Indian Antiquary Vol 36

SR No.: 032528
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 247

AUGUST, 1907.]
RECORD OF THE LANGUAGES OF SAVAGES.
231
0.- The Prefixes of Intimate Relation, It is thus that the otherwise extremely difficult secondary functional prefix (always prefixed to the radical prefix, which is usually in Bojigngiji le- or la- (but practically always used in its curtailed form l's, or k', n's, t- in certain circumstances) is clearly explainable. It is used to denote intimate relation between two words; and when between two indicators (nouns) it corresponds to the English connector (of), the Persian izdfat (-:-), and so on, and to the suffix denoting the
genitive case" in the inflected languages. The Andamanese also use it to indicate intimate relation between predicator (verb) and complement (object), when it corresponds to the suffix of the “accusative case" in the inflected languages, and indeed to "cases " generally.
1.- The Prefix System. Starting with these general principles, the Andamanese have developed a complicated system of prefixes, making their language an intricate and difficult one for a foreigner to clearly apprehend when spoken to, or to speak so as to be readily understood.
As examples of this, let us take the stem bēri-nga good : then 4-beri-nga, good (human being); uen-bëri-nga (good hand, ong pref, of hand), clever ; ig-böri-nga [good eye, ig pref, of eyo) sharpsighted; dka-Leri-nga (good mouth or tongue, áka pref. of month and tongue), clever at (other Andamanese) languages; ot-beri-nga (good head and beart, ot pref. of both head and heart), virtuous; un-l'ig-beri-nga (good hand and eye, ong pref. of hand, ig pref. of eye, joined by t'pref. of intimate relation), good all round.
So, too, with jālag, bad : ab-jābag, bad (human being); un-jābag, clumsy; ig-jābag, dollsighted; aka-jābag, stupid at other Andamanese) languages, also nasty, unpalatable ; ot-jābag, vicious ; un-t'-ig-jābag, a dnffer.
So again with lama, failing : un-uma (failing hand or foot), missing to strike ; ig-lama (failing eye), failing to find; ot-ldma (failing head), wanting in sense ; dka-láma (failing tongue).
Lastly, in the elliptic speech of the Andamanese, the root, when evident, can be left anexpressed, if the prefix is sufficient to express the sense, thus :
-beri-nga-da / may mean, his face, pref. :-)-good-(is)." That is, he is good-looking!" d'-akà-chan-ke! may mean "my-(mouth, pref, aka-)-sore-is." That is, "my mouth is sore!"
8.- Prefixes to Words relating to Objects. The system of using radical pretixes to express the relation of ideas to mankind and its body is extended to express the relation of ideas to objects in general. Thus:
ad-bēringa, well (of the body): ad-jäbag, ill (of the body): 8ko-lama (applied to a weapon), failing to penetrate the object strack throngh the fault of the striker. So ig-bēringa means pretty (of things) : dkd-böringa, nice (to taste): all in addition to the senses above given.
This is carried, with more or less obvious reference to origin, throughout the language. Thus -
In Boa: yob, pliable, soft. Then a cushion, wax or sponge is ot-yob, soft: a cane is 6to-yob, pliable: a stick or pencil is dka-yob, or Øko-yob, pointed: the human body is ab-yõb, soft ; Class I of its parts (hand, wrist, &c.) are ong-yob, soft; fallen trees are ar-yob, rotten; an adze is ig-yob, blunt.
So again, in Bệa : chôrognga, tying up (whence also that which is usually tied up in a bundle, viz., a bundle of plantains, faggots). Then Ol-chôrognga is tying up a pig's carcase : dkd-chorognga, tying up jack-fruit: ar-chôrognga, tying up birds : ong-chôrognga, tying up the feet of sucking pigs.
h. - General sense of Prefixes to Roots. Possibly the feeling or instinct, which prompts the use of the prefixes correctly, could be caught ap by foreigner, just as the Andamanese roots might be traced by a sufficiently patient etymologist, but it would be very difficult and would require deep study. The Andamanese themselves, however,