In Gbaya, the notion of “eager longing” is emphasized with lɛk-lɛk, an ideophone “that is often used to describe the flames of a fire. The ideophone is therefore used in this context as an image associating the burning of a flame with the burning in their hearts.”

Philip Noss (in The Bible Translator 1976, p. 100ff. ) explains some more: “A descriptive device common to Gbaya oral literature. The ideophone may be identified with onomatopoeia and other sound words frequently seen in French and English comic strips, but in Gbaya and other African languages it comprises a class of words with a very wide range of meaning and usage. They may function verbally, substantively, or in a modifying role similar to adverbs and adjectives. They describe anything that may be experienced: action, sound, color, quality, smell, or emotion. In oral literature they are used not only with great frequency but also with great creativity.”