job>>>jobar>>>ojobari = otjopari
Languages are living. Every now and again we are reminded of this when we come across a new variation in a word. Recently I heard a new term: “otjopari”. It has an interesting etymology. It is an English word (job) that was given a Portuguese verbal ending (-ar) that was then given a Mwinika verbal makeover (o-i). In Mozambique it is common to hear people saying they went to town to “jobar” which means “to look for a job” or “go job hunting” When you add the Mwinika verbal elements it becomes “o-job-ar-i.” The Mwinika spelling would then be “otjopari.”