scholes0:


Well, neither am I interested in Gbam's use in Igbo... And you can't be pulling me in to argue with you on that.
I am interested in the way it is used in Yoruba and everyday Nigerian lingo, as a Sound, Exclamation or onomatopoeia.

Gbam imitates the sound of an explosion or a smash , something clashing against another- In other words, an events that involves the release or exchange or energy Etc... Which is How you can effectively use it as an Onomatopoeia enhancing normal speech.

Ihuomadinihu:

Kettle calling pot Black. Am more interested in how it is used in Igbo language by extention in Nigeria. Gbam is an affirmative word in Igbo language,which shows rightness and aggrement: I must travel to USA tomorrow.... Gbam in responds to my speech,which shows affirmation and concord. This is the mainstream meaning of Gbam. Anyother meaning or derivative is null and void here.

Ihuomadinihu:

Kettle calling pot Black. Am more interested in how it is used in Igbo language by extention in Nigeria. Gbam is an affirmative word in Igbo language,which shows the path of rightfulness and aggrement: I must travel to USA tomorrow....and my friend says Gbam! Gbam in responds to my speech shows affirmation and concord! This is the mainstream meaning of Gbam. Anyother meaning or derivative is null and void here. I can't say i must travel to USA tomorrow and you use Gbam as an Onamatopia which is unnecessary. Use Onamatopia for what? Does an Onamatopia enhance the fact that i need to travel to USA tomorrow? Gbam here means that you support and affairm the fact that i must do what i intend doing.

scholes0:


You are talking about how it is used in Igbo and by transference, "Igbo English"
I am talking about about how it is used in Yoruba, and by extension Lagosian, South Western and Nigerian speech.

Another meaning of Gbam is null & Void to me as well... Pick your own arena, and choose your fight there.

Ihuomadinihu:

That is what you should have said earlier on. Gbam as an onamatopia in Yoruba but not the Igbo derived Affirmative Gbam in Nigeria. Ish!

scholes0:


well, The way I have heard Igbos use it most of the time is even 'Igbam'.... which comes at the end of somebody else's statement,, to show support.

Yorubas use it as an onomatopoeia inserted into everyday speech as enhancers. Otherwise, as just Exclamations.
So, case closed....

Ihuomadinihu:

Case closed. Gbam is not an Onomatopia:p. Sorry, Igbo and Nigerians use Gbam for affirmation. Stop draging a lost course,go and pick your opponents elsewhere

ChinenyeN:
I don't get what all the contention is about. "Gbam" could have easily come from any West African language. It's use and construction is all too recognizable. In fact, I wouldn't even be surprised if "Gbam" developed independently in our different languages, but yet carried the same/similar meaning.

scholes0:


No, Just Igbo Nigerians.
Thank You.

Ihuomadinihu:

Love it or hate it, Gbam that used in a Nigerian context has nothing to do with Onomatopia.
Gbam in this context is used to show affirmation. If i say Nairaland is fun. And Mr Z says Gbam,he is affirming that Nairaland is fun which nonesense Onomatopia makes sense here? Lol.

scholes0:


Of course it is!
Gbam is not a word, neither is it an action... It is a sound that enhances speech.

Gbam fits it as a sound denoting support because of what it represents. An energetic act. (Onomatopoetic functionalism)
That was even why someone mentioned the slamming sound of a door on the first page..... Annd an Igbo (looking at the discussion through his own cultural prism was laughing at him) Go back and see.
Okay.... Where would you place gbosa?
btw: My fingers are beginning to ache now jare.....

scholes0:


Of course it is!
Gbam is not a word, neither is it an action... It is a sound that enhances speech.

Gbam fits it as a sound denoting support because of what it represents. An energetic act. (Onomatopoetic functionalism)
That was even why someone mentioned the slamming sound of a door on the first page..... Annd an Igbo (looking at the discussion through his own cultural prism was laughing at him) Go back and see.
Okay.... Where would you place gbosa?
btw: My fingers are beginning to ache now jare.....

Ihuomadinihu:

It has to ache,snice you insist on going round in Circles.
Gbosa is an onomatopia. But i can't say i must eat now and you say Gbosa in response. Lord have mercy!

scholes0:
You guyz are silly, "Gbam" is an exclamation that has no particular origin. It could have come from any language with a Gb sound in it, or being used simultaneously by various languages at the same time. It sounds Yoruba, it sounds Igbo as well... stop fighting over trivialities.
It is like arguing which language "owns"

Ah!, Eehya!, Oh!, Wooo!, Gbosa! etc ..... it could have been used by various peoples speaking various tongues.

Ihuomadinihu:

Didn't you just say it has no origin according to you. It is now Onomatopia in Yoruba. Even the onomatopia reference is useless in a Nigerian parlence.

scholes0:


I had to... since you find it so hard grasping the most elementary points ....
it's like trying to explain a concept to a toddler.

scholes0:


No Origin =/= No particular Origin!.
Omo you smart die .....

Ihuomadinihu:

Being smart in shuting somebody's submission down and slowly stole his submission to fit your explanations. I dislike it.

scholes0:


Go back to my original post on the thread.
I never attributed the exclamation 'Gbam" to any particular ethnic group..... I favour a multipolar origin hypothesis.
If you think Gbam is solely Igbo, then I respect your opinion.
Haba!

Obiagu1:
This is a silly argument.
What does 'gbam' mean in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba?

If in any of these languages it does not mean agreement, complete, then it does not belong to that language.

scholes0:


Of course it is!
Gbam is not a word, neither is it an action... It is a sound that enhances speech.

Gbam fits it as a sound denoting support because of what it represents. An energetic act. (Onomatopoetic functionalism)
That was even why someone mentioned the slamming sound of a door on the first page..... Annd an Igbo (looking at the discussion through his own cultural prism was laughing at him) Go back and see.
Okay.... Where would you place gbosa?
btw: My fingers are beginning to ache now jare.....