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NOTES ON THE
SOMALI LANGUAGE
WITH
EXAMPLES OF PHRASES AND
CONVERSATIONAL SENTENCES
J. W. C. KIRK, B.A. Camb.
LIEUT, king's AFRICAN RIFLES
HENRY FROWDE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE
AMEN CORNER, E.C.
NEW YORK : 91 & 93 Fifth Avenue
1903
OXFORD : HORACE HART
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
PREFACE
This work does uot profess to be anything
more learned than its title inaplies. During the
present campaign in Somaliland, while raising
and training some of the Somali levy companies,
I have noted down all the commoner and most
useful words and phrases that I found to occur
during my interviews with the N. C. O.'s and
men both on duty and off. These I have here
presented in a continuous form, aiming at the
most natural order in which a stranger would
be able to pick them up, and at the same time
observing what is more or less the ordinary
grammatical sequence.
It is hoped that such a collection of conversa-
tional phrases and notes may be of use to
subsequent travellers, and to civil and military
officers in the country.
The excellent Grammar of Frs. Evaugeliste
- 108S025
vi PREFACE
and Cyprien has been of the utmost assistance ;
in fact, without the benefit of their enormous
labours, it would have been impossible for me
in so short a time to transcribe the words and
phrases as uttered by a Somali.
The greatest difficulty to contend with is the
pronunciation ; and the Somali juiigli is as yet
so unaccustomed to Europeans and their modes
of speech, and above all finds it so hard to
believe that a European would try to talk his
language, that, unless the pronunciation is very
exact, he will practically refuse to try to under-
stand one. In time, however, the Somali s will
become accustomed to our attempts to master
their difficult sounds, and in fact in trying to
interview strangers I have been able to use
my askaris as interpreters.
I had not intended to introduce any gram-
matical or syntactical paragraphs, but it seemed
that the sentences alone were of such little use
for Iniilding up others with different words,
that some grammatical explanation was abso-
PREFACE vii
lutely necessarj^ I have confined myself, how-
ever, to the most concise and general rules,
leaving the exceptions for further study.
I have not attempted to introduce any but the
Roman characters, though some sounds cannot
really be represented by them. The cerebral d,
referred to by Frs. Evangeliste and Cyprien,
is sometimes pronounced as d and sometimes
like r, though never exactly like either. I have,
however, used these letters so as to show in
each word which of these two sounds tends to
jDrevail.
Similarly the Arabic letter ' ghain ' is very
much exaggerated, and these exaggerated gut-
tural asj^irates I have tried to distinguish as ch
(hardly a guttural), kh (sharp guttural sound),
and gh (hard low guttural sound). The long-
drawn aspirate seems to be best expressed pho-
netically by the double letter hh.
The tribes from whom I have picked up these
phrases are chiefly the Habr Yunis, and Habr
Toljaala from the Burao district. This may
viii PKEFACE
account for the different pronunciation of several
words, as compared with what is given in the
Grammar mentioned above, especially in the
case of the diphthong ai. Where this occurs in
the above Grammar I have found the syllable
in more than half the cases to be pronounced
as a short y, or as d, or ei.
I have not yet had time to compare the
dialects of the Esa and Gadabursi tribes, or of
the Dolbohanta or Ogaden, all of which will
probably have considerable variations.
There will probably be many errors, as my
interpreter speaks but indifferent English. It
must be remembered, too, that many apparent
irregularities will be due to colloquial con-
tractions. But I can only say that every word
and sentence here has been tested successfully
by me in actual conversation.
Garrero,
June 20, 1903.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Pkeface . . . . . . . . V
PART I.
Accidence.
1. The Alphabet i
2. Pronunciation and Accentuation . . 2
3. Interjections 3
Verbs.
4. Verbal Particles 4
5. List of Verbs of Motion .... 4
6. „ „ Action .... 6
7. „ „ Feeling, Thinking,
Willing 8
The Article, ^x.
8. Use of Article 9
9. The Indefinite Article .... 9
10. The Definite Article . . . ,10
11. Linking Consonants . . . .10
12. Examples . . . . . .11
13. Independent use of Definite Article . 11
14. Demonstrative Pronoun . . . .11
15. Independent use of Demonstrative
Pronoun 12
16. Possessive Pronoun . . . -13
X CONTENTS
Suhstanthes.
]
PAGE
17. List of Personal Articles of Kit, &c.
14
18. „ Native Articles .
.
15
19. ,, Physical Features
.
17
20. „ Animals
19
21. „ Trees and Plants .
.
20
22. „ Parts of the Body,
&c.
21
23. ,, Relationships, &c.
.
22
24. Formation of Plural
•
• 23
Adjectives.
25. Use of Adjectives .
25
26. List of Adjectives .
. .
26
27. Numerals, Cardinal
.
26
28. „ Ordinal .
,
28
29. Other expressions of
Number anc
[
Quantity .
•
28
Time and Place, S^-c.
30. Nouns ....
30
31. Adverbs ....
.
30
32. Conjunctions .
.
31
23. Interrogatives
.
32
34. Adverbial Prepositions .
32
35. Other expressions of Time
Place, &c. .
33
36. Prepositions, ' from,' ' to,'
'with.' .
35
CONTENTS
XI
PART II.
Syntax.
yj. General Rules
Pronouns.
38. Simple Form .
39. Prefixes .
40. Demonstrative
41. Imperative
42. Indicative
43. Interrogative .
44. Examples
Verbs,
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55-
Elisions and Contractions
The Root
Classes .
The Infinitive
The Participle
Moods and Tenses .
The Perfect Mood .
The Imperfect Mood
Table of Moods
Persons .
The Future Tense .
56. Table of Conjugations
57. Negative— Perfect Mood
58. ,, Imperfect Mood
59. Interrogative .
PAGE
. 36
37
37
38
38
38
39
39
40
40
40
41
41
42
42
43
43
44
44
45
46
47
48
xii CONTENTS
PAGE
60. Passive
49
61. Auxiliary Verbs ....
50
62. Irregular Verbs ....
50
63. Examples of Irregular Verbs .
51
64. The verb weh ....
53
PART III.
Examples of Sentences.
65. Simple Sentences ....
54
66. Common Particles, &c. . .
58
67. Relative Sentences ....
61
68. Comparative Sentences .
64
69. Orafio ohliqna ....
66
70. Conditional Sentences .
68
71. Military Terms and Phrases .
69
72. Orders for guards ....
72
Notes
75
Addenda
79
PAUT I.
ACCIDENCE.
I. The Alphabet.
a, pronounced like a in Scotcli, ' man.'
a, pronounced like a in ' cat.'
a, pronounced like a in ' father/
b
d (in some words combines t, h, r).
e, pronounced like e in ' pen/
d, pronounced nearly as ai in ' pain.'
f
g, always hard.
gli
h
hh, emphasized aspirate, almost a separate syl-
lable.
i, pronounced as i in ' in/
i, pronounced as e in ' eel/
J
k
kh, hard aspirate.
ch, pronounced as ch in ' loch.'
1
B
2 THE ALPHABET
11, similar to Welsh II.
m
n
o, pronounced as o in ' on.'
6, pronounced as o in ' own/
oo, pronounced as o in ' ohli.'
r, always rolled (iji some words combines (7, h, r).
s
t
u, pronounced as ic in ' full.'
"ii, pronounced as u in ' bun.'
u, pronounced as oo in * moon.'
w
y
ai, pronounced as i in ' mine.'
ei, ey, pronounced as e, almost el.
oi
ow, pronounced as ou in ' mouth.'
2. Tlie As]}irates and Gutturals hh, gh, kh,
ch must be learnt by ear, and are very exagge-
rated deep sounds, difficult to reproduce.
The letters d, r are in some words hardly
distinguishable. In the same word the letter
sometimes may sound like d, sometimes like r.
It appears to be formed by trying to utter a d
with the tongue on the roof of the mouth.
INTERJECTIONS 3
The acute accent ' is used to denote the
accentuation only ; the grave accent ' denotes a
long full sound.
3. Interjections.
warya ! waria ! war', attracts attention, and
commences all conversation.
hoi ! hoihoi ! a shout to call a man.
-ow ! same as last, added to a name.
nabat ! Peace^ a greeting,
'ss ka warren ? How are you ?
dega ! colloquial exclamation.
kdd, kodi, waiye, yes, well ? I see, &c.
howrarsan, all right,
wa run, quite right, certainly.
ha, yes.
maya, no.
dochso ! be quick !
ghunyar ! ayar ! steady ! slowly !
haiya ! expression of encouragement.
w^ mahai ? what is it ?
wa sid6 ? what's this 1 Hullo !
'ss ka eg ! look out !
'ss ka da, never mind.
ya? what?
wayo? why?
B 2
4 VERBS
Veebs.
4. Verbal Particles.
The following particles qualify the meanings
of verbs : —
si, before the verb, expresses motion away from
the speaker.
so, before the verb, expresses motion towards the
sj)eaker.
'ss ka, iss ka, before the verb, is best translated
by the exclamation ' there ! '
Verbs endi.ng in -si, -i are causative. Verbs
ending in -so denote doing something for one-
self.
i, me.
u, you, him, it.
In the following lists the 2nd pers. sing,
imperative is given. To form the 2nd j)ers. plur.
add a. In verbs ending in -o, -so the plural
form ends in -da or -ta (§ 51).
5. Verbs of Motion.
imo ; pi. yimada (irreg.), come.
kali, come here.
soorod, come on (hurry).
so raa, come with mc (follow).
s6 ndcho (ndchda), come back.
VERBS 5
so diirug (durka), s6 do wo (dowada),
come near.
so wereg, come roimd.
so gal, come in.
£0 bah (so baha), come out of there.
tag, go.
soo (sooda), go on.
'ss ka tag, go away.
u raa, si raa, go with him (follow),
nocho, dib u nocho, go back,
si wereg, go round.
gal, go in, enter,
'ss ka bah, get out of there.
durug, go further off.
fogo (fogada), go to a distance.
soo, walk.
orod, run.
ful, ride.
bod, jump.
arar, run away.
bahso, escape.
jog, wait, stop,
'ss ka jog, wait there.
jogso (jogsoda), stand still.
dib u jogso, stand back,
sara jog, stand up.
ka, ka ka, sara ka, get up.
