LANGUAGES OF PONAPE AND HAWAII. 431 
Looking at the Hawaiian noun as thus declined we see how 
completely this is done by the prepositions, and notice that the 
Ponape noun may be declined in the same way. We observe the 
force of the preposition en, and its twofold use. The first simply 
denotes of, as man of, while the second use, of the man; or the 
man’s denotes that which more particularly pertains to, or belongs 
tothe man. Here we get much that is analogous to the Hawaiian 
ka, ko, yet as we have remarked, it does not denote simply and 
solely the apostrophic ’s. It may do so, but the idea is rather to 
give a new form to the genitive. At times it seems to be required 
by the peculiar state of the noun with its suffix or prefix, and 
sometimes seems to be demanded to satisfy the ceremonial form 
of address. But we need not remark further, the two forms exist 
and hold much that is analogous to the Hawaiian ka and ko. 
Then as to that other very peculiar and marked characteristic 
of the two tongues, to denote “the shade of difference between 
things ” in the Ponape the law is as marked as in the Hawaiian, 
but in the Ponape it is expressed by the two particles na, a, 
personal pronouns, rather than prepositions." Na equals a in 
Hawaiian covering the possessive of certain things, while @ in 
Ponape also indicates the possessive and resembles in its shade 
distinction the o of Hawaiian. These words will be further 
referred to under pronouns. 
§ 8. Nouns. 
We cannot better present these than by following somewhat 
closely the order of the Hawaiian Grammar. 
1. The Hawaiian noun takes both the abstract and the concrete 
state, so also does the Ponape, though in the latter the abstract 
is the more common. 
a 
1 Since these words correspond to what Dr. Codrington has called 
Possessives (Mel. Lang. p. 128), and are used in Ponape with suffixed 
Pronouns, like nouns denoting relationships and parts of the body, 0.9 
nai, nom, na, etc., ai, am, a, etc., it would be more correct to call them 
Possessive nouns. A is of general use; na is used of kava, sugar cane, 
banana, dog, child, fowl and is of more limited application. 
