NUMBER IN TRANSITIVE VERBS. 435 



is indicated through the verb, the object itself is not required in all instances 

 to bear the mark of plurality. Iterative reduplication of the verb may also 

 at times imply a plurality of the object, though it is only intended to mark 

 frequency or repetition of an act. More about all this will be seen in the 

 Syntax. 



Plurality of the direct object evidences itself in the transitive verb : (1) 

 by distributive i-eduplication ; (2) by cliange of prefix; (3) by change of the 

 radical syllable ; (4) by change of suffix. 



1. Distributive reduplication is the means most frequently resorted to 

 for the purpose, but only when the action of the verb is repeated or per- 

 formed specially for ever}' one of the objects. There must be action in 

 severalty by one and the same individual, or one act performed by each 

 individual separately upon the objects or each object; whereas the absolute 

 form will be used when the act is performed by one or more subjects, col- 

 lectively or at once upon the object, or objects. 



1 a ilxa sh(ishash you give a name. 



1 a eal^a shtishash you give different names to one or various objects. 



skutash sha waldsha they spread a blanket over. 



skiitash sha wawaldsha they spread blankets over dififerent objects. 



2. Change of prefix is observed in certain transitive verbs when there is 

 a change from a single direct object of a certain exterior or shape, as round, 

 long, flat, to a plurality of direct objects. Here the signification of the verb 

 lies more in the radical and in the suffix than in the prefix, and each of these 

 verbs has also its distributive form. 



As may be inferred from the List of Prefixes, a- refers to one long object; 

 ksh-, ks- to one long object, to a bunch of long articles, or to one animate 

 object that can be carried on the arm or arms; sp-, see "List of Prefixes"; 

 t-, ta-, te- points to one long or animate object standing upright; u- to a 

 long object direct or indirect. All these prefixes are generally changed to i-, 

 iy-, y-, yi- when the object of the verb is placed in the plural number. To 

 the examples mentioned in the "List of Prefixes" we add the following: 



atpa to carry, to bring; pi. of obj. itpa. 



kshalala to place near the fire; pi. ilala (also intrans.). 



