Page:The Brasilian language and its agglutination.pdf/45

 (o)

20.—When, however, the s is preceded by another vowel of different sound, it is frequently changed into r, ex: Sáua, hair, -se-ràua, my hair; ré-ráua, thy hair; —saisú, to love,— Tupã raisù, to love God.

(u)

Nasal sounds are very frequent in Brasilian speech; and, as a general rule, when a preceding vowel is nasal, the following must also be nasal; ex :

Nahã, that,amô, other; nahã-ãmô, that other. As it is seen, the a of amô becomes nasal, because of the ã of nahã.

SUPPRESSION AND ADDITION OF LETTERS

1

21.—Aphæresis. Sounds (letters) are dropt, very frequently, in the beginning of words.—«Accent plays an important part in these changes; unaccented syllables, which precede the accented one, are the most liable to drop off.»