MASON, TEPECANO. A PIMAN LANGUAGE OF MEXICO 339 



Parasitic ) . 



In the use of the third person singular pronominal subject, a v 

 is frequently introduced. This is probably done for phonetic reasons, 

 as all the other pronominal subjects except the third singular may 

 end in a consonant. Yet in other instances it is difficult to explain 

 its presence on phonetic grounds. It is most frequently found before 

 the substantive -ar- 1 probably always in the present tense and ge- 

 nerally, though not always, with inanimate subjects. 



aavarica'p which is good 



kuaviamicmiik'oT and it is very far 



victohopin it is getting cold 



Preterit Sign 



The second initial element is the preterit sign. 

 37. -t-, preterit sig)i. 



This normally follows the pronominal subject. Generally it is 

 preceded or followed by an i vowel of uncertain origin. This vowel 

 may belong to the pronominal subject or it may be an intrusive 

 vowel. The preterit sign may be actually -it- or -ti- and the vowel 

 disappear by vocalic syncope or change position by metathesis. 

 Thus we find 



antiuma'gic I told you it 



napitpuda-'iwa you sat down 



natpudu'via he arrived 



The most usual process is for the -i- to follow directly after the 

 pronominal subject. The exact form is doubtless invariable in any 

 given case and dictated by phonetic rules of euphony. 



Verbalizing Particles 



Three important constructions are verbal in syntax and meaning 

 but, being used with nominal instead of verbal stems, belong to a 

 mixed category. 



The substantive and attributive relations are expressed by the 

 particle -ar- which stands between the nominal or adjectival stem 

 and the pronominal subject. The construction is therefore that of 

 a verb except that the functional stem is nominal or adjectival 

 instead of verbal. 