VERBS
fariso (farista), sit down.
i kadi, wait (for me).
u kadi, wait (for him).
jir, be (exist).
jog, be (be present).
oil (irregular verb), be in, be on, lie.
jeso (jesta), turn.
'ss ka rug, turn round.
ghobo (ghobta), get to, reach (a place).
IVaoisitive Verbs.
joji, stop.
kahai, move ofP, move away (persons).
so kahai, bring here.
fogei, move to a distance.
u y^d, call, send for.
ka d6n, look for.
dir, send (a man with a message).
u gei, lead, show the way to.
kei, arouse.
radi, track.
dochaji, hurry.
daf, pass.
6. Verbs of Action.
la kali, bring here,
i (ka) ken, put (bring) me (there).
i (u) si, give me (him).
ka ghad, 'ss ka ghad, take away.
VERBS 7
so ghad, fetch away (go and get).
so (ku) eli, bring (take) back.
dib, give (hand over).
u gei, take to him.
gur, pick up.
dig, 'ss ka dig, put down.
sar, put on.
shid, put in.
s6 ('ss ka) behe, take off.
hel, get, find.
hai, have.
haiso (haista), have got.
heji, hokl.
ghobo (ghobta), take hold.
ghobso (ghobsoda), catch hold.
da, ka da, si da, 'ss ka si da, leave, let go.
sid, cany.
kufi, drop (transitive).
kuf, da, f\ill.
illal, look after.
tiri, count.
fal, yel, ghobo, do.
somei, make.
damdi, finish.
dil, strike.
rug, turn round.
akhalib, turn over.
8 VEKBS
mardji, twist.
jid, difo (difta), pull.
tiiji, press.
goi, gogoi, cut (up).
buri, burburi, break (up).
lab, lablab, fold (up).
hid, tie.
fur, unfold, open.
wanaji, make tidy.
hagaji ('ss ku hagaji), make straight, correct.
safei, adei, clean.
btihi, fill.
daloli, make a hole.
dirir, 'ss dirira, fight, fight together.
rer, load up.
dubka so shid, make the fire.
dubka bachti, put out the fire.
od, hero 6d, make a zareha.
ibi, ibso (ibsdta), sell, buy.
gob, pour away.
7. Verbs of Feeling, Thinking, Willing.
arag, see. ghobo, remember,
eg, look. ilo (iloda), forget.
or, orso (orsoda), un, eat.
smell. ab, abso, drink,
machal, hear. duduni, taste.
DEFINITE ARTICLE
chosol, lauofh.
maldi, tluuk.
deh (irregular verb), issdeh, imagine, mean.
say.
sheg, tell.
hadal, talk.
weidi, ask.
ku 61i, answer.
did, refuse.
bar, teach.
baro (barta), learn.
amin, believe.
haucho, try.
machal, yel, obey.
ashtako, complain.
ai', curse.
fasahh, allow.
garo (garta), under-
stand.
jaal, like.
don, want.
tasho, think about.
ogho (irregular verb),
know.
hub, be sure.
sug, expect, await.
hanon, hurt (intransi-
tive).
seho, sleep.
ka, awake.
abi, bacho, be afraid.
aran, be angry.
alaal, be sorry.
dulun, ill-treat.
owin, help.
Article, Pkonouns, Substantives.
8. The Article must first be understood, since
it is added to the noun, and in many cases
alters the whole appearance and sound of the
word.
9. The Indefinite Article does not exist, the
noun alone being used instead, e. g.
jonia, a bag. nin, a man.
10 DEFINITE ARTICLE
Where tlie indefiiute article occurs with an
adjective, or alone, it is translated either by
repeating the noun, or by mid, e. g.
mid kaleh i si, give me another.
mid wein ka ken, put a big one there,
kursi kaleh la kali, bring another chair.
I o. The Definite Article is a suffix to the noun,
and ends in either, -a, -i, or -u.
-a is used if what is spoken of is actually at
hand, or in front of the speaker.
-i, -u are used when vagueness or absence is
implied.
The commonest form is -i.
II. These suffixes are not used alone, but are
linked to the noun by certain consonants, which
vary according to gender and to the final letter
of the word.
Such linking consonants are : —
Masculine.
-k-, after any consonants except g, k.
-g-, after g, k, i.
-h-, after aspirates and vowels except i.
Feminine.
-t-, after consonants except d.
-d-, after d, aspirates and vowels.
(Note— Id, It become sh.)
DEMONSTEATIVE PRONOUN 11
12. Examples: —
nin, nin-ka, -ki, ku, the man.
busta, busta-ha, -hi, -hu, the blanket.
biya, biya-ha, -hi, -hu, the water.
nag, nag-taj -ti, -tu, the woman.
miyi, miyi-ga, -gi, -gu, the jungle,
mel, mesha, meshi, meshii, the place,
tol, tol-ka, -ki, -ku, the tribe.
sandiich, sanduch-ha, -hi, -hu, the box.
warach, warach-da, -di, -du, the chit.
biyahu (biyu) la kali, bring the water,
biyaha ka ghad, take away the water.
bustahi ? what about the blanket 1
ninki me ? (§ 33), where is the man ?
13. When the Definite Article is used inde-
pendently, it requires one of the two following
consonants : —
if masculine, k-.
if feminine, t-, e. g.
ki kaleh ni6 ? where is the other ?
ti wein so glad, fetch the big one.
Plural :
kudr kaleh m.6? where are the others ?
1 4. The Demonstrative is similar to the definite
article.
12 DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN
The suffixes are :
-an, this.
-as, -a, that.
These are the same for singular and plural.
The linking consonants are the same as those
for the definite article, e. g.
dagah-has, that stone.
mis-kan, this table.
nag-ta, that woman.
To make it more emphatic, the demonstrative
is often added to the noun with the definite
article, e. g.
achalkakan, this house here.
Or, the definite article may follow the demonstra-
tive, but without the linking consonant, e. g.
nimankana, these men here,
nimankasi, those men there.
15. The demonstrative may also be used
independently with the consonants k, t.
In this use it has plural forms, e. g.
kuan, tuan, these.
kuas, tuas, those.
When this form carries with it any meaning
of (quantity, the noun in-ta is used (§ 30), e. g.
inta kaleh, the rest.
intas waiye, that's all.
POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
13
inta damdya, finish that.
inta ka badan la kali, bring more than
that (§ 68).
1 6. The Possessive Pronoun has forms so
simihar, and follows so closely the above rules,
that it is given here.
The definite article must be added to the
possessive, either with or without the linking
consonant.
Possessive.
English.
my
-ey-, -ai-
Ariicle.
.ga,-gi,-gu.
-di, -du.
-da,
your
their
thy -a-
his -is-
her -ed
our -en-
-in-
-od-
oui" -aya-
Examples : —
banducheyga, my gun.
abbahaga, thy father,
shuchulkisi, his work.
achalkdni, our house.
bariskini, your rice.
sortdda, their food.
Definite article
added without
linking conson-
ant.
-ga, -gi, -gu.
14
LISTS OF SUBSTANTIVES
kas wa kdygi (§ 66), that is mine.
wa tadi, it is tliiue.
magahis ? (what is) his name 1
magaha ? (what is) your name ?
17. Personal articles of kit, food, ^x.
alabad-di, baggage, mindi-di, knife.
property. muda-lii, fork.
golup-ki, things.
tambuch-lii, tent.
niis-ki,table-ki, table
kiirsi-gi, cliair.
gogol-shi, bed.
baldi-di, bucket,
sirad-ki, lamp.
sanducli-hi, box.
khuful-ki, padlock.
mufta-hi, key.
joniad-di, bag.
busta-hi, blanket.
towel-ki, towel.
dar-ki, clotlies.
kofiad-di, hat.
surwal-ki, breeches,
kumis-ki, shirt.
kiiba-hi, shoes, boots.
massar-ki, handker-
chief.
fandal-ki, spoon.
eiip-ki, cup.
galas-ki, glass.
seen-i, plate.
charorad-di, bottle.
dichsi-gi, cooking-pot.
sal-ki, bottom.
dab-ki, handle.
kettli-gi, kettle.
kitab-ki, book.
ghalim-ki, pen, pencil,
warach-di, paper,
chad-ki, ink.
fass-ki, axe.
mejorifad-di, shovel.
musmar-ki, nail,
irbad-ki, pin, needle.
diibba-hi, hammer.
sofa- hi, file,
fur-ki, cork.
PERSONAL ARTICLES OF KIT 15
suf-ki, rag, duster.
sun-ki, strap.
tar-ki, wire.
kora-hi, saddle.
hakuma-hi, bridle.
ainan-ki, reins.
durmad-di, bit.
rikab-ki, stirruj).
bir-ti, iron (and any
iron tool, instrument,
or part of anything).
sor-ti, food.
hilib-ki, meat.
kibis-ti, bread.
biya-hi, water.
fud-ki, soup.
usboh-di, salt.
rei-gi, mustard,
filfil-shi, pepper,
bur-ki, flour.
baris-ki, rice.
siinkur-ki, sugar.
haid-di, fat.
godrad-di, vegetable,
fruit.
ano-hi, milk.
burrad-ki, malup-ki,
butter.
usbah, usub, fresh.
dugahh, old.
hun, bad.
chahowa-hi, tea.
buri-gi, tobacco.
1 8. Native Articles.
Camel equipment.
hdrio-di, loading mat (general name).
kibid-di, loading mat (bark).
harar-ki, ous-ki, loading mat (grass),
hadig-gi, rope (general name),
yel-shi, herio rope.
hogan-ti, neck rope,
suradherad-di, loading rope.
16 NATIVE ARTICLES
baid-di, breast rope.
ain-ti, rope for the ' guri.'
