The International Auxiliary Language Esperanto Part 6

147). In fact ia, ie, io, might be considered as adjective, adverb, and noun, regularly formed from the indefinite word (or grammatical termination as we call it) "i."

42. Grammatical Terminations (_gramatikaj finigoj_).--Every word in Esperanto, except the primary words, has a grammatical termination which shows:--

(_a_). The part of speech.

(_b_). Whether the word is singular or plural.

(_c_). Whether in the nominative or accusative case.

(_d_). The mood, tense, and participles of a verb.

A list of the grammatical terminations will be found in par. 53.

43. Suffixes.--Suffixes are syllables placed between the root and grammatical termination, adding to the word the idea contained in the suffix as well as that in the root.

A list of suffixes will be found in par. 54.

44. Prefixes.--A prefix is a syllable placed before the root, adding to the root the idea contained in the prefix.

A list of prefixes will be found in par. 55.

45. From the foregoing definitions we see that words in Esperanto are either primary words, or words composed of:--

(_a_). Roots and grammatical terminations.

(_b_). Roots, suffixes, and grammatical terminations.

(_c_). Prefixes, roots, and grammatical terminations.

(_d_). Prefixes, roots, suffixes, and grammatical terminations.

46. Order of Suffixes.--The grammatical terminations, _A_, _E_, _I_, _O_, _U_, _AS_, _IS_, _OS_, _US_, showing the part of speech and mood and tense of verbs, must end all words (except some of the primary words), the accusative _N_ or plural _J_ being added if required. Suffixes precede this termination in their natural order.

For instance, if we want to say "a tiny female kitten," we commence with the root kat-, giving the idea only of "cat" ; then add -id- (suffix for "offspring of") kat-id- = _kitten_; then -in- (female suffix) kat-id-in- = _kitten female_; then -et- (diminutive suffix) kat-id-in-et- = _kitten female tiny_; we have now got the root and all the suffixes, and we might make the word an adjective by adding _A_, but we want a noun, so add _O_; kat-id-in-et-o = _a tiny female kitten_. If we place -et- after kat-, we commence by speaking of a "tiny cat," for kateto has that meaning, so katetidino would be the "female offspring of a tiny cat." If we reversed the three suffixes, we should get kat-in-et-id-o = _offspring of a tiny female cat_. This exaggerated example of building up suffixes will show the importance of placing them in their natural order. The student cannot make a mistake if he commences with the root and forms a word of each suffix in succession; for instance, hund-o = _a dog_, hund-id-o = _a puppy_, hundid-in-o = _a female puppy_, hundidin-eg-o = _a huge female puppy_.

47. Order of Prefixes.--In like manner prefixes must come in their natural order, as:--Sano = _health_, mal-sano = _illness_, re-mal-sano = _a return of illness_, _a relapse_.

48. Order of roots in compound words.--The princ.i.p.al root is always placed last, and receives the grammatical termination, with or without a suffix. The root of a subordinate word is sufficient without any suffix.

Examples.--_Cas-gard-ist-o_ = A gamekeeper, (_casi_ = to hunt, _cas-ajo_ = a thing hunted, game; but it is unnecessary to add the suffix _-aj-_ to the subordinate root). _Roz-kolora_ = Rose coloured. _Skrib-tablo_ = Writing table. _Lerno-libro_ = Instruction book, manual (_lern-o_, the root, made a full word for euphony).

Compare: _librolerno_, book-learning. _Tir-kesto_ = A drawer (_tir-i_ = to draw, _kesto_ = a chest). _Lum-turo_ = Lighthouse (_lum-i_ = to shine, _turo_ = a tower). _Lip-haroj_ = Moustache (_lip-o_ = a lip, _haroj_ = hairs). _Vang-haroj_ = Whiskers (_vang-o_ = a cheek).

49. When the root should be a noun, adjective, or adverb.--When the joining of the root alone makes the compound word difficult to p.r.o.nounce, the root is generally made a noun by adding _O_ for the sake of euphony, as:--Lerno-libro = _manual_, _instruction book_.

If the prefixed root alone would not give the required meaning, the suitable grammatical ending must be added. Estis unu-taga laboro = _it was one day's work_. Estis la unua-taga laboro = _it was the first day's work_. La supre-cit.i.ta paragrafo = _the above-quoted paragraph_. In case of adverbs, _N_ to form the accusative is also added, if direction is implied, as:--Li supren-iris la monton = _he ascended the mountain_ (see 67 (_b_)).

N.B.--The hyphens are not necessary.

50. The idea conveyed by the root.--In forming a word, the first thing is to find out the exact primary idea contained in the root. Do not think, for instance, that because you happen to know that one of the meanings of cel-o is _end_, that cel-i will mean to _finish_ or _end_. The primary idea of cel- is _aim_, or _purpose_, therefore cel-i is _to aim_, _to purpose_. Do not, in the case of a word with one or more suffixes, think that because you know one of its meanings, you know also the idea conveyed in its root. For instance, kresk-aj-o is _a plant_, but do not at once say that kresk-i is _to plant_; kreskajo comes quite logically from kreski = _to grow_, therefore kreskajo is a thing grown, _a growth_, _a plant_. In other words, make certain that you understand the exact meaning of the Esperanto root; and be careful not to be misled by the fact that many English words have a number of different meanings.

