Grammar and Vocabulary of the Lau Language, Solomon Islands Part 2

p.r.o.nOUNS.

The p.r.o.nouns may be cla.s.sified as (A) those used as the subject of a verb; (B) those suffixed to a verb or a preposition as object; (c) those suffixed to nouns substantive and denoting possession.

A. p.r.o.nOUNS USED AS THE SUBJECT OF A VERB.

Singular: (1) _inau, naut gu_.

(2) _ioe, oe, o_.

(3) _inia, niat nit e_.

Plural: Inclusive: (1) _igia, gia; igolu, golu_.

Exclusive: (1) _igami, gami, mi; igamelu, gamelu_.

(2) _igamu, gamu; igamolu, gamolu_.

(3) _igera, gera, da; idalu, dalu_.

Dual: Inclusive: (1) _igoro, goro_.

Exclusive: (1) _igamere, gamere_.

(2) _igamoro, gamoro_.

(3) _idarot daro_.

1. The longer forms, those with _i_, are used as possessive p.r.o.nouns when the suffixed p.r.o.noun can not be added: _geni inau_ my wife.

The forms with _i_ are never used by themselves as the subject, but are accompanied by one of the shorter forms: _igera da ada ma da si ada na_ they see but do not see. The three longer forms in the singular are of more or less infrequent use. The initial _i_ is run on to the preceding vowel in p.r.o.nunciation.

2. All the forms without _i_ are used alone as the subject of the verb. Where there are three forms the second and third are generally used together as subjects: _gami mi langi si saetamana_ we do not know; but the short forms _gu_, _o_, _mi_, _mu_, _da_, may be used alone as subjects: _gu si saea_ I do not know. The forms in _lu_ are not used as a trial number, but denote a more restricted number of persons.

3. _Nia_ is used as meaning, there is, it is: _efita fe bread nia agamolu_, how many loaves have you? It may be used before a proper name as the equivalent to a genitive: _ana maaedangi nia Abiathar_ in the days of Abiathar. When the meaning is, there is, it is, _nia_ is preceded by _e_: _na liqa gera enia ada_ they have their holes; _ma te ai enia i luma_ there is only one person in the house; with _na_ demonstrative added: _nia na_ that is it, that is so.

4. The form _ni_ is seen in _nifai_ what? where? It occurs in certain phrases as meaning, it is, there is: _e uta ro si lio ni agamu_ how is it ye are of two minds? _na light fuana noni ni maa_ the light of the body it is the eye.

5. The plural sign _gi_ is used with the forms in the plural but not with those ending in _lu_: _gia gi fi dao na_ we have just come.

6. The forms in the plural third _igera_ and _gera_ are used as equivalent to a plural article: _igera na judea_ the Jews.

7. The p.r.o.nouns of the third person singular and plural may be used of impersonal or inanimate things.

B. p.r.o.nOUNS SUFFIXED TO VERBS OR TO PREPOSITIONS AS OBJECT.

Singular: (1) _nau_. (2) _oe_. (3) _a_.

Plural: Inclusive: (1) _gia_, _golu_.

Exclusive: (1) _gami_, _gamelu_. (2) _gamu_, _gamolu_.

(3) _gera_, _da_, _dalu_.

Dual: Inclusive: (1) _goro_.

Exclusive: (1) _gamere_. (2) _gamoro_. (3) _daro_.

1. Examples of usage are, _gera saegera sui_ they were all summoned, _nia lea fonosia_ he went to get it. A second object of the verb always appears in the suffixed p.r.o.noun singular and plural third: _gu langi si adasia na ola_ I did not see a canoe, _gera gutafigera na mwane gi_ they persecuted the men. All prepositions governing nouns have the p.r.o.noun suffixed as an antic.i.p.atory object in agreement with the noun: _gera lea fonosia fera_ they went to harm the land, _fafia si doo_ concerning the matter.

2. The verb _dori_ (to wish) has the p.r.o.noun suffixed where in Sa'a none would be used: _nia langi si doria gwou ana_ he would not drink (it) of it.

3. To _taifili_ (alone) the p.r.o.nouns are suffixed: _te taifilia_ he alone, _taifiligera_ they alone.

C. p.r.o.nOUNS SUFFIXED TO NOUNS OR TO VERBAL NOUNS USED AS PREPOSITIONS.

Singular: (1) _gu_. (2) _mu_. (3) _na_.

Plural: Inclusive: (1) _gia_, _golu_.

Exclusive: (1) _gami_, _gamelu_. (2) _gamu_, _gamolu_. (3) _gera_, _da_, _dalu_.

Dual: Inclusive: (1) _goro_.

Exclusive: (1) _gamere_. (2) _gamoro_. (3) _dar

1. These are the p.r.o.nouns denoting possession and they are suffixed to a certain cla.s.s of nouns only, those which denote names of parts of the body, or of family relationship, or of things in close relationship to the possessor. In all other cases possession is denoted by the use of the ordinary personal p.r.o.nouns.

2. When things and not persons are in question _ni_ is used in place of _da_ in plural third: _lea alua i fulini_ go and put them in their places.

3. Of the plural forms those ending in _lu_ denote a restriction in the number of the persons concerned.

4. These p.r.o.nouns are also suffixed to the preposition _fua_ to, used as a dative, to _afuta_ all, and to certain other words which show a noun termination but which have no independent existence as nouns: _otofa_ concerning, _oofa_ approaching to, enceinte, _sie_, at the house of (in the vocabulary all such words are followed by a hyphen); also to _mara_ of one's own accord, alone, _te taifilia marana_ he alone; also to the verb _too_ to hit, _toogu_, _toona_, hit me, etc.

DEMONSTRATIVE p.r.o.nOUNS.

These are _na_, _ne_, this; _nena_, _nana_, _nane_, that.

1. These all follow a noun or a p.r.o.noun: _a mwela ne_ this person, _nia nana_ that is it.

2. _Na_ is added after the negative _langi_: _langi na no_, not that; and after _sui_ finished: _sui na_ that is finished.

3. _Go_ an adverb, there, is used as a demonstrative: _tefe doo go ana_ only one thing, _inau go agu_ I for my part; _ne_ may be added, _gone_ that, _inia gone_ that is so. _Ba_ means that, there: _diena ba_ good! _bago_ is used following a noun or a p.r.o.noun: _a doo bago_ that person there.

INTERROGATIVE p.r.o.nOUNS.

1. The words used are _ati_, who; _taa, tafa_, what. The personal article _a_ makes _ati_ who, singular, _gerati_ plural. Both _ti_ and _taa_ are nouns. The adverb _ba_ may be added to _ati_ for the purpose of emphasis: _ati ba_ who? _Ti_ stands for the name of the person and _ati_ means, what is the name? _ati mwane_ what man? The demonstrative _ne_ may be added for emphasis: _ati ne_ who is it then? _Ati_ has also an indefinite use: _ati susulia_ who knows?

2. With _taa_, _tafa_, the definite article _si_ may be used: _si taa_ what, that which, _taa_ may follow the noun, _ta si doo taa_ what sort of thing? _si doo taa ne_ what? The adverb _fai_ (where) may be used as an interrogative p.r.o.noun: _nifai_ which, what?

INDEFINITE p.r.o.nOUNS.

The uses of _ta_, _te__, have been dealt with under "articles."

These two words are used as signifying, any, some, other.

The noun _sai_ place, thing, has an indefinite use: _sai ai_ that which, what, _sai na_ that which, _ta sai ai_, one, another (of things), _sai oe_ your place, your duty, _tani oto ni sai ai_ some people. (The Rev. A. I. Hopkins states in a note that _sai_ in Lau is used of food only).