AN AINU GRAMMAR.
79
CHAPTER III.
LETTER CHANGES.
No sonant letter begins a sentence, but in composition surds are sometimes changed into sonants. These changes are as follows:—
| K | becomes | g. |
| P | ............ | b. |
| T | ............ | d. |
Chi is sometimes changed into t before utara, the u of which is dropped; thus:—
- Heikattara for heikachi utara, “lads.”
Matkattara for matkachi utara, “girls.”
He or hei becomes se or sei in some places, thus:—
- Sekachi for hekachi, “a lad.”
Ko becomes cho in some places and vice versa. Thus:—
- Choropok for koropok, “underneath.”
Pa becomes cha in some districts: Thus:—
- Uchashkuma for upaskuma, “preaching.”
N becomes m before b or m; thus:—
- Tambe for tan be, “this thing.”
Tammatkachi for tan matkachi; “this girl.”
Ra and Ri become n before n and ra, and t before t, thus:—
- Kan nangoro for Kara nangoro, “will make.”
Oan-raige for Oara raige, “to kill outright.”
Oattuye for ara tuye, “to cut through.”
Ashin-no for Ashiri no, “newly.”
Ro becomes t before chi and t, and n before n.
- Ku kot chisei for ku goro chisei, “my house.”
Ku kottoi for ku goro toi, “my garden.”
Ku konnishpa for ku-goro-nishpa “my master.”
