"Ashia"

"Ashia." The word is ubiquitous in English-speaking Cameroon; probably because it is so versatile. Where it comes from, who can say? What it means -- a lot:

"hello"

"goodbye"

"alas/sorry/that's too bad"

and, best of all: "too bad, pal; see if I care!"

It's amazing what inflection can do.