Page:An Ainu-English-Japanese dictionary (including a grammar of the Ainu language).djvu/21

Rh Ri (リ) is an adjective meaning “high,” while ri-i (リイ) is an abstract noun meaning “the heights,” both in Saghalien and Yezo. I do not therefore see where the revision (properly so called) comes in. It deserves some other name. Again, the Moshiogusa gives ウンジポ (unjipo) for “fire;” Mr. Kanazawa revises this into unji only, thus omitting the final ポ (po). But the Ainu of Yezo at the present day use unjipo when addressing the fire upon the hearth as a goddess, the particle po implying respect and reverence. Not to multiply instances, however, I will take one more example only. The Moshiogusa gives イエポコ (iyepoko) which the Prof. revises into iyepokba guru, thus substituting ba for o and adding guru! I cannot understand such science as this. It is not philology. What is it, I wonder!

............But iyepok-o is an adjective of the singular number and of the objective case meaning in plain English “bearing the hatred of others,” while iyepokba guru is a noun plural of the person and singular of the object meaning “one who is hated by others.” Mr. Kanazawa’s work is one rather of industry than of true science, and the task he set before himself is one which would naturally require a long and varied experience among the Ainu themselves and in the various Northern and Southern districts in which they have lived before being performed. It is a work rather to be dreaded than undertaken lightly.

It will be found that in this Dictionary the Ainu word has been written in Japanese Kana as well as with the Roman letters. This was done at the last moment owing to the request of friends for the sake of any who do not read the Roman form. I was rather sorry at being asked to do this because Ainu cannot be properly represented by