The Mafulu eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 349 pages of information about The Mafulu.

The Mafulu eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 349 pages of information about The Mafulu.

_-fendateme_, near (within bounds):  Sivu Alo fendatem’ ando, Sivu is near Alo.

_-noi_, with (?):  yini danoi gatsi, you will go with us two.

_-ongo_, before, at the side of (with an idea of inferiority):  na nu ongo ando, I am before thee (at thy service); non’ ongo, one beside the other.

_-enga_, from the side of, towards:  nani Ambov’enga g’anga, I have been (gone) towards Ambove.

_-kaine_, towards:  dedi yi kaine tsiati, later on I will come towards you.

teti, under:  sosoeteti ando, he is under the bed.

tsi, to (movement, and time, rest), at, at the place of (Fr. chez):  nani etsi andota, u bulitsi g’anga, I am in the house, he has gone into the garden; naga Mambutsil’ a tela, I am come here from Mambo; kouatsi ma, put it in the box; tutsi etsiati, he will come in the night; nu datsi sona? who has he been with?

_-tu_, upon (to or at places on mountains):  kulumitu, ma, put it on the table; Falitu g’anga, he is gone to Faliba.

Note. Ale in the sense of “with” is used when the second substantive is considered as an accessory to the first.  Ex. an’ al amu, a married man (man with a wife); uli sondal’ ale, pot with a handle.  There are not yet enough examples to distinguish the two forms.

IV.  Prepositional Phrases.

u mome, above:  kurum’ u mome yarime, hang it over the table; u bane, behind; mel’ an’ u ban’ ando, the child is behind the man; ul’ umbo(le), in the middle of; Veke ul’ umbol’ ando, he is at Vee.

Conjunctions.

I. Copulative.

_-u(ne)_, and, with; naga kitoval’ u kene’ ema, I killed a black and white parrot.

Une is generally only used to connect two nouns, and is placed between the two.  But sometimes it comes after the second, especially when meaning “with,” and the first noun is then followed by the personal pronoun.  There are a few doubtful examples of une joining two phrases:  ake tale mu, Augustin’ un’ ando, many men are with Augustin.

II.  Adversative.

_-ta_, yet, but:  nuni safa’ ta nani kakava, you are weak but I am strong.

Ta, meaning “but,” precedes the phrase which it governs:  nuni natsi, ta nani fema, you will eat, but I do not.

III.  Sequence.

_-ta_, when (when a fact is accomplished, or will certainly happen), lest:  aked’ indiota, dinoi gatsi, when the men arrive, we will go together.

Ta in this sense follows the verb, which is in the past if the action depends on the person who speaks or is spoken to, in other cases in the subjunctive:  kuku neta, etsi gatsi, when I (or you) have eaten, I will (or you will) go to the village; mulamula angetota, gadiu, lest the medicine fall, tie it up.

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The Mafulu from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.