A correspondent friend of mine from Tanzania used the Esperanto verbs "sxecadi" and "sxeci" when referring to a relationship between a valued old person and tribal children. It obviously has real meaning in his culture, but I can't find a meaning for it anywhere. Can someone tell me what it means? Or where to find it? Dankon!

Are you sure it isn't a misspelling of "ŝercadi" and "ŝerci" (to joke)?

But if you are sure it's not a misspelling of ŝerci, I would definitely ask! "Hej, vi uzis la vorton "ŝecadi", kaj mi ne konas ĝin. Kio estas la signifo?"

If it is something local, this would be a great way to learn about it.

erinja:Are you sure it isn't a misspelling of "ŝercadi" and "ŝerci" (to joke)?

But if you are sure it's not a misspelling of ŝerci, I would definitely ask! "Hej, vi uzis la vorton "ŝecadi", kaj mi ne konas ĝin. Kio estas la signifo?"

If it is something local, this would be a great way to learn about it.

Yes, I thought to do that and am waiting to hear back. It could be a misspelling of ŝerci, but I am not sure. I think of the German verb schätzen, which means to prize or regard highly. That meaning could also fit if it has somehow been internalized (interniĝita?). I look forward to finding out.

Thank you, and happy New Year, Erinja!

jkph00:

erinja:Are you sure it isn't a misspelling of "ŝercadi" and "ŝerci" (to joke)?

But if you are sure it's not a misspelling of ŝerci, I would definitely ask! "Hej, vi uzis la vorton "ŝecadi", kaj mi ne konas ĝin. Kio estas la signifo?"

If it is something local, this would be a great way to learn about it.

Yes, I thought to do that and am waiting to hear back. It could be a misspelling of ŝerci, but I am not sure. I think of the German verb schätzen, which means to prize or regard highly. That meaning could also fit if it has somehow been internalized (interniĝita?). I look forward to finding out.

Thank you, and happy New Year, Erinja!

English Wikipedia writes: "A joking relationship is a term applied by anthropologists to the institutionalised form of interaction between certain pairs of people in some societies."
A Google search with "joking relationship tanzania" gives a lot of results which might be relevant.

Rugxdoma: English Wikipedia writes: "A joking relationship is a term applied by anthropologists to the institutionalised form of interaction between certain pairs of people in some societies." A Google search with "joking relationship tanzania" gives a lot of results which might be relevant.

Rugxdoma, that was a perfectly brilliant insight you had! After reading through a number of the articles I found using your clue, I think you may have gotten it exactly right. Fascinating. I feel as dumb as a barrel of hair for not having guessed it.