I recall reading about something called "Ua Lava" in an Orson Scott Card book, one of the Ender series.
I think about the idea (as it was presented in the book) from time to time. It appeals to me.
Ua Lava. It is enough.
No negative, no positive...just a statement of fact. Ua Lava, it is enough. Had enough dinner? Ua Lava. Had a rough day and things don't seem to be getting better? Ua Lava. Been laughing until your sides ache? Ua lava.
It is at once an expression of joy, celebration, frustration, hurt, need, despair, contentment, love, and hope. It is a useful phrase, and I've used it on the Evil Genius in combination with "basta!!", which I was raised to believe meant "enough" in Italian.
I dabble in language.
I can't seem to find verification of the meaning behind "ua lava", but I have no reason to doubt that Mr. Card has done his research.
So why am I thinking about it now? I was blog-hopping and wound up at Oktober5's place, where I read his entry about having, not having, and about 100 squares, and it got me thinking about enough, and not enough, and how we define that for ourselves, which brought me to ua lava.
I can make a very long list of what I don't have, and a very short list of what I do have...but ultimately "have" or "have not"? Ua lava.
I wish you always enough and a bit more besides - may you find ways around want, never know need, and have enough left over to help someone fill an emptiness they may not even know they have.
Quote of the day...er...week...umm...hey, look, a quote!!
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4 comments:
I also read Mr. Card's book and found Ua Lava the most intriguing and useful thing throughout the entire book. I use the term constantly to remind myself to be content with what I have and not to be greedy or let things upset me. I have been unable to find much information on the term and the information I have discovered seems to be in Samoan. I have also seen the phrase used in negative way. People use it as a way of saying "I give up" which according to Card is a complete misinterpretation. I wish I could find information to confirm Card's interpretation but it seems to be difficult. If you find anything I would be delighted to see it.
Yes, I just finished Children of the Mind and agree that it's the part that has stuck with me. Enough so that while commenting about it elsewhere I started a little research and found this post.
Julian, appreciate your comment too. Good to know that it might also have a negative usage. I'll keep looking.
Below is the url of a short online english-to-somoan dictionary. If you scroll down to 'enough' you'll see it there. 'Ua' is whats called a 'verbal particle' it can mean 'it is,' 'he/she is,' etc. 'Lava' means enough, though that meaning seems to be one of many. In looking around for verification as to the authenticity of Card's assertion about these words, I frequently saw 'lava' and 'ua lava' used to mean 'enough' or 'it is enough,' but I was never able to find any evidence that it had a sage or philosophical significance in the Somoan language, (i.e. no good, no bad, all that) in the way that Card portrays it in the book. Anyway..
http://solo.manuatele.net/words.htm
It rang a cord with me too. I use it both and positive and negative. Ua lava is also the moment when I am ready to use the D.M. !
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