Page:An Ainu-English-Japanese dictionary (including a grammar of the Ainu language).djvu/711

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POSTPOSITIONS.
153


Shirikata ; this word properly means “upon the earth,” but it is very often used for “below” or “beneath,” instead of rata; thus:—

Kando rikta an, moshiri shirikata an, “heaven is above, the earth is beneath.”


Ta; “to,” “at,” “in.”

Mopet ta san, “he is going to Mopet.”
Chisei ta okai, “they are in the house.”
Shine an ta, “at one place.”


Tumugeta, tumuta ; “amongst.”

Chikuni tumugeta; “among the trees.” Mun tumuta; “among the grass.”


Un ; “in,” “to,” “towards,” “at,” “of,” “among.” The postposition un is of very extensive use, and has a great variety of meanings. Its use as a locative particle should be particularly noted. It should be noted that it governs the word it follows.

Chisei un, “in the house.” Oya moshir’un guru, “a foreigner.”
Uni un ku arapa, “I am going home." Kim un, “to the mountains,” or “in the mountains.”
Te un, “here.” Kim un kamui, “the gods of the mountains.”
Eani un, “you.” Rep un kamui, “the gods of the sea.”
Kuani un, “I.” Paro un guru, “a man of mouth” (i.e. eloquent).


The particle un is found to sometimes enter into the construction of Place-names. Thus:—

Ki-un-nai, “the stream among the reeds.”
Kin-un-nai, “the mountain stream.”
Kush-un-kotan, “the village yonder;” meaning that a “river,” “lake,” or “arm of the sea” intervenes.