698 GRAMMAR OF TUE KLAMATH LANGUAGE. 



but is extensive enough to equal that of English, if we deduct from this the 

 large number of artificial terms derived from manufactured objects. Wounds 

 are called differently according to the weapon or instrument which inflicts 

 them; scars, when flesh is removed, are shuktashkuish; without removal of 

 flesh, shiiktkaluish.* When a strong wind shakes a tree, the lending down- 

 ward of the tree is wawiwi, but its moving up to the former position is wa- 

 wilakpcli, the continual rocking wawikanka. To roll an ol)ject in llie mouth 

 is. kpianma when it jjrotrudes from it, but when wholly inclosed in the 

 mouth, shikpualkana. 



Many more examples of this sort might be mentioned to show the keen 

 sense of perception and graphic expressiveness traceable in the language. 

 Utilitarians will regard this mental tendency as productive of cumbersome, 

 unnecessary toil, while the philosophical linguist sees in it a sign of fresh 

 and poetical ingenuit}-, which is manifesting itself everywhere in genuine 

 conceptions of the untutored children of nature. 



Below I present some instances of verbs and nouns, the definitions of 

 which are ideas not simple, but of considerable complexity, and in which 

 the great power of forming synonyms is traceable into the more minute 

 details. Several of jhese terms were taken from the collection of Modoc 

 vocables recently acquired by me. 



The act of carrying a habe is expressed in many different ways, which 

 chiefly diflFer among themselves by the circumstance whether the carrying 

 is done upon the shucntch or cradle-hoard or without it. The verb ^ma "to 

 hand over to somebody a baby tied upon the cradle-board" forms several 

 derivatives: ^mtchna "to go and carry, to bring it somewhere upon the 

 board" (also upon the arm), for which kshcna may be used as well ; cm- 

 tchipka "to carry it toward somebody," t'mtakla (or t'mtkal) and ^mkiana 

 "to carry on the back a babe tied to the board." "To carry on the back" 

 any other object except a babe is tiitkal, "to can-}- home on one's back" 

 tutohampeli. Shmamka "to nurse or take care of a baby" is probably 

 derived from ema also. "To carry a babe, when just born, on the back" 

 and not tied to the board, is spukiitakla and shlukutakla; stintakla (or 

 stint;jal) when not on the board and not necessaril}- upon the back. Ha- 



*Cf. also n'blopiitauu and updtia in the Dictionary. 