Watering.
d51is-ki, long rope for drawing water.
wadan-ti, skin bucket.
gundil-ki, skin trough.
baldi-di, European bucket.
han-ti, large conical vessel for carrying
water on the march.
ajan-ti, small vessel.
dil-shi, small vessel for milk.
sopra-hi, gurbid-di, skin water-bag.
Living.
guri-gi, hut (made of herios).
rdr-ki, village.
lamado-di, big skin for * guri.'
Clothing and equipment.
maro-di, long white tobe.
g6a-lii, half length tobe.
mowis-ti, coloured waist-cloth.
kuba-hi, sandals.
waran-ki (ddr, gaban), spear (long, short).
gashan-ti, shield.
ghanso-di, bow.
falad-di, arrow.
gaboyo'di, quiver.
bilowa-hi, knife.
PHYSICAL FEATURES 17
jedel-ki, wliip.
masaula-hi, prayer-mat.
wdso-di, small water-bottle.
tusbah-hi, rosary.
halal-ki, two large pieces of amber (charm).
gordas-ki, leather strap for charm.
katum-ki, ring.
fas-ki, precious stone.
farus-ki, blue stone {1 turquoise).
lif-ki, marble (children's game).
turub-ki, warach-di, cards.
dabin-ti, trap.
19. Physical features.
miyi-gi, jungle.
bun-ka, plain.
ged-ki, dir-ti, tree, bush.
dur-ki, grass (long and stiff).
geda-hi, grass (pasture).
bur-ti, mountain.
ghumbur-ti, hill,
tul-ki, heap.
hatach-di, boran-ti, trench.
god-ki, hole,
tug-gi, river-bed.
wadi-gi, river,
bahal-ki, animal.
nin-ki, man.
18 PHYSICAL FEATURES
nag-ti, woman.
rag-gi, dad-ki, people.
rer-ki, village.
6d-di, zareba.
dindimiid-di, ant-heap.
amiid-di, earth.
sisa-hi, sigo-di, dust.
derigh-hi, hilin-ki, road.
dagahh-hi, rock, stone.
rad-ki, track, pug.
er-ki, sk}-.
chorahh-hi, sun.
dayah-hi, moon.
hedig-gi, star.
darur-ti, cloud.
dabdil-shi, wind.
rob-ki, rain.
unk6d-di, thunder.
hilah-hi, lightning.
hared-di, rain-water.
darab-ki, dew.
diib-ki, fire.
khikh-hi, smoke.
achal-ki, house.
dar-ti, stone building, wall.
biilli, low place where water collects.
billli har^dleh, rain-water pool.
ANIMALS 19
20. Naims of Animals.
hola-hi, nef-ki, cattle, stock,
geli, camel (general term).
aur-ki, camel (male, loading).
hal-shi, camel (female),
aurti, rati, the camels,
ari-gi, sheep.
wan-ki, ram.
ri-gi, goat.
faras-ki (genya-di), horse (mare).
daber-ki, donkey.
bochol-ki, mule.
ogad-di, wild animals,
libahh-hi, lion,
shabel-ki, leopard.
gududon-ti, lynx.
harimad-di, cheetah.
dinad-di, cat.
waraba-H, hyena.
eig-gi, dog.
godir-ki (yir), koodoo (lesser).
beid-di, oryx,
sig-gi, hartebeest.
g^renuk-gi, "Waller's gazelle.
d6batag-ti, Clarke's gazelle.
ddro-di, aoul-ki, beira-hi, Plateau gazelle.
sagaro-di, dikdik.
c 2
20 TREES
balungo-di, dol-ki, waterbuck.
mar5di-gi, elephant.
wiyil-ki, rhinoceros.
j6r-ki, hippopotamus.
gerri-gi, giraffe.
dofar-ki, warthog.
dayir-ki, monkey.
fidmer-ti, bat.
jir-ki, wallo-di, rat.
mas-ki, jilbis-ki, abeso-di, abur-ki, sub-
hanyo-di, snake.
gungumad-di, lizard,
shimbir-ti, bird.
beid-di, egg.
gori-gi, ostrich.
gorgor-ki, vulture.
tuka-hi, crow,
badag-gi, duck.
digirin-ki, guinea-fowl.
abor-ki, ant (white),
ghudanyo-di, ant (black).
2 1 . Names of Trees and Plants.
galol-shi, megag-gi, large thorn trees,
sarman-ti, table-top thorn trees.
gob-ki, dool-ki, dafarur-ki,tall thornless trees
with small red fruit (edible).
PARTS OF THE BODY 21
derkdn-ti, euphorbia tree.
adad-di, gum tree.
didin-ti, myrrh tree.
ain-ti, ergin-ti, two kinds of snake-like plants
with milky poisonous juice,
gasangas-ki, low plant with thick root-stock
useful for washing and softening water.
sabka-di, a low asclepiad with green edible
fruit, covered with long soft tentacles.
dir-ti, any tree or bush,
lan-ti, branch.
al^n-ti, leaf.
ghodah-hi, thorn.
jirid-di, root.
ghorigh-hi, stem, pole, log, wood.
ubah-hi, flower,
jilif-ki, bark.
maidah-hi, underneath layer of bark used for
chewing, and making ropes and herios.
2 2. Parts of the Body, dj-c.
miyid-di, corpse.
il-shi, eyo.
san-ti, skin.
san-ki, nose.
hilib-ki, flesh.
af-ki, mouth.
rig-gi, blood.
dig-ti, ear.
madah-hi, head.
dan-ki, chin.
timir-ti, hair.
bushin-ti, lip.
weiji-gi, fiice.
ilig-ki, tooth.
22
RELATIONSHIPS
arrab-ki, tongue.
hunguri-gi, throat.
garab-ki, shoulder.
gaan-ti, arm.
muruch-hi, biceps.
husul-ki, elbow.
urur-ki, forearm,
jolochli-gi, wrist,
gaan-ti, hand,
sul-ki, thumb.
farah-hi, finger.
babao-di, palm,
sakar-ki, chest.
lab-ti, breast.
dabar-ki, back.
alol-shi, stomach.
sin-ti, hip.
lug-ti, leg.
boodo-di, thigh.
rug-gi, knee.
shausho-di, calf.
ancho-di, ankle.
ag-ti, foot.
farah-hi, toe.
idib-ki, heel.
agta ad, sole.
iddi-di, nail.
gad-ki,whiskers,beard.
sharub-ti, moustache,
dabo-di, tail,
dib-ki, tail (goat).
dilif-ki, tail (sheep).
bari-gi, tail fat.
gar-ti, horn.
raf-ki, hoof.
gomod-di, camel's foot,
fol-ki, tusk.
laf-ti, bone.
ind61i-hi, skull.
23. Relationships, d:c.
abba-hi, father,
hoyo-di, mother,
nin-ki, husband, man.
nag-ti, wife, woman,
waldl-ki, brother.
walal-shi, sister,
inan-ki, wil-ki, son.
inan-ti, daughter.
inan-ki, boy.
gabad-di, girl.
PLURAL OF SUBSTANTIVES 23
arur-ti, child. akhil-ki, chief.
wadad-ki, od^-gi, old nin wein, nin ma-
man, daha, headman.
habr-ti, old woman. barbar-ki, young man.
moskhdn, poor people, hhas-ki, family.
24. Plural Numher.
(i) Masculine monosyllables : —
dab-ki, dabab-ki, handles.
fas-ki, fasas-ki, axes.
diib-ki, dubiib-ki, fires.
nin-ki, niman-ki, men.
(ii) Feminine monosyllables : —
hal-shi, halod-di, she-camels.
mel-shi, melod-di, pLices.
bil-shi, bilod-di, months. .
lug-ti, lugod-di, legs.
nag-ti, nagod-di, women.
exc. lan-ti, lema-hi, branches.
(iii) Nouns ending in a : —
kora-hi, koryal-shi, saddles.
busta-hi, bustyal-shi, blankets.
mufta-hi, muftyal-shi, keys,
(iv) Nouns ending in o : —
asho-di, ashoin-ki, days.
gudimo-di, gudimoin-ki, gudimos.
shachado-di, shachadoin-ki, bandoliers.
24 PLUEAL OF SUBSTANTIVES
(v) Other masculine polysyllables : —
tambuch-hi, tambuchyad-di, tents.
libahh-hi, libahhyad-di, lions.
ghodah-hi, ghodahyad-di, thorns.
kursi-gi, kursyad-di, chairs.
t5bel-ki, tebelad-di, tables.
sirad-ki, siradad-di, lamps.
fandal-ki, fandalad-di, spoons.
shabdl-ki, shabelad-di, leopards,
(vi) Other feminine iDolysyllables : —
(a) saad-di, saadod-di, hours.
herio-di, heriodod-di, herios.
darar-ti, dararod-di, days.
malin-ti, malmod-di, days.
sanad-di, sanad6d-di, years.
(b) j6niad-di, joniada-hi, bags.
al6n-ti, al^ma-hi, leaves.
mejorifad-di, mejorifada-hi, shovels.
(vii) Foreign words : —
sanduch-hi, sanaduch-hi, boxes,
sirkal-ki, sirakil-shi, officers.
askari-gi, askarr-ti, soldiers.
nin mahabis, mahabis-ti, j^risoners.
kursi-gi, kurasi-di, chairs.
Note that excej^t in (i), (ii) and (vi, a) nouns
change their gender in the plural.
The plural is not very commonly used, it only
ADJECTIVES 25
occurs when any emphasis is to be laid on the
liUmher. After numerals and other words of
quantity the singular is used.
Sometimes in (iii) the masculine article is
used ; e.g. busty alka.
Adjectives, Advekbs, Peepositioxs,
Conjunctions.
25. Adjectives follow the noun they qualify.
There are only a few jDure adjectives, the remain-
ing adjectival parts of sjDcech being verbal past
participles, formed by adding -an, -san to the
verb root (cf. § 49).
The particle wa represents the verb ' is,'
* are/ e. g.
wanaji, make good.
wanaksan, good.
wa wanaksan, is good.
wa nin hun, he is a bad man.
