312 Notes on the Languages spoken by the Mi-Shmis. [No. 4. 



Simple Negation 



is commonly expressed by the word yem, or yom, appended to the 

 root of the verb. Mta mara yom, He does not laugh. Mta, nyo 

 abba no-yem, He does not ivish to strike you. 



But in the future tense, negation is implied by the word Lum. 

 Ha-che-lum, I shall not take it. So lung ma-chu nye-chi hong- 

 lum, To-morrow the cow will give no milk. 



Potential Mood. 



When power or capacity is to be expressed, the word Hanende is 

 added to the root of the verb. 



Atya han-ende, I can speak. 



Mta bo han-ende, He can go. 



In the Negative form, Hane lum is substituted. 



Atya hane lum, I cannot speak. 



Mta Khre muba hane lum, He cannot ivork, or has not the power 

 to work, 



Particles. 



Adverbs sometimes precede and sometimes follow the verbs they 

 serve to qualify. Chy amte, Quickly; Chy amte chuna, Mun 

 quickly ; Beh-e, slowly ; Beh-e chia, Walk slowly ; Beh-mte, Quiet- 

 ly ; Beh-mte chona, Put it down quietly ; Cha lung, To-day ; Beling, 

 Yesterday ; So-hing, To-morrow ; Mja Kanong ? Why ? Hno ? 

 Where? Kadego ? When? Omam, Yes; Sam, No. 



The depositions of occidental languages are, in this, rendered by 

 post positive particles. For example : 



12 3 4 



Kwa in : maye pya an kwa a, 



14 3 2 



The eggs are in the nest. 



12 4 5 



Do with : mta togo do nokwe chende, 



15 4 3 2 



He will kill the dog with the da. 



1 • 2 3 4 



Tomno with : JNya tomno sa naha ? 



3 4 2 1 



Who has come with you ? 



1 2 3 4 



Tappe/ra^ : Kreko tap pe ke ku chenema, 



