520 BUREAU OF AMEEICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 40 



TEMPORAL SUFFIXES (§§ 65-74) 

 § 65. Introductory 



Siuslaw shows a rich development of the category of time, and em- 

 ploys a variet}^ of suffixes for the purpose of denoting the different 

 tenses of actions and conditions. The simple form of the verb has 

 an indefinite character and is used to denote past and present occur- 

 rences, but otherwise the temporal classification is strictly adhered to. 



All temporal suffixes may be divided into semi-temporal and true 

 temporal suffixes. Primarily, each of these suffixes expresses the tense 

 of an intransitive action only; but by suffixing to the tense sign 

 transitive suffixes, such as -un^ -uts, etc., the same idea of time for 

 transitive occurrences is obtained. The only exceptions are found in 

 the intentional and future tenses, which show two separate forms — 

 one for intransitive verbs and the other for transitive actions (see 

 §§41, 70, 73). 



Semi-temporal Suffixes (§§ 66-70) 

 § 66. Inchoative -st 



This suffix denotes the commencement of an action, and assumes in 

 some instances a transitional significance. Stems ending in a con- 

 sonant insert a weak vowel between the final consonant and the initial 

 element of the suffix (see § 4). When it is desired to express the 

 inchoative tense of a transitive action, the transitive -U7i or any of the 

 other transitive forms is added to the suffix (see §§ '27 et seq.). 



qwaxtc- to go towards 62.8. H qwa'xtcist tch'watc and she began 



to go towards the water 90.22 

 maltc- to burn 25.2 mi'ltcist he began to burn 29.3 



hlxatatc'- to attempt to run Lxa'tatcist Tclexu'tc L.Uiya'tc he 



begins to attempt to run in all 



directions 13.8, 9 

 qa*n^- to be tired qa^'nust a'ntsHc ni^u'sTc^ he began 



to get tired, his younger brother 



58.11 

 qdtx- to cry 58.16 Ha^x stlm qa'txast and the}'^ two 



there began to cry 58.17 

 wtltc- to send qamita'tc wi'lt(yistun her father 



(discriminative) began to send 



her 92.20 

 mate- to lie 38.21 s^atsl'tc 7)ii't(yistun . . . thus he 



began to fell ... 94.7, 8 

 §§ 65-66 