Besides the particle wa, verbs expressing state
are formed by conjugating adjectives as verbs,
e.g.
wanaksana, wa wanaksana, is good (§ 54).
(wa) asya, is red (§ 52).
(wa) houlyira, is easy.
wa may be used or not, but usually occurs.
For Comjmrison vide § 68.
26
ADJECTIVES
Adverbs are formed by the particle si or by
ghun, e.g.
si wanaksan, well,
ghunyar, slowly.
26. List of Adjectives
wein, large.
yar, yir, small.
ddr, long, tall, deep.
gaban, short.
adag, hard, strong.
balaran, thick.
jilisan, thin, soft, weak.
duban, long and thin.
ulus, heavy.
fddud, light.
wandksan, good.
riin, right.
hun, bad.
^jis, lazy.
safaisan, adaisan,
clean.
uskagleh, dirty.
biiha, full.
maran, empty.
affdyan, sharp.
afbelan, blunt,
s ahalan , houly ir , easy,
kulul, kululan, warm,
ghaboban, cold.
ad, bright, white.
mado, dark, black, blue,
as, red, brown.
oul, yellow, green.
27. Numercds precede the noun they qualify,
and do not require the plural. The definite
article is usually attached to the numeral, and
not the noun.
Cardinal numbers.
k6d, mid, i.
laba-di, 2.
NUMERALS 27
saddehh-di, 3.
afar-ti, 4.
shan-ti, 5.
116hh-di, 6.
todoba-di, 7.
sided-di, 8.
sagal-ki, 9.
toban-ki, 10.
kobyo toban-ki, 11.
labyo toban-ki, 12.
saddehhyo toban-ki, 13.
afaryo toban-ki, 14.
shanyo toban-ki, 15.
Udhhyo toban-ki, 16.
todobyo toban-ki, 17.
sidedyo toban-ki, 18.
sagalyo toban-ki, 19.
labaton-ki, 20.
kobyo labaton-ki, 21.
soddon-ki, 30.
afarton-ki, 40.
kouton-ki, 50.
lldhhdon-ki, 60.
todobaton-ki, 70.
siddton-ki, 80.
sagashon-ki, 90.
bochol-ki, 100.
28 NUMERALS
b5chol yo mid, loi.
bochdl yo toban, no.
laba bochol, 200.
kun, 1000.
Other forms.
labaton midla, 19.
lldhhdon midla, 59.
bochol midla, 99.
soddon buha, 30.
28. Ordinal numbers.
kowad-di, hdre, ist.
labad-ki, 2nd.
saddehhad-ki, 3rd.
afrad-ki, 4tli.
shanad-ki, 5th.
llehhad-ki, 6tli.
todobad-ki, 7tb.
sidedad-ki, 8th.
sagalad-ki, 9tli.
tobnad-ki, lotli.
kobyo tobnad-ki, nth, &c., &c.
29. Other exjyression s of Number and Quan t ity .
mid mid, one by one.
toban toban, in tens.
nimba toban, two each,
bochol yo nin, loi men.
NUMBER AND QUANTITY 29
bad-ki, half.
labyo seddehh, two or three.
badan, many, much.
idin, any.
idna, any one.
waka, anything.
midna, no one.
k^liah, only,
kdli-gi, alone.
walba, every,
kasta, each,
diman-ti, every one.
gedi-gi, kuUi-gi, all.
kaleh, other.
'ss ku mid, 6 kaleh, same.
imisa ? how many ?
int^ ? how much 1
sh5 saddehh maha ? surely three (§ 59).
wa Uehh, there are six.
ad u tiri, count carefully.
afarton keliah, only forty.
s6ddon waiye, just thirty,
wachaba, nothing.
wah<3ga, wahyar, a little.
nin keliah, one man only,
idinku keligi sooda, you go on by yourselves
(§ 40).
30 TIME AND PLACE
idla, by oneself (without any one).
inta kaleh, the rest.
sanaduchi mel gonia diga, put the boxes in
one place.
labadatan wa 'ss ku mid, these two are the
same.
imisa ma harin ? how many are left 1
ninkan wa ku jira, this man is included.
30. Time and place, ^x.
gor-ti, mar-ki, kol-ki, berri-gi, had-di, time,
mel-shi, hal-ki, hag-gi, place.
From these nouns, adverbs, conjunctions, and
interrogatives of time and place are derived.
Similar derivative parts of speech are formed
from the following nouns : —
in-ti, meaning ' quantity,' ' distance.'
si-di, ,, ' manner.'
ain-ki „ ' sort.'
31. Adverbs.
gortan, markan, kolkan, now.
gortas, markas, kolkas, then,
marki hori, kolki hori, before,
marki dambi, kolki dambi, after,
(meshan) halkan, haggan, here,
(meshas) halka(s), liagga(s), there,
sida, sidas, so.
CONJUNCTIONS 31
inta, intas, intan, intatan, so much.
ainkas, like that.
gortatan, haddatan, now at once.
haddaba, now therefore.
wagi hori, b^rrigi hore, formerly.
gor badan, often.
mar kaleh, again.
gor, kol, mar, once.
saddehh gor, three times.
gor doo, soon.
marmar, sometimes.
Other adverbs.
iminka, aminka, now.
dabad6d, afterwards.
, , r at once.
docnso, \ . - -
( quickly.
well, yet.
dowad, mel doo, near.
32. Conjunctions.
gorta, kolka, marka, when.
mel, where.
. ^ (until,
mta, { ,
( as much as.
sida, as.
These conjunctions are combined with the
personal pronoun (vide § 38), and are followed
by the conditional (cf. § 50).
32
ADVERBIAL PREPOSITIONS
33. Inter rogathes,
gorma ? when ?
hagge? (meshe?) where?
hadma? at what time'?
int^ ? how far 1
int^ ? how much ?
side? how?
imisa gor ? how often ?
ainma? what sort?
m§ ? where ? (in simple questions, such
as : ninki md ? where is the man ?).
34. The following nouns are used as adverbs,
and form prepositions when combined with the
possessive. (Cf. § 16.)
Adverh.
f in front. )
'^°"' i before. /
. r behind. )
'' t after, j
dambi.
behind.
after.
dabaded, afterwards.
giidaha, inside.
dibaddi, outside,
hosta, underneath,
dusha, above.
ddhda, in the middle.
Preposition,
hortisi, or ka hore.
dambisi, orka dambi.
dabadisi, after,
gudahisi, in.
dibadisi.
hostisi.
dushisi, upon,
dehdisi, between.
TIME AND PLACE 33
agti, near. agtisi.
fog, far.
sida, so. sidi, as.
35. Other expressions of Time, Place, ^-c.
saad-di, hour, clock.
asho-di, darar-ti, malin-ti, day.
bil-shi, month.
sanad-di, gii-gi, year.
kddi, one o'clock.
saddehhda saad, three o'clock.
ajarta saad yo badki, half-past four.
shan saadod, five hours.
shanta saad, wahad ka ) , . , , ^
, , ^ , , . . , / ten minutes to five,
hore toban * minute ' j
manta, to-day.
shaldto, shald, yesterday.
dorrad, day before yesterday.
berri, berrito, to-morrow.
sa danibi, day after to-morrow.
sa kub, day after the day after to-morrow.
aror-ti, morning, in the morning.
sa ka, this morning.
duhur-ka, midday.
gelin ka dambi, afternoon.
gelup-ti, evening.
haben-ki, night.
hald, haleto, last night.
D
34 TIME AND PLACE
berri arorti, to-morrow morning.
shaleto geliip, yesterday evening.
haben hore, night before last.
asho walba, every day.
ashodi hori, the other day.
berrigi hore, some time ago.
laba bilod, two months.
laba sanadod, two years.
iminka 'ss ka tag, you may go now.
weli wa j6ga, he is here still.
haggii jira ? where is he 1
ninki md ? where is the man.
sidi hore, as before.
mid ainkas, one like that.
wa sida, it is so, or, there you are.
wa ragti, you are late.
bari-gi, east.
galbed-ki, west.
intu jira ? how far is he (it) 1
intd jirta (§ 54) ? how far is she (place) ?
mel fog ) .
^^ ^. > far away.
wa fogti J -^
wa agag, wa dooyi, it is quite close.
weli ma yimi (§ 62) ^ has he come yet ?
gormii yimi ? when did he come 1
gormad timi ? when did you come '?
haggead ka timi ? where have you come from?
PEEPOSITIONS 35
haggead t^gisa ? where are you going 1
haggead takt^ ? where did you go ?
36. The Pre])Ositions,
ka, from,
ku, to,
la, with,
are used to qualify, not the noun, which has no
declension, but the verb. They always imme-
diately precede the verb, e. g.
he
Bohotle bu ka yimi, he came from Bohotle.
he
Bohotle yu-gu t^gya, he is going to Bohotle.
I
anigu sirkalki la raa, I go along with the
officer.
B 3
PART II.
SYNTAX.
37. General Rules.
The order of a Somali sentence is (i) Subject,
(2) Object, (3) Verb.
Adverbial clauses, especially expressions of
Time, come first.
If the subject of an adverbial or conditional
clause is the subject of the principal sentence,
it is placed first, i. e. in front of the conjunction.
The verb always requires the simplest form of
the personal pronoun to immediately precede it,
whether the true subject is exj^ressed or not.
Complicated sentences are entirely avoided,
a string of short remarks describing events in
their proper order being employed instead.
Any further rules than these must be left
here to be gathered from the examples.
SYNTAX
37
Pronouns.
38. Simple Form.
Subjective.
Objective.
I
-an
i
thou
-ad
u, ku
he
-u
u, ku
she
-ei, -ai
u, ku
we
-einu, -ainu
na
you
-eidin, -aidin
idin
they
-ei, -ai
u, ku.
In the above
the subjective
cases cannot be
used by themselves, but must be attached to the
preceding noun,
, conjunction,
interrogative or
negative particle.
