t6S OS THE LANGUAGES AND LITEHATURE 



of both a noun and a verb, and its particular use, in 

 such a case, is to be determined by the context, 

 and the coHocation of words in the sentence. The 

 principles of collocation in sentences are equally 

 simple as in the other monosyllabic languages. The 

 adjective generally follows the substantive, as in 

 Malayu, Barma, and T^hay ; but when two substan- 

 tives come together, the last of them is in the oblique 

 case, as in i\Ialayu and Tliay^ but contrary to the 

 Barma order of arrangement. Thus, the phrase 

 *' the master of the house," is, in the Anam language 

 chua nya ; but nya chiia signifies the house of the 

 master. In JIalauu, these two phrases are rendered 

 by tuan rwna, and ruma tuan ; and in Tliay, by chan 

 run, run chan ; but the Barma follows a different 

 order, and renders them by in-sak'heng, sak'heng-in, 

 where in signifies house, and saWheng, master. The 

 substantive verb is often omitted, as being reckoned 

 inherent in adjectives, especially when preceded by 

 the demonstrative pronouns. Thus, 7iui nay kaw, 

 this mountain high, i. e. is high, the assertion being 

 implied. The nominative precedes the verb, the 

 preposition the word which it presides over, the ad- 

 verb adheres to the word which itmodifies, the relative 

 is wanting altogether, copulative conjunctions are 

 generally omitted, and the peculiar modes of ex- 

 pression in the Anam idiom are chiefly such as result 

 from the manners and habits of the people. The 

 moods and tenses of verbs are formed by significant 

 particles as in tlie other monosyllabic languages. 

 As the Anam nation are equally formal and ceremo- 

 nious as the Chinese, in their phrases of urbanity, 

 and equally accurate in marking, with a minute and 

 tedious precision, the degrees of respect and honour 

 due to every person, in the several relations of, 

 stranger, accjuaintance, neighbour, relation, parent, 

 magistrate, and all the several degrees of magistracy 