PRIMARY WORDS (Vortoj fundamentaj).

51. The Primary words are 158 in number, and must be carefully learnt (see list, page 334). They are not only complete words in themselves with a definite meaning, but they can be treated as root-words and receive prefixes, suffixes, and grammatical terminations. There is no rule to prevent any of these words, ending in a vowel, from receiving, if logically allowable, the accusative _N_ or the plural _J_ (see par. 142).

Examples.--_Jen_ (behold), _jene_ = As follows. _Ne_ (no, not), _nei_ = To deny. _Tie_ (there), _tieulo_ = A man from there (that place).

_Cirkau_ (around, round), _cirkaui_ = To surround. _Jes_ (yes), _jeso_ = An affirmation. _Tiaj esprimoj_ = Such expressions. _Tiuj cevaloj_ = Those horses. _Li acetis ciujn cevalojn_ = He bought all the horses. _Faru al mi ian respondon_ = Make me some (kind of) reply. _Venu tien ci_ = Come hither. _Diru al mi tion, kion vi faris_ = Tell me what (that which) you did (have done). _Unuj faris tion ci, aliaj tion_ = Some did this, others that.

Among the Primary Words are found all the personal and demonstrative p.r.o.nouns, all the cardinal numbers and prepositions, and also many common adverbs and conjunctions. It is important, therefore, that the student should thoroughly master their meaning.

FOREIGN WORDS (Vortoj fremdaj).

52. Foreign words are those which in most languages are derived from the same source, and, being consequently much alike in formation, are easily understood by most nations, there being only a slight difference in spelling and that difference of termination which occurs in all languages. Dr. Zamenhof wisely lays down that they should undergo no change, beyond conforming to Esperanto orthography and its grammatical terminations.

In order to show their change from English spelling, the following examples are given, not only of words which may be called "foreign,"

but of others that are a near approach to English in formation. It must be borne in mind that these changes of letters by no means invariably take place; they are only _general_.

52 (_a_).--Initial and Medial Letters.

C (hard) = _K_ generally, as:--_Declare_ = deklari, _economy_ = ekonomio, _decameter_ = dekametro, _hectogram_ = hektogramo. In a few cases _C_ becomes _C_, as:--_Dedicate_ = dedici, _carpenter_ = carpentisto (probably from the French _charpentier_).

C (soft) generally undergoes no change, so remains _C_ with its sound of _TS_, as:--_Cipher_ = cifero, _cigar_ = cigaro, _glycerine_ = glicerino, _grimace_ = grimaco, _spice_ = spico.

Some few words change to _Z_, as:--_Price_ = prezo.

Ch (soft) = _C_ generally, as:--_Chamber_ = cambro, _charming_ = carma, _chaste_ = casta, _chief_ = cefo.

Ch (hard) = _H_ generally, as:--_Chameleon_ = hameleono, _chaos_ = haoso, _chemistry_ = hemio, _cholera_ = holero, _hypochondria_ = hipohondrio, _chorister_ = horisto. It will be seen that these words are mostly derived from the Greek.

G (soft or hard) = _G_ generally, as:--_Geology_ = geologio, _elegant_ = eleganta, _general_ (officer) = generalo. The exceptions in which G is used are mostly words following the French p.r.o.nunciation, as:--_Danger_ = dangero, _garden_ = gardeno, _general_ (adjective) = generala, _germ_ = germo, _giraffe_ = girafo, etc.

PH = _F_, as:--_Elephantiasis_ = elefantiazo, _sphere_ = sfero, etc.

QU = _KV_, as:--_Equivalent_ = ekvivalenta, _eloquent_ = elokventa, _inquisition_ = inkvizicio, _quant.i.ty_ = kvanto, _quadratic_ = kvadrata.

S = _S_, but in a few instances it becomes _S_ (probably following German p.r.o.nunciation) as:--_Slime_ = slimo, _smear_ = smiri, _spare_ = spari, _spin_ = spini, etc.

S (sounded like Z) = _Z_ generally, as:--_Desert_ = dezerto, _rose_ = rozo, _present_ = prezenti, _preside_ = prezidi, etc.

Sh = _S_ generally, as:--_Shark_ = sarko, _ship_ = sipo, _shoe_ = suo.

Th = _T_, as:--_Theatre_ = teatro, _mythology_ = mitologio.

X = _KS_ or _KZ_, generally, as:--_Example_ = ekzemplo, _exercise_ = ekzerco, _dispatch_ = ekspedi, _excite_ = eksciti, _exposition_ = ekspozicio, _exist_ = ekzisti. In a few instances _X_ becomes _S_, as:--_Extinguish_ = estingi, _explore_ = esplori, _express_ = esprimi. Occasionally _L_ is used for _X_, as:--_Expel_ = elpeli, _excrescence_ = elkreskajo, etc. When _L_ is subst.i.tuted it will be observed that the English prefix _EX_ means "out of," and that, therefore, Esperanto logically uses the preposition _EL_, meaning "out of," as the prefix.

52 (_b_).--Terminal Letters.