39. Prefixes.
Unless the subjective cases are attached as
described in § 38, they are used with certain
prefixes :
w- (e. g. wan, wad, wu), only used when
first in the sentence.
b- (e. g. ban, bad, bu). The commonest
form.
Y" (^'o- Y^^i ya-d, yu), used for euphony
instead of b.
The objective cases require no prefixes.
38 SYNTAX
40. Demonstrative.
With the subjective case of this form, the
simple form is required in addition, preceding
the verb.
anigu, aniga, I.
adigu, adigd, thou.
isagu, isaga, he.
iyadu, iyada, she.
annagu, innagu, annaga, innaga, we.
edinku, idinku, edinka, idinka, you.
iyagu, iyaga, they;
41. Im2)erative.
an, ist person.
ha, 3rd person.
Used with the conditional tense. (For the 2nd
person vide § 46.)
42. Indicative.
This form is used with certain verbs, such as
want, hope, think, say, &c., when it may be
translated by * this is what I,' &c.
wahan, this is what I . . .
wahad, this is what thou . . .
wuhii, this is what he . . .
weh6, this is what she . . .
wehdnu, this is what we . . .
wehedin, this is what you . . .
wehd, this is what they . . .
SYNTAX 39
43. Interrogative.
ya? ke? te? who] what?
kuma? tuma? which? (sing.).
kiiama? tuama? which ? (plur.).
ya ? is the subjective case only.
When ' what ' is the object of the verb, it is
declined similarly to the indicative form.
mahan ? what I . . . ?
mahad ? what thou . . A
muhu ? what he ... ?
meh^ ? what she . . . ?
mehenu ? what we ... ?
mehddin ? what you . . . ?
mehe ? what they . . A (cf. § 59).
ya ? also is the interjection, what ? eh ?
44. Examples.
wahan iri, berrito ban tegya, I said, I am
going to-morrow.
muhu i sheg^ ? what did he tell me ?
wuhu donya, this is what he wants.
anigu maha, it is not I.
mahad donisa ? what do you want ?
ninki wa joga. ke? The man is here.
Who 1
nin Dolbohanta. kuma ? a Dolbohanta.
Which one ?
40 SYNTAX
Conjugation or Verbs.
45. Elisions and Contractions.
(i) In monosyllabic verbs, in the infinitive
a becomes e.
(ii) In polysyllabic verbs, where the last
syllable is short, the vowel of the last syllable is
drop]3ed in conjugating.
(iii) It, Id become sh.
(iv) rd, rg become rt, rk.
(v) rn, In become rr, 11.
46. The Root. The simplest form of a verb
is the 2ncl pers. sing, imperative. This is the
root from which all tenses are formed.
47. Classes. There are three classes.
I. The root ends in a consonant, or -a, or
-ah, e.g.
diib, roast.
sheg, tell.
tag, go.
arag, see.
raa, follow.
ka, rise.
II. The root ends in -o, e.g.
jogso, stop.
so5, go on.
nocho, go back.
SYNTAX 41
garo, understand.
baro, learn.
III. The root ends in -e, -i, -ei, -ai, e.g. .
shachdi, work.
somei, make,
hai, have.
ibi, sell.
48. The Infinitive is formed —
in I by adding -i to the root, e.g.
diibi, shegi, tegi, arki, kei.
in II, III, by adding -n to the root, e.g.
jogson, soon, nochon, garan, baran, sha-
chein, sin.
49. The Participle, or verbal adjective, is
formed by adding to the root,
I. -an.
III. -san, e.g.
duban, roasted.
adeisan, cleaned.
kululan, warmed,
gogoisan, cut up.
dalolisan, perforated.
42 SYNTAX
50. Moods and I'enses.
There are two Moods, Perfect and Imperfect,
I say, I said, I have said, are Perfect.
I am saying, I was saying, are hnperfect.
These are distinguished by the form of the
tense inflexions.
There are only three pure Tenses —
Present ends in -a.
Past ends in -6.
Conditional ends in -o.
5 1 . Perfect Mood. Tenses are formed by add-
ing the tense terminations directly to the root,
except in II, in which class the terminations are
-da, -d6, -do.
In the second class where the final o is short
it is usually dropped, and the letters altered if
necessary according to the rules in § 45, e.g.
wan shega, I tell, wan sh<§ge, I told.
gortan shego, when I tell.
soo, go on. wan sooda, I go on.
jogso, wait. wan jogsoda, I wait.
garo, understand. wan garta, I understand.
baro, learn. wan barta, I learn.
yelo, undertake. wan yesha, I undertake.
nocho, go back. wan nochda, I go back.
SYNTAX
43
52. Imjperfect Mood.
The tense terminations are preceded by i or y,
and added to the infinitive.
(In I the i of the infinitive is dropped.)
(These seem to be the tenses of an imperfect
auxiliary verb i, be, conjugated regularly and
with the dependent verb in the infinitive pre-
ceding it, cf. §58), e.g.
wan sobnya, I am going on.
wan shacheinya, I am working.
wan sh^gya, I am telling.
wan maleny^, I was thinking.
The i is short in all except those verbs of II
where the syllable preceding it is short; e.g.
garanya,
bar any a,
ghobdnya.
53. l^'ahle of Moods.
a.
Imperative.
Infinitive,
Pres. Per/.
Pres. Imperf.
I.
sheg, tell.
sh^gi.
sh6ga.
sh^gya.
II a.
b.
sod, go on.
baro, learn.
soon,
bdran.
sooda.
barta.
soonya.
baran^a.
III.
shach^i, work.
shachein.
shacheya.
shacheinya.
44 SYNTAX
54. The above terminations are for ist pers.
and 3rd pers. sing. masc. The following are the
varieties for person : —
sing.
plur,
Present.
Past.
Conditioned.
I
-a
-6
-0
2
f-ta
t-sa
l-s6
r-to
1 -so
3ni.
-a
-6
-0
3f-
r-ta
i-sa
r-t6
i-s^
|-to
1 -so
I
-na
-n6
-no
2
f -tan
1 -san
f-t6n
' -s^n
f-tan
1 -san
3 m.
-an
-6n
-an
3f.
/-tan
\ -san
f-t6n
1 -s6n
f -tan
i -san
In the 2nd and 3rd fern. pers. sing, and plur.,
t is used after a consonant, i.e. in the perfect
tenses of I and II.
s is used always after i, i.e. in all imperfect
tenses, and in perfect tenses of III.
55. The Future is formed by the present per-
fect of the auxiliary verb don, will.
The auxiliary is often omitted in this tense
and the infinitive used alone, e.g.
waa shegi dona 1 j ^^,;,, ^^,,
wan shegi )
SYNTAX
45
56. Tahle of Conjugations.
Imjyerative.
(I) an shego, let me tell.
sheg, tell.
(I) ha machlo, let him hear.
ha machasho, let her hear.
(Ill) an shacheino, let us work.
shacheya, work ye.
(II) ha bartan, let them learn.
Future.
wan tegi dona ^
I will go, &c.
„ donta
„ dona
„ donta
„ donna
„ dontan
,, donan
Perfect. Imperfect.
Present.
sooda, go on. (II. a.) soonya, am going on.
soota soonisa
sooda soonya
soota soonisa
garna, understand. (II. b.) baranfna, are learning.
gartan baranfsan
gartau
baranyan
46
SYNTAX
Perfect.
Impe:rfect.
Past.
tag^, went.
(I.) t€gy6, was going.
takt^
t^gis6
tag6
t^gye
takt^
t^gis^
arkne, saw.
(I.) machlin^, were hearing.
arkt^n
machlis^n
ark^n
machly^n
Conditional.
falo, do.
(I.) felyo, may do.
fasho
f61iso
falo
f61yo
fasho
f^liso
shacheino, work.
(III.) shacheinino, may work.
shacheisau
shachdinisan
shacheyan
shacheinyan
57. Negative. The negative particle is ma,
an, or ha.
Their use is as follows : —
Imperative.
ha, with the infinitive with -in added, e.g.
hadal, talk.
ha hadlin, don't talk,
(plur.) ha hadlinina, don't talk.
Perfect Mood.
Present tense.
ma, with the present perfect tense, e. g.
ma joga, he is not here.
SYNTAX 47
Past tense.
ma, with the infinitive with -n added, e.g.
midna maarkin, I saw no one.
Conditional
an, with the infinitive with -in added, e.g.
hadanad gh6bonin, if you do not do.
hadanu jogin, if he is not here.
58. Imperfect Mood.
Present and Past tenses.
The infinitive is used followed by the tense
terminations, which are negatived as explained
above (§ 57). (Cf. note in § 52.)
Thus the i again appears as an auxiliary verl),
and in this case, in negative form, as a separate
word and not combined with the verb itself; e.g.
doni may a, I am not w^anting.
garan maya, I do not understand.
tegi main, I was not going.
The present tense form is conjugated without
personal pronouns.
Present tense —
doni maya
,, maisa
„ maya
I do not want, or,
,, maisa
- I shall not want,
,, mayna
&c.
„ maisan
„ mayan ^
48 SYNTAX
In the past tense the negative form for perfect
tenses, being the infinitive, with ma and n, is
not conjugated either in this or in the perfect
tenses.
The negative of the future tense is the same
as the negative present imperfect.
Conditional tense. In this also the i may be
said to be conjugated regularly, but is not treated
as a separate word.
Thus the root i makes infinitive in and
negative conditional an inin (§ 57), e.g.
hadanad ghoboninin, if you shall not do.
Note. — The negative of wa is maha. (Cf.
§ 25-)
59. The Interrogative.
The interrogative particle is ma, e.g.
ma d6nisa ? do you want it '?
ma j6ga ? is he here ?
ma arkten 1 did you see 1
ma is combined with the personal pronouns,
maan, mian, maad, miad, miu, miad arkt^ ?
did you see 1
After interrogative adverbs or pronouns the
particle ma is not required.
SYNTAX 49
(For such interrogative parts of speech vide
§§ 29, 33. 43), e.g.
ya kal^h jira ? what else is there ]
inte jirta ? how far is it 1
The interrogative ' why ? ' is translated by
mahan u, mahad u, &c. (Cf. §§ 43, 64.)
