Page:A dictionary of the language of Mota.djvu/18

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Short Grammar
(a) Singular. 1. inau, nau, na.
2. iniko, ko, ka.
3. ineia, oieia, ni, a.
Plural. 1. inclusive, inina, nina.

exclusive, ikamam, kamam.

2. ikamiu, kamiu, kam.
3. ineira, neira, ira, ra.
Dual. 1. inclusive, inarua, narua, inara, nara.

exclusive, ikarua, karua, ikara, kara.

2. ikamurua, kamurua, kamrua, kamra.
3. irarua, rarua, irara, rara.
Trial. 1. inclusive, inatol, natol.

exclusive, ikatol, katol.

2. ikamtol, kamtol.
3. iratol, ratol.

The Inclusive 1st person plural includes the speaker with those spoken to, the Exclusive excludes him.

(1) In the Singular and Plural, na, ka, ni, kam, are always the subject, never the object of a Verb.

(2) a, 3rd singular, and ra, 3rd plural, are always the object, never simply the subject of a Verb, and are governed by Prepositions as by Verbs. It may be said that ra is a plural personal Demonstrative, and so finds place with Personal Articles and Pronouns, as well as a prefix to plural Nouns; Nouns 5. b. Thus when ra is prefixed to ta, as in ra ta Mota, the Mota people, it is rather the plural personal demonstrative ra with ta used as a Noun, than ra the Pronoun.

(3) In direct indicative sentences na, ni, kam, are used as subject, but hardly ka. In indirect, potential, optative, subjunctive sentences, na, ni, ka, are used, not nau, neia, ko.

(4) The 2nd and 3rd singular, and 3rd plural, ko, a, ra, are written as suffixes; and after a consonant i, or u, is introduced; iloko, iloa, ilora; vus keluko, ni me vus kelua, vusira; ilo to see, vus to strike, kel, back.

(5) It is plain that the Dual and Trial are in fact the Plural with the numerals rua two, tol three, suffixed; rua being shortened to ra.

(6) The stems appear to be. Sing. au, ko, a; Plural na = ta, am, mi, ra.

(7) The Dual or Trial must be used when two or three persons are in view; never the Plural. The Trial is used also, less exactly, when more than three, but not many more, are meant.

(8) The Dual is used in speaking to a single person when connected by marriage with the speaker. It is used also when one speaks to another of an action with which both are concerned, though, but one is active; nara te vanogag iniko, I will convey you; va ma, nara te wurvagiko, come here, I will put you to rights.

(9) Except when a person is spoken of, a hardly becomes the object of a Verb; gaganag luea ma, point him, her, out to me; ko