4. q represents a compound sound in which k, p, w, are present, sometimes the guttural sometimes the labial predominating.
5. The guttural nasal ng, as in 'sing,' is represented by n; the sound of ng in 'finger' is unknown. There are two forms of the labial nasal m, one more nasal represented by m. The latter is certain in the words in which it occurs, natives never hesitate or differ. It closes a syllable as in nam for noma. It is not marked by an italic in ordinary use, but it is so important to observe it (as comparative words will shew) that it is marked in the Dictionary in all cases where it is known.
6. The trills are sharper than in English; there are two sounds of r. This, r, cannot be sounded after n without an intervening d, or after l without d or u; e.g. munra is pronounced mundra, pulrua as puldrua or pulurua; but d is not written.
II. Parts of Speech. It is convenient to divide words according to the commonly received arrangement as Parts of Speech; but it must be understood that a word may be according to its use almost any one of these Parts, noun, adjective, verb, adverb, exclamation. But there are words which by their form shew themselves to be nouns or verbs, such as nouns with the terminations i, ui, va, and verbs with transitive suffixes. Nevertheless such a noun when used with a verbal particle is a verb, and such a verb with an article is a noun; the name of an object and the name of an action have each a grammatical form and usage.
III. Articles.
These are Demonstrative, o, na; Personal, i.
1. Demonstrative. There is no difterence in meaning between o and na, but in use; both are to be translated by 'a,' 'an,' 'the,' in English; but there is no strict correspondence between these and 'a,' since there is in them no meaning of number. If one thing is particularly meant, tuwale, 'one,' must be used.
(a) These Articles are definite; so when the notion is quite general none is used; rave iga, catch fish.
(b) As a demonstrative, o is used with the names of places.
(c) Na is used always and only before nouns to which personal pronouns are sufiixed with possessive sense; o panei a hand, napanena his hand. The practice of writing the Article in one word with the noun has become established, though not reasonable.
2. Personal. The Article i is used with personal names, male and female, native and foreign; but is not used of necessity.
(a) This i applied to a word makes it at once a proper name; it also personifies the notion conveyed by the word; qaratu a flying fox, i Qaratu a name; gale to deceive, i gale the deceiver.
(b) The feminine form iro is made by the addition of ro, which by itself marks a name as feminine. Mota names only, or those common to the neighbouring islands, take the sign ro.
