STRUCTURE OF THE ADJECTIVE. 515 



inflection of the adjective is rather a matter of convenience than a process 

 following strict rules or observing regularity. It adapts itself much more 

 to the sense of the sentence or phrase than to the exigencies of granimatic 

 rule, and diligently evades combinations obstructing rapid enunciation or 

 injurious to euphony. 



IV. RADICAL STRUCTURE. DERIVATION. 



In regard to the structure of their radices, the adjectives subdivide 

 themselves into two classes easily distinguishable from each other. Class 

 A embodies all adjectives with a simple, mostly monosyllabic radix, while 

 Class B comprehends all the adjectives formed by iterative reduplication 

 and the suffix -li. Both classes possess a distributive form derived from the 

 absolute by what I call distributive reduplication. 



The adjectives of Class A with a simple radix, as tidshi good, sikinfull, 

 kelpoksh hoilhig, hot, take every ending occurring in adjectives save -li. 

 The sound preceding the derivational suffix is usually a vowel, which some- 

 times is elided; diminutives take the ending -aga (-ak, -ka, -ga). Their 

 function is to express qualities inferred from observation and of an abstract 

 and immaterial order. 



The adjectives of Class B with a radix formed by iteration of the whole 

 radical syllable are very numerous, and end in -li without exception. The 

 sound preceding the suffix -li is usually consonantic, and then the radix 

 belongs to the class which I call thematic roots. In palpali ivhite this sound 

 has coalesced with the suffix, the original form being palpal-li. The func- 

 tion of this class is to express qualities perceived on objects of nature by 

 the sense ot vision (colored, striped, angular, in motion, etc.), by that of 

 touch (smooth, rough, furry, level, etc.), oi smell and taste; thus their signi- 

 fication is always of a material, concrete nature. The diminutives of this 

 class append -aga and -tkani to the radical instead of -li: 



lushlushaga a little warm. 



ketchaga rather small; from ketchkani small 



luk pupashpushtkani each seed is a little black, blackish, 146, 3. 



kakii'ktkanl tchikass a yellowish bird, 180 ; 8. 