In negative interrogative sentences the ma
retains the interrogative sense, and an is used
as the negative particle, e. g.
mianad donisa ? do you not want 1
The particle s5, sho, expresses doubt or
potentiality, e.g.
so ano miad donisa ? perhaps you want
milk ? or, don't you want milk 1
sho maha ? is it not ?
60. The Passive.
(i) This may be expressed as in English by
wa, is, are, and the participle (§§ 25, 49), e. g.
wa adesan, it is cleaned,
(ii) The commoner way of expressing the
passive is by the use of the particle la.
This then has the same meaning as the French
oil in on clit, ' it is said/
The passive subject is in the objective case
and the verb is in the 3rd pers. masc. singular,
as if la were the subject, e. g.
E
50 SYNTAX
la kenya, it is being "brought ; it is coming.
isaga ma la sin, he has not been given, or,
no one gave him.
imisa la donya ? how many are wanted ?
Note : la u becomes lo.
la ku „ lagu.
e.g. sirakisM kaleh biyu lo geiya, the other
officers are being brought their water.
wa lagu dulmya, he is being ill-treated.
6 1. Auxiliary Verbs.
don, will.
kar, be able, can.
jir, be (used in jDast tense to form a past
habitual tense).
These are conjugated regularly, and take the
infinitive, which precedes them ; e. g.
wan t^gi dona, I will go.
wad t^gi kari d6nta, yoa will be able to go.
wu soon kari maya, he cannot walk.
wan oUi jir6, I used to live.
62. Irregular Verbs.
The principal ones are : —
Imper. Inf. Pres.Perf. Pres.Imjperf.
imo, come. iman. imada. imanya.
deh, say. oran. irada. oranya.
oil, live. olli. al. (oUya).
ogho, know, oghon. oghda. oghaha.
SYNTAX 51
In these four verbs the imperfect tenses are
conjugated regularly, but in the perfect tenses
the specific consonants for the different persons
are added to the beginning, instead of to the
termination.
The past perfects are also irregular :
imi, came. iri, said
il, lived. oghad^, knew.
The conditional of imo is imado.
wan imi, came. irada, say.
wad timi. tirada.
wu yimi. yirada.
w6nu nimi. nirana.
The only other irregular verbs to be mentioned
here are the doubtful verbs :
f'-'^™ lahan lehda 1^«^^
leh - ought I lenya
( should
I have not i wehya wei
1 cannot ( wahya
(-i he -in -ia, -yaha).
(§§ 25, 52, 58.)
63. Examines of Irregular Verbs.
gormad timi ? when did you come ?
ma iman (§ 57), not come (all persons).
wa imanya, he is coming.
E 2
weh
52 SYNTAX
yimada, come ye.
hadenu nimano, if we come.
gortu yimado, when he comes.
wahad tirada^ say this.
muhu yirada ? what does he say 1
mahad oran ? what are you going to say 1
wahan oranya, I am saying.
muhu yiri ? what did he say 1
markan irado, when I say.
miska dushisi yal, it is on the table.
achalkeiga yalin, they are in my house.
haggead. talin ? where do you live ?
Burao enii nal, I live in Burao.
hagga dnu nil, I lived over there.
wan oghon, I shall know.
wan oghaha, I know.
wan oghadd, I knew.
moofi, mooyi, I don't know.
ma toghan ? do j^ou know it 1
wachaba ka ma oghon, he knew nothing
of it.
mahad i orou lehdin ? what have you to
tell mo ?
mahad lehda ? what have you (to say) 1
wahan lehya, I have, &c.
inad. takto yad lehda, you have got to go.
inad egto yad. lehda, you must have seen.
SYNTAX 53
* twenty ' deh, say ' twenty.'
dochso deh, tell him to hurry.
aniga leh, it is mine,
ya leh ? who&e ?
laagti ban ku sin laha, I should give you
the pay. (Cf. § 70.)
64. Weh. This is a defective irregular nega-
tive verb. It is employed as an auxiliary and
consequently takes the infinitive. Its meaning
is rather a surprised or unexpected negative, or
refusal, or impossibility.
It is especially used after ' why not 1 ' ' why
didn't?' (cf. § 59), e.g.
mahad u yeli wehdi? Avhy didn't you do it 1
mahad u doni wehda ? why don't you look
for it 1
mahad i gu shegwei ? why didn't you tell me ?
wei, wahyi, I couldn't find him.
leh wah, la wah, he is lost.
biyu mesha benu ku wehna, we cannot find
water at that place.
PART III.
EXAMPLES OF SENTENCES.
(The numbers in brackets refer to notes at
the end.)
65. Simple /Sentences.
muhu donya ? what does he want 1
ninka bu donya, wuhu donya ninka, the
man w^ants.
tolmati ? golimati ? (i) what is your tribe 1
hagge t^gisa ? -where are you going ']
ma machalisa ? do you hear ?
ma garanisa ? do you understand ?
ha, wa machlya, yes, I hear,
ha, wa garanya, yes, I understand,
mahad warrenta ? what news do you bring 1
waha kaleh ma jira ? is there anything else 1
waehaba ma jira ? {2) there is nothing.
u sheg^, I liave told him.
u yede, lo y^d6, I have called him ; he is sent
for.
ma hilbta ? are you sure ?
wa huba, I am sure,
ka weidi, ask him.
SENTENCES 55
ha ilowin, don't forget.
ma ilowdi ? did you forget ?
wa u maldnya, (3) I think so.
wa oghanya, (4) I will find out.
wa ku so tashanya, (4) I will think about it.
idna maarkten ? did you see any one ?
u didi, he refused.
ma tegisa ? are you going ?
ha, berri wa t^gya, yes, I am going to-morrow.
mahad u malenisa ? why do you think so ?
mahan somenya anigu ? what am I to do ?
nas bati, (5) you are a fool.
mahad oron donta ? what are you going to say ?
anigu u raaya, I will accomj)any him.
faraska ban fiili dona, I will ride the horse.
alabada halkan diga, put the luggage down
here.
sanduchas tambucheiga ku keu, put that box
in my tent.
laba saadod bad ghobonise inta, you have
been two hours doing that.
gelupta dameya, finish it this evening.
iminkan tagno, (6) let us go now.
iminkad t^gi Burao, you are now coming to
Burao.
biya ma ku jira ? is there water there ?
intii jira ? how for is it ?
56 SENTENCES
ma jira, ma kii jira, there is none.
imisa ka dambei, liow long after 1
ma haista ? (7) have you got it 1
wa haista, I have got it.
mahad siden ? what did you bring ?
wa biika, biiksata ; I am sick ; well.
wa buksanya, 1 am getting well.
wa bachtya, (he) I am dying.
ninki wa bahsote, the man has escaped.
wa bahsonya, (8) he will escape.
wa dinti, he is dead.
wa dinyi, it is ready.
wahas igu ma wanaksana, that is no good
to me.
rikabyada i gabi, (9) shorten the stirrup?.
faraska kori, saddle the pony.
B. inte jirta ? (10) how far is B. ?
D. inte B. jirta ? how far is B. from D. ?
imisa gedi u jiran? (11) how many marches?
laba lugodleh gormad ku tegisa? (12) how
long would you take on foot 1
faraska gormu t^gya ? how long on a pony ?
laba ashoin (dararod) B. innagu geina, we
must get to h. in two days.
d^righa kaleh ma jira ? is there another road?
eilke ma enu marina? (13) what well do we
pass ?
SENTENCES 57
wa dagahah, wa bur, it is stony, hilly,
tolma halkan tal ? -what tribe lives here 1
biyaha raa orya ? does the water smell ?
maya, lekin wa dudun hiinyihi, no, but It
tastes bad.
biya dduiku filan ma haisatan ? have you
enough water ?
wahyar bdn haisona, we have a little.
wa idiuku filanyihi, it is quite enough for you.
aurka achalka dochso ka daya, that cameVs
load will fall off directly.
mahad markihore igu shegwei ? why didn't
you tell me before '?
mahad igu shegisa ? why do you tell me ?
ma gor hor u tage ? has he gone long ?
ghunyar hadal, wahan weidyo wehe ga eli,
talk slowly, and answer what I ask.
anigu tachsir maan lehya, dameian shuehul-
keiga, (14) it is not my fault, I have done
my work.
wa kan tebelka saran ka ken, bring that one
there on the table.
achli ma lahain, he has no sense.
hagga bochol talaba ka dambeya, follow on
a hundred yards behind.
hagga ka durka, move away in that direction,
so kala bad, half fill it for me.
58 PARTICLES
wa kala badanyi, it is lialf full.
adigu radki don, wah kaleh ha ghobonin,
yan lagu arkin, do nothing but look for
the track, and don't let yourself be seen.
intad beina wastai, o yad tugtai, you are not
only a liar, but a thief.
66. List of Common Particles, ^-c.
wa, (i) is, are ;
(ii) affirmative particle; e.g.
wa nin hun, he is a bad man.
wa sida, it is so.
wa kuan, here they are.
wa saddehh, there are three.
wa imisa ? how many are there ?
wa mahai ? what is it %
wa wanaksana, it is good.
wa haista, I have got.
wa joga, he is there.
ma, (i) negative particle ;
(ii) interrogative particle ; e.g.
ma joga ? is he there 1
ma joga, he is not there,
ha, (i) yes;
(ii) negative imperative particle, 2ndpers.;
(iii) 3rd pers. pron. imperative ; e.g.
ha hadlin, don't talk.
ha tago, let him go.
PARTICLES 59
an, (i) I ;
(ii) negative particle with conditional tenses
and with interrogative particle; e.g.
hadanan jogin, If I was not here.
mianad donisa ? do you not want ?
ba, (i) distributive ;
(ii) generic ; e.g.
nimba toban u si, give each man ten.
aurba, the camel.
VI, ku, gu, (i) you, him ;
(ii) to, for; e.g.
u si, give him.
