134 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. V. 



THE NOUN. 



In accordance with the agglutinative tendency of Indian languages, 

 the Blackfoot language uses a verbalized form of speech and the noun 

 occupies an inferior position. Nouns are seldom used separately. They 

 are generally incorporated with the verb. It is needful, however, to 

 understand the noun thoroughly, because of its relation to other parts of 

 the language, and the changes that take place in the construction of the 

 same. There are three classes of nouns, namely: proper, common and 

 abstract. As examples of proper nouns we have: sotaina = rain chief, from 

 the combination of aisotao and nina, ninastuko ==: chief mountain, from 

 nina = chief and mistuki = a mountain, namuqta = Bow river, i.e., nama 

 = a bow or gun, and neetuqta = a river. 



The following are examples of common nouns : mame = a fish^ 

 linakikwan — a policeman, sinaksin — a book or letter, painokanats =: 

 paper, napyoyis = a house. 



Many of the abstract nouns end in sin. This, however, is variable : 

 pukasin = childhood, ukomimisin = love, kimatapsin = poverty, aioqto- 

 kosin = sickness, itamituksin = happiness. 



In treating of nouns there is seen to be for certain classes similar 

 tenninations which are general. There are many exceptions to this, even 

 wdien relating to kindred subjects. 



Names of luater end in kiini and konil. 



Stokimi = cold water. 



Ksistokomi = warm water. 



Motoyimuqsikimi = water everywhere, i.e., the sea. 



Moyikimi = a grassy lake. 



Omuksikimi — big water, i.e., a lake. 



Puksikimi = a swamp. 



Pistcikimi = salt water. 



Apatsikimi = a broad river. 



Asiksikimi = black water, i.c , tea. 



Otoqkweksikimi = yellow water. 



Mauqsiksikimi — red water. 



Ksiksikimi = white water. 



Names of buildings end i?i oyis. 



Moyis = a lodge. 



Nitapoyis = a native house, an Indian house. 



Napyoyis --- a house, a white man's house. 



I Matakyoyis = a potato house, i.e., a root house. 



