Page:A Sketch of Mota Grammar.djvu/34

(30) common with verbs which do the work of adjectives, and which denote quality; it is often also iga. In the great number of instances in which it occurs it is not possible to find the word without the termination; as aqaga, 'white;' turturuga, 'blue.' In many others the root is found in another combination; as ronoga, famous, on account of wealth; ronronotar, multitude of possessions. In some the termination is added to a word in common use; as, mamasa, dry; mamasaiga, parched.

Reciprocal Verbs.

Reciprocity is denoted by the prefix var, very neatly and effectively: Rara we varvava, They two are conversing, reciprocally speaking; Neira we varvuvus, They are beating one another; Si kamiu a vartapetape kamiu, That ye love one another.

Reflective Verbs.

A reflex action is conveyed by the use of the adverb kel, 'back.' I strike myself: Nau we vus kel nau, "I strike back myself."—"He strangled himself," Ni me ligo mate kelua.

XI. REDUPLICATION.

Reduplication of substantives and verbs, adjectives and adverbs in a less degree, is very common and quite systematic in Mota.

Words are reduplicated in three ways:—

1. By the reduplication of the first consonant and vowel.

2. By the reduplication of the first close syllable.

3. By the reduplication of the whole word.

For example: pute, 'to sit,'—pupute, putpute, putepute.