Dialogue About Two Words for Eating: mangau and hochoch

Isauro Andrew and Peter Black, Koror, Palau, Summer 2006.
Tobian spoken by Peter and Isauro.

Peter English Isauro, what is the difference between hochoch and mangau?
  Tobian

Isauro, mata tei hafeier ma hochoch ma mangau?

Isauro English Well, we use hochoch for fish and meat and mangau for taro and rice.
  Tobian

Ah, hochoch ra sitapa ifirih ma fitihorimar ngara mangau ra sitapa ifiri wot ma rees.

     
Peter English Oh, hochoch is for meat and fish and mangau for rice and taro?
  Tobian O, hochoch ra ifiri fitihorimaruchah ma ih ngara mangau ra ifiri reesachah ma wot.
     
Isauro English That’s right, but you know, I was thinking about this and we also say hochoch ripe breadfruit and I don’t know why.
  Tobian

Iramaie, hohura imengi ma hosoh ba hochoch meimach, ngara imari ireng.

     
Peter English Oh really, but breadfruit is not fish.
  Tobian O yeheitena?  Hae mai ra teih.
     
Isauro English Hah, I know that, but that’s how we say it.  And bananas too.
  Tobian Hah, I hura mena, ngara irama heisuh fauh. Nga wichimo nga yehetena.
     
Peter English We hochoch bananas?  What about papaya?
  Tobian Sihochoch wich?  Ngaira babai?
     
Isauro English Hochoch them too and Micronesian apples also.
  Tobian Hochoch ifiri makara, ma fariyup.
     
Peter English Wow, I never knew that.  Maybe we can say hochoch is for fish and meat and fruit from trees.
  Tobian Iyak, bachaibehura ira.  Nuhuhur ba echuh ba sibesuh hochoch ifirih ma fitihorimar ma uwa chirihet.
     
Isauro English Unless it’s cooked.
  Tobian Harama marakuk.
     
Peter English What did you say?
  Tobian Meta hosa?
     
Isauro English If breadfruit is cooked we say mangau.
  Tobian

Isoh ba nganacha marakuk ra mai ira nga sibesoh ba mangau.

     
Peter English And bananas?
  Tobian Ma wich?
     
Isauro English The same and cooked papaya too. We mangau cooked bananas and papayas and hochoch ones that are not cooked.
  Tobian Yehafei, ma babai. Simangau ra marakuk wich ma babai nga sihochoch ra meremach.
     
Peter English Oh, maybe we can say we hochoch fish and meat and raw food from trees and we mungau taro and rice and cooked food from trees.
  Tobian O, echuh ba sibesoh ba hochoch ifirih ma fitihorimar ma yameteri uwa chirihet, ngara simangau ra marakukur uwa chirihet.
     
Isauro English Except coconuts.
  Tobian Ngara teifiri uwanu.
     
Peter English What?
  Tobian

Meta?

     
Isauro English We mangau coconuts if they are cooked or not.
  Tobian Simangau ra cho marakuk hae marateikuk.
     
Peter English Ye gods! Those coconuts are food from a tree but we mangau them if they are cooked or not cooked?  What is going on?    
  Tobian Hanibuat!  Cho uwa chirihet nga sibesoh ireng ba simangau ma mara kuuk ma mara teikuk?  Meta eheitena be?
     
Isauro English I don’t know what those old people meant by talking like this.
  Tobian

Itohura makawe tarapari yahamat hemengi hesasohu heitena.

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Updated: May 5, 2022