Grammar and Vocabulary of the Lau Language by Walter G. Ivens
page 9 of 148 (06%)
page 9 of 148 (06%)
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kurui bata_ two small pieces of money. _Ke_ and _si_ may be combined
and used with _te_: _e langi asia na teke si doo_ there is nothing at all. 4. _Maae_ is compounded of _maa_ eye, one, and _e_ the construct form, and means one, a; _maae_ is used with _fera_ country, _dangi_ day, _rodo_ night, _oru_ wind; _maae fera_ a village, _maaedangi_ a day, _maaerodo_ darkness. 5. _Qe_ is used with certain nouns: _qe afe_ a widow, _qe ia_ a fish, _qe oru_ a widow; _na_ may be prefixed: _na qe ia gi_ the fishes. 6. _Fe_ is used of things spherical in shape and denotes a unit: _fe bread_ a loaf, _fe bubulu_ a star; also _fe gale bola_ a young pigeon, _fe rade_ a reed; _fe_ is used of one of a series: _fe rodo_ a night, _fe asua_ a day; _fe_ is also used as a multiplicative: _fe fiu ade doo taala_ seven cases of wrong-doing; _na or ta or te_ may precede. 7. _Gi_ denotes plurality and follows the noun: _na mwane gi_ the males. It may be separated from the noun: _na doo nia gi_ his things; _gi_ is used with the forms of the personal pronoun plural except those ending in _lu_. 8. _Mwai_ is used with nouns of relationship only: _mwai asi nia_ his brethren, _ro mwai sasina_ brethren. 9. In Port Adam _ote_ seems to be employed as a regular plural article: _ote mwane gi_ you men. But it is a question whether _ote_ |
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