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AN AINU GRAMMAR.
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Atotto-tonoge, “my dear mother.” | |
| (3) | Ayupo-nishpake, “my honoured elder brother.” Aak-nishpake, “my honoured younger brother.” Atono-nishpakehe, “my honoured master.” |
The root meaning of po is “little” and shades off into various interpretations of a diminutive character. Such as, “tiny;” “small;” “young;” “child,” e.g.
Emush, "a sword” Emushpo, “a dirk.” Chikap, “a bird” Chikap-po, “a young bird.” Okkai, “male” Okkai-po, “a boy.”
The word also enters into geographical nomenclature sometimes. As:—
- Chi-ika-nai-po, “the little over-flow stream.”
- Chishnai-po, “the little precipitious valley,” “glen,” or “stream.” Nai-po, “the little glen” or “stream,” or “the little stream” (the meaning being that it comes out of a larger one).
- Nupuri-po, “the little mountain.”
- Poronai-po, “the little Poronai” (the meaning being that there is another Poronai near at hand, or that the one Poronai river flows out of the other).
- Tokompo, “the little knob.”
- Tomaripo, “the small harbour.”
- Tukarapo, “the little sea-leopard.”
- Soya-nai-po, “little stony glen.”
THE ABSTRACT NOUNS.
Nouns expressing abstract qualities are formed by adding i or hi or ambe to adjectives and verbs, thus:—
Nupeki, “bright” Nupeki-i (hi or ambe) “brightness.” Itak, “to speak.” Itak-i, (hi or ambe) “a speech.”
Care must be exercised in using ambe for expressing abstract qualities, for that word when used with adjectives sometimes makes concrete nouns.
