mafue

the chief says please wait a bit. his scribe reads for him the complaints his fondem will submit to the environmental ministry. ...400 pieces timber, smoked meat... he affixes his seal.

-ma fue, you shall teach me to read and write

i don't know how ma fue became mafue, but she has no blood relation to the palace; in fact, she is an american who showed up about six months ago, now holding the highest title that a woman can receive. the chief says that the french are rotten thieves, and there is no use dealing with them; though british and americans only disimulate until you befriend them. he says if he meets our ambassador, he will hit him.

-you want to hit him why?
puzzled look.
he explains, i must know the man.
puzzled looks on both sides.

it occurs to me that there are similar misunderstandings whenever i speak to an elder who has not had schooling: he speaks in proverbs, which do not make much sense unless you are familiar with them and recognize them for what they are. yesterday they said do you know that NgÉ is?

-tell me
-the child is crying and you with your mimbo drink i say why not just give this child the container?
-i still don't understand
-let me explain more clearly: this child hear you say this boy you are having 3000 francs and here i am sitting why can you not just help this your brother. you understand?
-not in the least
-ok let us say there is a porcupine, that it has strong spikes? will you step on it? no, it's poison. better you step in excrement.
-let's change the topic

this phenomenon discourages my language learning, since any meaningful conversation will be full of fables, allusions, parables and proverbs that the interlocutor is expected to be familiar with. only a child is unable to speak in proverbs, it seems.