(unknown to the speaker);
ɣɛrhie-ɣ-ɛɽ-ɔɣ-ũʋ̃ɛ, ɔɣ-ɛrɛe nɔ
[ ˥ / ˦ ˦ ˩ \ ˥ ˥ \ ˥ ] (iɣe [ ˥ ˩ ]) don’t take
it, for it is not my own, it
is somebody else’s! (ɔɣ-ɛrɛe
[ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] always means “somebody
unknown”, while ɔɣ-ɔʋ̃a-ʋehe
[ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] does not imply “un-
known”); ɛr(ɛ)-ɔɽu ʋ̃-ɔ̃na
[ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] “did somebody do me
this” (when something bad has
happened in one’s absence).
This example leads on to the
meaning of (2) “some un-
known enemy”, implying any
forces that work towards one’s
undoing, such as e.g. the evil
wishes of other people, bad
advice, opposition, etc. The ɛrɛe
[ ˩ \ ] is given a sacrifice upon the
advice of doctors; the act of
sacrificing is called mu [ ˥ ] ze [ ˥ ]
na [ ˥ ], and the prayer is: ɛrɛe ʋ̃ɛ,
ɣ-eʋ̃i n-iyaɽu-ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ] “my
ɛrɛe, look (ɣe [ / ]) at the things
I am doing (sacrificing) to you”.
The prayer averts the above-
mentioned influences. The term
occurs also in a thanksgiving
formula used by a junior woman
to her seniors when having taken
part of a meal; ɛrɛe ɣigb-uɛ
[ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ‿ ˩ ] “the bad wishes of other
people may not kill you!” v.
kada [ \ ˩ ], bukpɛ [ ˥ ˩ ]. (3)
Further, this term is applied to
a man whom one knows to be
one’s enemy; it seems to imply
equality in age or rank: ɛrɛ-egbe
ma ʋ-ɔɽe xĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “equals
(and enemies) of each other are
we and he”: he and I are equals
(and enemies); ɛrɛ(e) ʋ̃ɔ̃‿ũxĩ
[ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “you are my enemy”, i.e.
you have tried to undo me.
