Page:A dictionary of the language of Mota.djvu/22

xx, definitive, determinative, terminations are 1. Consonantal, 2. Syllabic.

The Consonantal g, t, v, r, s, n, n, are suffixed to verbs ending in a vowel; e.g. manag, mavat, sorav, kokor, kokos, raun, tiqan.

The Syllabic suffixes are ag, gag, tag, vag, rag, sag, mag, mag, lag, nag, nag; e.g. taliag, vanogag, altag, sirvag, matarag, maraesag, saromag, anumag, gasolag, tigonag, lilnag.

A second termination vag is distinct from these; the separable vag, which may be suffixed to the verb or separated from it, and may always be translated by 'with'; neira me matevag o vuru they died with, or of, a cough; iragai me mate veta nan vag o vuru those who have already died in numbers with a cough.

Two adverbs are written as suffixes; vitag because i is dropped, as toavtag for toa vitag, and reag by habit only.

6. Prefixes to Verbs.

These are Caustive, Reciprocal, of Condition, and of Spontaneity.

The Causative is va, sometimes vaga. It may be affixed to almost any verb, but it is common to use na, ge, make, with the same sense. From Causative va the verb va to go, used as auxiliary, must be distinguished.

The Reciprocal is var. This sometimes (compare Fiji vei) does not convey reciprocal but combined action; a reremera we var-rara-rao children crying all at once.

The prefixes of Condition, ma, ta, are those mentioned under the head of Adjectives, and make of verbs something like participles; sare to tear, masare torn; wosa 2. to burst, tawosa burst. To these may be added sa 2.

Prefixes of Spontaneity are tava, tav, tapa, and less common tama, tawa.

7. Impersonal Verbs.

There are some Verbs which are regularly used without a Nominative, vivtig, rakut, vule, tama.

8. Reflective Verbs.

The Adverb kel, back, describes a reflected action; ni me ge mate kelua, he killed himself.

9. Voice.

The Verb names the action or condition without regard to Voice as Active or Passive; neira me tanr paso o ima they have built the house; o ima me taur veta the house is built.

10. Reduplication.

Verbs, like Nouns, are reduplicated in three ways; by (1) repetition of the first syllable, (2) of the first syllable closed by the succeeding consonant, (3) of the whole word; e.g. pute, to sit, pupute, putpute, putepute. The force of (1) is generally continuance, of (2) intensification, of (3) repetition. Each form admits of repetition; o aka me salesalesale sasasale the canoe drifted and drifted and drifted on.