B. gormad ku takte ? when did you go to B. ?
mahad u falisa ? what are you doing it for ?
ka, (i) from ;
(ii) that way ;
(iii) more . . . than (§ 68) ;
(iv) that (pronoun) ; e. g.
haggead ka timi ? where have you come from ?
ka ghad, take it away.
iss, 'ss, reflexive, e.g.
mahad iss tiri ? what did you mean ?
'ss ku doada, close together,
'ss ka, there ! e. g.
'ss ka baha, get out of that !
'ss ka ghad, take it away there !
'ss ka tag, go away there !
60 PARTICLES
la, (i) passive particle ;
(ii) with ;
(iii) deprived of; e.g.
ma la sin, I have not been given one.
wa sirkalki la joga, he is with the officer (i. e.
servant).
labaton midla, 20 minus 1,19.
idla, without any one.
si, (i) that way;
(ii) give ;
(iii) adverbial (§ 25) ; e. g.
si jeso, turn that way.
so, this way, e. g.
so jeso, turn this way.
so ghad, fetch.
kala, apart, e.g.
kala durka, move apart, extend.
ad, properly, well, very, e.g.
ad u tiri, count carefully.
malaha, perhaps,
laan, without, e.g.
sent6ri laan, without a sentry.
o . . . mahai, without, unless, e. g.
o hiikum mahai, without an order,
adigu o h.6li mahai, unless you find it.
adigu mahai imisa kal6h jiran ? how many
others are there besides you ?
SENTENCES 61
o, and, because.
yo, -na, and (joins substantives).
ama, mise, or.
Idkin, but.
hadi kaleh, or else.
Examples of Compound Sentences.
67. Relative Sentences. (15)
nimanka halka faristan, u yed, send for the
men who are sitting over there.
kitabki miskeigi saran, la kali, bring me the
book lying on my table,
niriki ka don, ki saka Burao ka yimi, find
the man who came from Burao this morning.
ninki iminkan u yedi, the man I sent for just
now.
ninkani miad arkt^? kan ma ninka ad
arkte ? is this the man you saw 1
askarti o magaoda yan iri, ha yimada, those
soldiers whose names I called, come.
wahan shale ku iri, miadan ghobsan ? do you
not remember what I said yesterday ?
mahad u machli wehda, wehe lagu yiri ?
(16) why don't you listen to what you are
toldl
wahan ku irada yel, do what I tell you.
sidan ku iri fal, {17) do as I said.
62 SENTENCES
wahan ku weidie wahad ku eli, answer my
question.
nin walba arenka ainkasa someya, tachsir
ulus ya ghobsonisa, every man who
makes a complaint like that will get heavily
punished.
nimankas hujuddi yai someyen, tachsir
delin bai nochoden, those men who com-
mitted that crime deserve the punishment
of death.
affar aren bai ku so ashtakoden, laba ash-
tako run bai nochod^, (i8) they brouglit
four complaints, only two were found to be
true.
orod o ka so tasho, run and think about it.
gor walba ayarsiska hortisi so baha, hadi
kaleh wa lehdin tachsirya, always turn
out before parade, or else you will be
punished.
aloshi hononisa, o soon kari maya, my belly
hurts, I can't walk.
gudimoinki wa afbelan, o milla affdyan
mahai, oda goin mayan, the gudiinos
are (so) blunt (that) without being sharp-
ened they cannot cut the wood.
wa adagyihi, o lagu goin kari maya, it is so
Ijard, (and) it cannot be cut.
SENTENCES 63
ha s5 nochon, adigu o banduchi heli mahai,
(19) do not come back without finding tiie
rifle.
nimanka la ma tachsire, iyagu o so ashta-
koden, (20) the men were not punished
because they brought a comphiint.
halka d^rta wa wein, there, where the big
trees are.
ashtakodi sirkaiki gorti u machald, when
the ofhcer had listened to the complaint.
nimankase waha lagu tachsire, marki ash-
takodi la machale, o sirkaiki iyagi la
mel nochodd, markasi hiikumki diden,
(21) but those men were puni&hed, (because)
when their complaint was heard, and the
officer had taken their part, still they re-
fused to obey the order.
mahad iss tiri, marka wahad somenise?
what did you mean by doing that ?
B. markad ghobto, wahad ku tirada sir-
kaiki, (22) when you reach B. tell the
officer this.
intan so nochdo, meshas jogsdda, wait over
there until I come back.
biya an abo i ken, (23) bring me drinking-
water.
wan oghaha mel i jiro, I know where it is.
64 SENTENCES
garan maya mel dagahas o kaleh ka dono,
I don't know where to find stones like that.
wahan faristo i ken, bring me something to
sit on.
halki manti doweda gaden, gada, go as far
as you went the other day.
intad soon karto soo, o yan idina ku arkin,
go as far as you can without being seen.
labaton nin o owinan, ban ku so dirya,
I will send 20 men to help you.
68. Comparalwe Sentences.
kas wa ka wanaksana, that is better.
achalkakan achalkihore ka w6in, (24) this
house is bigger than the former.
achalkas aehal ka wein someya, make a
bigger house than that one.
marka dambe shuchulka shuchul dama
someya, in the future do more work than
that.
nimayo, shuchulkihore shuchul ka badan
ghobten, you men have done more work
than l)efore.
Isa warankayaga waran ka wein yu lehyahi
(sita), the Isa carries a bigger sj^ear than
ours.
inta waha ka yira i ken, bring me less than
that.
SENTENCES 65
warankas wa fiidud, that is a light spear.
kas wa fududyihi, (25) that is very light.
faraska wa wanaksan, wanaksan, wanaksan,
that horse is really fine.
kan wa ugug wanaksan, this is best of all.
saddehhda kas sa wein, (26) that is the biggest
of the three.
sa sa wanaksan, it is best.
kas sa \ , '; , '., . f^i'^t is easiest.
[ sahalanyihi,
gorigha gorigh ka adag wa waiyi, (27) there
is no harder wood to be found than that.
holaha mesha jogan, hola ka wein weligi
ma arkin, the animals at that place are the
biggest I have ever seen.
waha badan doni maya, I don't want so much.
derigha ya hagaksan, this is the \
road, * P^P*-^
kan ma kas gabanyihi ? is that shorter than
this?
innaga ma idin badna, they are not so many
as we.
ninkan waha ma tari wei, hog ma leh
wachaba tari mayo, this man is useless,
he is not strong enough for anything.
doliskas eilka ma gadia? is that rope long
enough for the well 1
66 SENTENCES
inad A. J ^ ^ doni maya, I do not want
idafto ^ '
, f go further than A.
you to ^ *=*
( pass
69. Oratlo oUiqua. (28)
wahan donya berri inan tago, I waut to go
to-morrow.
wahan donya inu dochso u so ndchdo, I
want him to come l)ack quickly.
wahan jaalahai halkan inan jogo, I should
like to stay here.
wahan donya inad Burao takto, I want you
to go to Burao.
inn fogado doni maya, I don't want him to go
far.
ma inad takto miad donisa? do you want to go?
inu jogo mianu donya ? does he not want to
stay?
wahan u maldnya, berri inan tago, I think
I am going to-morrow.
wahan siigya inu yimado, I am waiting for
him to come.
inteinu buhin karo, iminka ineinu buhinno
sa sa wanaksan ; ineinu mesha biyu
ku wehna, ka yabia (bachanya), it is
best for us to fill as much as possible now,
(as) I fear we shall find no water at that
place.
SENTENCES ij7
malaha wa arare, I expect (perhaps) be has
run away.
mahad u malenisa ? haggu tage ? where do
you think he has gone I
wahan u malenya, Burao bu ku tegi, I think
he is going to Burao.
wan u mal^n maya in ilach dambi daiso,
I don't think there will be more trouble.
inla sidayo ragi wanaksan, la doni maya,
(29) one does not want to let good men go.
ad u garta, wahas wa la hunyihi, o ghainun
maha, understand thoroughly that that is
very bad and not discipline.
wahad ku tirada, 'ss ka taga, tell them to go
away,
wahad ku tirada, Olesan ghobo, o dochso u
tago, tell him to go to Olesan and hurry up.
nin u dir, o All wahad ku tirada, so nocho,
send a man to tell Ali to come back.
mise ilod^, ama ku tiri ? did you forget to
tell him 1
mahad u dide u rai ? mahad u rai wehdi ?
why wouldn't you go with him 1
san (sidan) waha irado, garan maya, I don't
know how to say that.
markas wahan iri, ' shuchulkina ghobta,*
markas weh6 yiraden, 'ghobon mayna,'
r 2
6.8 SENTENCES
then when I told them to do their work,
they said they wouldn't.
70. Conditional Sentences. (30)
haddu jogo haddatan uyed, if he is here now,
call him.
, -.^ ^ > fumban , ..
hadenu fogano, wa ^ , , , . donna, if we go
far, we shall be lost.
hadiad ninki disho, mehe yeli donan ? if
you kill the man, what will they do 1
■u ^■^■^- i bachanin, .
hadiaidman < ^ ■. • so maydin noch-
( la absinm, "^
den, (31) if you had not been frightened,
you would not have returned.
Burao hadian jogo, Garrero ma imad^n, if
I had been at Burao, I should not have come
to Garrero.
iminka Burao hadian jogo, laagti ban ku
sin laha, (32) if I were at Burao now,
I should give you the money.
haddu markihore i shego . . ., if you had told
nie before ....
machli maya, hadian u maleyo inu bein
shego, I should not listen, if I thought lie
was telling a lie.
laag ku sin maya, adigu jogi mahai, I shall
not give you j^ay, if you do not stay.
MILITARY TERMS 69
haddad jogto, inad egto wad lehda, if you
were there, you must have seen.
hadiad shuchulka, an donya, anad ghobo-
nin, shuchulkeyga ku ma wanaksanid,
(33) if you do not do your work as I want,
you are no good to me.
hukumka machala, amaha humado, amaha
sumado, i . -^ _ the order, whether bad
T ( listen to
or good.
hadi hukum lagii shego, waehaba weidi-
nina, (34) if an order is given you, ask no
questions.
saddehh asho hadiad ka badsato, laag heli
maysa, (35) if you are more than three
days on the road, you will get no pay.
nin walba wa ku hukumyahai, haddu iss
yirado, wa lagu diilmya, inu ku so
ashtakodo, (36) every man is allowed, if
he imagines he is being ill-treated, to bring
a complaint.
