eOAsl HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES 759 



'pyafgwdn^ he must have come (independent mode pyd''w'^ he 

 came) 



Most of the elements that enter into composition are so nearly of 

 the same order, that we can not properly speak of prefixes or suffixes. 

 Those groups that may be considered in a more specific sense as 

 grammatical formatives, such as pronouns, elements indicating the 

 animate and inanimate groups, are largely suffixed to groups of 

 co-ordinate stems. 



Another process extensively used by the Algonquian is reduplica- 

 tion, which is particularly characteristic of the verb. It occurs with 

 a variety of meanings. 



Modification of the stem-vowel plays also an important part and 

 occurs in the verbal modes. 



§ 14. IDEAS EXPRESSED BY GRAMMATICAL PROCESSES 



The extended use of composition of verbal stems is particularly 

 characteristic of the Algonquian languages. These stems follow one 

 another in definite order. A certain differentiation of the ideas 

 expressed by initial stems and by those following them, which may 

 be designated as secondary stems, may be observed, although it seems 

 difficult to define these groups of ideas with exactness. 



It seems that, on the whole, initial stems predominate in the 

 expression of subjective activities, and that they more definitely per- 

 form the function of verbs ; while, on the other hand, secondary stems 

 are more intimately concerned with the objective relations. It is 

 true that both initial and secondary stems sometimes refer to similar 

 notions, like movement and space; but it is possible to observe a 

 distinction in the nature of the reference. A great many initial 

 stems define movement with reference to a particular direction; as, 

 hither, thither, roundabout. Secondary stems, on the other hand, 

 indicate movement ; as, slow, swift, or as changing to rest. Sec- 

 ondary stems denoting space seem to lack extension in the sense they 

 convey; as, top, cavity, line, and terms indicating parts of the body. 

 Initial stems refer to space in a wide general sense; as, distance, 

 dimension, immensity, totality. 



Every stem is stamped with the quality of abstract meaning: the 

 notion of some stems is so vague and so volatile, as they stand in 

 detached form, as to seem almost void of tangible sense. Some stems 



§14 



