BOAS] HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES 128 



§ 40. Temporal and Modal SuflSxes 

 Certain suffixes are temporal, but also have a modal force, 

 t). -ei. In myths and tales the definite past occurs very frequently 

 with an ending -ei^ which reg'ularly takes over the serai-vowels 

 and often the consonants of the preceding syllable. The younger 

 Hupa, at least, do not seem to be conscious of any change in 

 meaning that may be made by its addition. A comparison of the 

 instances of its occurrence would indicate a mild emphasis, that 

 the act, which has several times been ineffectually ttempted, has 

 been successfully accomplished, or that something which has been 

 several times done is now done for the last time. 

 yawihtennel she picked him up (after several attempts) 



7. -ilf -iL, The application of the verb may be made continuous 



over space by adding -l or -II for the present, and -/ or -il for 

 the past. The shorter forms are used after vowels without 

 increasing the number of syllables ; the longer forms add a 

 syllable, often taking over the consonant which precedes. 



yaxdwiLxaih going along they track him 

 tcdhwelLte they will call (continually) 

 tcuwihtel he was bringing 

 kyuwinyunll you ate along 



§ 41. Modal Suffixes 



8. -tnifl. This suffix, which is not of frequent occurrence, indicates 



that the verb which it follows expresses the purpose of some act 

 yaiLkiTnmin that they might catch it 



9. -7ie^. The more positive and more frequent form of the impera- 



tive seems to have -ne^ suffixed to the regular form, implying 

 the duty or mild necessity one is under to do the act. 



Ohtsaine^ dry them 

 yelntuLne^ you must step in 



10. -huiUit' To express a moral responsibility or necessity, -hymn 



is suffixed to the forms of the definite or indefinite present. 



doneyahmun I can not stay 

 tasyahwun one ought to go away 



11. -silleti. This suffix seems by its use to imply that the occurrence 



was imminent, but did not result. 

 yawunxutssillen he nearly flew 



§§ 40, 41 



