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62 PAPEm ON MALAY SUBJECTS. 
is quite possible, for iBstance, tbat Best si Las borrowed M©n-Aimam 
derivative forms from some Mon-Annam language without adopting 
the process of word-buildtng by which they are created. The qnestion 
before us, however, is to find out the ideology and grammar of living 
Besiei. And if Mr. Skeat's " Besisi Songs '* are any criterion, modern 
Besisi does not use infixes and prefixes. Men -An nam or otherwise. 
TJnder the circumBtances I can only venture to speak as to one 
dialect. Central Saka i. As to t bat dialect I speak with some confidence ; 
and though I may l>e in error as to points of detail, I can assert 
positively that infixes and jirefixes are in regular use, and that a deri- 
vative, built up in this ray from a root- word, is recoguiaed by the 
Sakai themselves as being a derivative and not an unconnected word. 
The relation lietween a root and its derived forms was brought to my 
notice in some cases by my Sakai informant himself and the function 
of the prefix or iufix was explained, crudely perhaps* but in a way tlmt 
showed a knowledge of its real character. 
The Central Sakai root*word is usually a monosyllable. The 
introduction of an infix (that may lie written n, 'w, or m and is a 
very short syllable indeed) makes the word substantival — e.g. : 
jiSf daylight • jt%l«, a day, t^velve hoitrs ; 
2htp, fii-e- wanned ; pi-n^p, the thing toasted or warmed ; 
hoh, striking ; h"iiok, club, striker ; 
choJcf prod, stab ; cMnok, prodder, spike. 
A prefix per turns the root into a verb, or a passive root into m 
active root — e.g. : 
daf , die j pvrdat, kill ; 
nmg, journey ; pfjriwng, to go j 
lilt, extiiaguished ; ^jfl^Z/i*, to put out (a fire) ; 
het, sleep ; piirbelr to close the eye. 
These two forms can be combined so as to form a verbal 
noun — e.g, : 
dat, die ; pcrdat, kill ; pih-^ndai, murder ; 
li^tf extinguished J perlM, to put out; per^glot, an extin* 
guisher ; 
gaif to be married ; pikgbif to wed ; pSrenggoit marriage. 
In all these cases pronunciation demands that the word should be 
as near a monosyllable as possible— e.g., pmdat^ pmglot, prnggtiL 
