[Lexicog] A prototypical blessing

[Mali Translation]

Chaz,

I work in a language group in West Africa where every greeting or
leave-taking
is a shortened or spelt-out blessing. I like that a lot and make a conscious
effort to use them wherever I go.
I also like the greetings and leave-takings from the southern, mostly
Catholic
part of Germany where I live when I am not in Africa:
Grüss Gott! is a common greeting meaning "May God greet you!"
Pfueti! is a shortened form of leave-taking (from "Behüte dich Gott")
meaning "May God protect you!"

Pfueti,

Fritz


In Northern Embera,

> > 1) God blesses a human being
>
There are at least four different terms we have used for this, depending on
context, are "do well" (do something good to/for one), "put well" (put one
in a good position), "say-put well" (the opposite of a curse) and "help"
(help, save, rescue). The "help" word is also the one most used in prayer,
i.e., "bless my children".
>
> > 2) A human being blesses God
>
None of the words used in (1) can be used by humans to do the same for God.
"Praise", however, is "speak well to God".
>
> > 3) A human being blesses another human being
>
A shaman can "say-put well" (or do the opposite). A superior can "put well"
an inferior person: judge exonerates defendant, boss gives employee good
job, etc. A verbal blessing is "say well". A blessing at leave-taking is "be
well" or "stay (home) well". And the person staying says "go well".

Since this is an e-mail leave-taking, I'm not sure which blessing to
use...........

-Chaz







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