2009.

These are two dirges from a collection of 42 recorded in Akpafu-Todzi on the 24th and the 31st of August, 2008. The recording sessions were organized by Timothy ‘T.T.’ Akuamoah. The singers are Aurelia Noamesi (80), Edith Buame (82), Ella Nyame (71), Augusta Opoku (70), Georgina Anotsi (85), Christina Noamesi (Maya Ɔwɛ) (77), Fidelia Alifoh (57), Rose Addae (60), E. Attutey (58), Mary Kallai (70), Peace Afenyo (55), Comfort Dzato (74), Leticia Abande (86).

Mìlo kananaa

Siwu	English gloss
mìlo kanana si mìsɛ i mi ayo milo kananaaa [repeat] ɔlɛmã ìwo, ɔtalɛpo ìwo, mìloo ɔlɛmã sìse, ɔtalɛpo sìse, mìlo kanana si mìsɛ i mi ayo	be still kanana and stay in your houses be still kananaa [repeat] see the barren woman’s grave, the nursing mother’s grave, and be still see the barren woman’s grave-mound, the nursing mother’s grave-mound; be still kanana and stay in your houses

[audio:session_2_42_30.mp3]

Kàsò kàla gbigbììgbì

Note: the voice of the lead singer in this recording is very quiet.

Siwu	English gloss
kàsò kàla gbigbììgbì ɔrò marò ɔ̀bo eee maɔrò ɔ̀bo eee kàla gbigbììgbì maɔrò ɔ̀bo aaa kùkpi-sɛri sià ɔ̀kpeseri ɔɔ̀naà be bo bà kàyi ga dzɔ̀lɔ̀lɔ̀ boaɖi boɖe?	the earth keeps on trembling gbigbiigbi arriving, they are arriving they have arrived; it keeps trembling gbigbiigbi they have arrived there’s a way there, but no way back what have we come for in this tedious life, what will we gain?

[audio:Session_1_03_07.mp3]

1. Dingemanse, Mark. 2009. ‘Ideophones in unexpected places.’ Paper presented at Language Documentation & Linguistic Theory 2, London, November 13-14.