Texts

Song texts in Chibale are highly contextual, whether it is a new song made specifically for the occasion or an already existing song brought with a certain intention. The texts are generally short. There is a lot to guess. An image or proverb can provide a more enduring meaning than the contextual one only, with the goal of increasing wisdom.

Proverbs are often used in ordinary speech. There are many nsoselo. In the first part of the 20th century, Doke collected some 2000 in the Lamba area: “The importance of the proverbs in Lamba life can not be over-estimated.”

In former days stories and histories were an important form of text. Nowadays they form a minor part of Chibale culture. Historical stories, for instance of certain clans, have been forgotten and most of the occasions to tell stories have disappeared.

Sounds and sound patterns are used in language and language is used to notate patterns of sounds.
Transliteration of sound patterns in nature – Sound patterns in nature, especially from birds, are interpreted as messages in the Lala language.
Sound symbolism – The Lala language contains a large number of words and stems that refer to the sound, and through that often also to other characteristics, of an object or phenomenon.
Oral notation – Sound patterns, especially in music, can be notated in the Lala language using sequences of syllables and/or (nonsense) words, or whole sentences.
Conveying the unsayable – Sound patterns, especially in music, can be used to convey that which cannot be said.