The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LIBERIAN VOCABULARY

LIBERIAN FOLKLORE IS A FASCINATING TOPIC. THIS
RELATIVELY UNEXPLORED AREA OF OUR CULTURE HAS BEEN
ALMOST TOTALLY IGNORED BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS INCLUDING
ANTHROPOLOGISTS. THIS IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF BELIEFS
ABOUT AFRICANS.
THESE LIBERIAN VOCABULARY COLLECTIONS THAT I HAVE GATHERED HERE
NEITHER CLAIMS LITERARY EXCELLENCE NOR AN
ENTRANCING THEME, RATHER, THEY PROFESS FIDELITY.
THE FIDELITY THAT THE VOCABULARY PROFESSES IS TO THE TRUTH.
ALSO, IT IS A DESIRE TO CALL ATTENTION TO CERTAIN QUAINT
AND INTERESTING PHASES OF THE INNER LIFE OF A MUCH
MISUNDERSTOOD SOCIETY AND RACE.
IN COMPILING THESE VOCABULARIES, THE PRIMARY GOAL
HAS BEEN TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO ENGLISH READERS.
FINALLY, IT IS MY HOPE AND BELIEF THAT THEY WILL
RETAIN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF OUR NATIVE GRACE AND QUAINTNESS.
BLOW _ BREATHE
BUG_A_BUG _ WHITE ANTS
CONK_ STRIKE
DEH _ THERE
DOO _ DOOR
DASH_ PAYMENT
HANGRY _ FAMINE
HEEN _ HIS
LAY_ LIED
LAY _ LIKE
MAH _ MOTHER
OONAH _ YOUR
PICKEY _ CHILD
SABEE _ HIGHLY EDUCATED
SABEE _ SELFISH
TEM _ UNTIL
VEX _ ANGRY
WEY _ WHERE
YA _ PARDON
ZUIT _ DRESS

Submitter comment: THESE VOCABULARIES ARE NOT SPOKEN BY THE AVERAGE
LIBERIAN CITIZENS. THEY ARE FREQUENTLY HEARD AMONG
THE SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE ILLITERATE.

Where learned: LIBERIA ; MONROVIA

Date learned: 00-00-1965