1885.1 "^ [Brinton. 



possible modifications of the grammatical formula, " subject + 

 verb + object." It is quite indifferent to its theory which of 

 these comes first, which last ; although the most usual formula 

 is either, 



subject + object + verb, or 

 object + subject + verb ; 

 the verb being understood to be the verbal theme only — not its 

 tense and mode signs. Where either of the above arrangements 

 occurs, we may consider it to be an indication of the incorpora- 

 tive tendency ; but as mere position is insufficient evidence, In- 

 corporation may be present in other arrangements of the ele- 

 ments of the proposition. 



As a fair example of polysynthesis in nouns, we may select the 

 word for " cross " in the Cree. The Indians render it by " pray- 

 ing-stick " or " holy wood," and their word for " our praying- 

 sticks " (crosses) is : 



N't'ayamihewattikuminanak. 



This is analyzed as follows : 



n't', possessive pronoun, ^ person plural. 



ayami, something relating to religion. 



he, indicative termination of the foregoing. 



w, a connective. 



attik, suffix indicating wooden or of wood. 



u, a connective. 



m, sign of possession. 



i, a connective. 



nan, termination of ^ person plural. 



ak, termination of animate plural (the cross Is spoken of as= 

 animate by a figure of speech). 



Not a single one of the above elements can be employed as 

 an independent word. They are all only the raw material to- 

 weave into and make up words. 



As a characteristic specimen of incorporation we may select. 

 this Nahuatl word-sentence: 