71. Military Terms.
banduch-hi, rifle.
rasas-ti, ammunition.
shachado-di, bandolier,
sun-ki, belt, strap,
askari-gi, soldier.
70 ]\rTLITARY TERMS
mahabis, prisoner.
illalo-di, spy, scout.
oll-ki, eiieraj .
talaba-di, pace,
ayarsis-ki, parade,
shuchul-ki, fatigue, work.
selid-di, oil.
suf-ki, rag.
ration-ki, rations,
timir-ti, dates.
baris-ki, rice.
siibukh-hi, ghee,
hilib-ki, meat.
fasahh-hi, leave.
tachsir-ki, punishment, fault.
ashtako-di, complaint.
hukum-ki, order.
aren-ki, case, suit.
ghainun-ki, discipline,
tachsir, punish.
haul-shi, business.
Wadad-ki, the Mullah.
Military Phrases.
sara jogso, stand up.
'ss ku hagaji, stand properly.
ha dakhdachaghin, don't fidget.
mad aha sar ' u tosi, hold your head up.
MILITARY PHRASES 71
sakarka so behd, throw the chest out.
hadalka 'ss ka daya, stop that talking.
banducha wanaji, hold your rifle properly.
hor u so baha, come forward.
dib u jogso, staud back.
sooda ! forward !
mahad u siigisa ? what are you waiting for ?
talabada hagajia, keep the proper step.
talaba, take a j)ace.
bidehda, midigta, left, right.
bidehda egta, look to the left.
ganta sida, drop the hand.
so jeso, 'ss ka rug, turn this way.
adigu waiye ; inti kaleh. sooda, only you ;
the rest go on.
dimantin, the whole.
mar keliah, all at the same time,
'ss leh egta, all together.
' halt ' markan irado, when I say ' halt.'
sidi iminka, do that again.
ka war' ! wake up !
so baha, turn out.
nin walba (kasta), every (each) man.
shuchalkaga ghobo, do 3-our work.
guardka wa ghobonya, he is doing guard.
kuma leh ? whose turn is it ?
wa Farah leh, it is Farah's turn.
72
MILITARY PHRASES
hukumki adu machli, listen to the order,
hukumki wa mahai ? what is the order 1
dufo, sound (bugle).
ma dufta ? shall I sound ?
kala durka, extend (separate),
'ss ku doada, close (close up).
fardaha radi, follow up the horses' tracks.
fardi so kahai, bri]ig the horses here.
ka da, get off.
nin ba maghan, there is one man absent.
72. Tlie following orders the men in my com-
23anies were made to learn by heart.
lliihumki ragi ^ guard' ~
ki vxdije.
1. ad u barta hii-
kumka.
2. ninka ' com-
manding'ka o idin
fasahi mahai, ha ka
t^gina ' guard 'ka.
3. ' dress 'ka yo
shachado midna ha
'ss ka furrina.
4. marka sent^rigi
idin doago, doehso 11
so baha, hagga fron-
tina u jesta, o 'slope
arms.'
Orders for men on
guard.
1. learn the orders.
2. don't leave the
guard without leave
from the commander of
the guard.
3. don't take off any
part of uniform or
equipment.
4. when the sentry
calls, turn out at once,
turn to the front and
slope arms.
MILITARY PHRASES
73
Hiikumki senterigi
wahje.
1. hukumkaga he-
ji.
2. frontada u eg.
3. golupka sirka-
liga ad u illali.
4. idna ha la had-
lin.
5. maliabisti tiri,
o senteri laan ninna
ha si d6in.
6. dubka, yo de-
luda, ama ' bugle '-
ka ' alarm ' hadi la
yirado, ' guard 'ka so
sare.
7. wahad garan
wehda hadi-ad ark-
to, ' guard com-
manding'ka u sheg.
8. si wanaksan sa-
adi, o fronti 'ss ka
rug, o sirakishi u
ida ' salute 'si, ma-
jorka 'present 'si.
9. ' guard 'ka so sa-
Ordersfor the sentry.
1. understand your
orders.
2. look to your front.
3. look after all go-
vernment projDerty.
4. don't talk to any-
one.
5. count the prison-
ers, and don't allow one
out without a sentry.
6. In case of fire and
alarm, or, if the 'alarm'
is sounded, turn out the
guard.
7. anything unusual
report to the comman-
der of the guard.
8. walk about pro-
perly, turn to the front,
salute all officers, 'pre-
sent ' to a major.
9. turn out the
74
MILITARY PHRASES
ra, saddehda bugle,
' Revelld, Retreat,
Tattoo ' ; sirkalki
' commanding 'ka
markeliah; 'Orderly
Oflacer,' ama 'Visit-
ing Rounds' marku
idin irado; partigi
askarti banaduchi
sidan.
guard, at Reveille, Re-
treat, and Tattoo, to
the C. O. once, to the
O. O., or Visiting
Rounds, whenever he
tells you, to all armed
parties.
NOTES.
(i) -ti the 2nd sing., t prefixed, of the verb
-i, be.
(2) The negative words waohaba and midna
require the negative particle as well.
(3) This verb almost always is used with u.
(4) The present imperfect tense has a sense
of futurity, intention, or willingness.
(5) bati for bad ti, see (i).
(6) iminkan for iminka an.
(7) haiso, have got.
Present Perfect Tense.
wan haista. wenu haisona.
wad haista. we din haisatan.
wu haista. wo haistan.
we haista.
(8) Verbs of this class seem to be very
irregular in dropping the o, and in the length
of it.
(9) i, for me.
76 NOTES
(lo) jirta, fem. referring to mesha, the place,
(ii) gddi, one camel's march.
(12) laba lugodleh, on both feet; compare
also buUi har^dleh, rain-water bulli ; (mel)
derkenleh, place of euphorbia trees ; and
aniga leh, it is mine.
(13) ke, an interrogative form of the definite
article ; cf. interrogative pronoun ke ? who 1
(14) dameian for an dameie.
(15) There is no true relative pronoun, it is
usually omitted, or represented by the definite
article.
(16) Literally, ' what one told you.' wehd is
the plural, and is object of yiri.
(17) sidan, sidi an.
(18) so gives the meaning of 'bringing' the
complaint ; ka would imply ' taking ' it.
( 1 9) mahai behaves as an auxiliary verb.
(20) o is thus used meaning ' because.'
(21) la mel nochod^, 'take part with.*
(22) ghobto is conditional tense, as always
after such conjunctions, unless the time is a de-
finite past.
(23) = ' bring me water that I may drink.'
(24) The subject of comparison is the subject
of the sentence and therefore placed first. Where
NOTES 77
the subject of comparison is the object of the
sentence, it follows the noun it is compared
with.
(25) fududyihi. This form of adjectival
verb gives the superlative sense of ' very.'
(26) sa, another form of expressing the super-
lative, but means ' most.'
(27) waiyi, 'cannot be found.'
(28) AVhen there is any intention or uncer-
tainty implied, in with conditional tense is used.
In direct narrative, the original oratio recta is
repeated.
(29) Here la is evidently used exactly as any
personal pronoun, and attached to the conjunc-
tion (cf. § 60).
(30) There is at present some vagueness about
the correct forms for the various types of condi-
tional sentence. These examples are therefore
veiy deficient.
(31) may din for ma aidin.
(32) laha makes a conditional tense, and is
used as an auxiliary verb.
(33) an donya, 'which I want.'
hadiad . . . anad, more correctly would be
in one w^ord, hadanad.
(34) wachaba weidinina [cf. note (2)].
78 NOTES
Here the negative particle ha is omitted, but the
verb is put in negative form.
(35) A verb badso, increase.
(36) dulmya for dulunya, n before a vowel
usually becomes m.
iss yirado, literally, ' say to oneself.'
ADDENDA
{These additional notes arrived from So^naliland
too late to he incorjwrated in the text.)
§5-
daf, descend, go down.
kor, climb, go up.
§6.
alamadi, mark, make a mark on.
bedel, change.
bel, lose.
warabi, give to drink, water,
daji, graze, take to graze.
dakh, graze (intrans.).
ingeji, dry (trans.).
mair, wash (with water).
mairo, be washed.
liss, milk {tracts.).
nasi, rest, give rest to.
80 ADDENDA
tab, touch; meddle with.
tol, sew.
dufo (dufta), blow (a whistle, bugle).
§7-
ku nocho, repeat, say again.
§ 10.
The following fine distinction seems to be made
between i and u : —
u is employed for persons and things well
known, and about which there can be no doubt.
It would not be used when any epithet qualifies
the noun.
i is employed in a perfectly vague and in-
definite sense. Thus —
sirkalka would refer to an officer actually pre-
sent.
sirkaiki would refer to any officer whatever, not
present.
sirkalku would refer to the man's own imme-
diate officer, or company commander.
11 is thus used frequently for common and
well-known objects, as,
biyahu, chorahhdu, naguhu,
and in the personal pronouns,
anigu, adigu.
ADDENDA 81
§17-
barmil-shi, barrel,
kibrid-di, match.
llohh-hi, wood (box wood),
masaf-ki, funnel.
saman-ki, goods (general term),
shama-hi, candle.
§ i8.
dasad-di, any tin pot, can.
gudimo-di, native axe, small blade on a forked
stick.
hongol-ki, hooked stick, for dragging in
branches for the zareba ; entrance to an en-
closure.
§19-
bilad-di, country, land.
dali-gi, road.
bdr-ti, dried-up dung, grass. Sec.
§ 21.
ghodah-hi, general name for thorn trees.
damel-ki, a thorn tree with small hard pods,
like French beans, eaten by Somalis.
G
82 ADDENDA
§ 25-
All simple adjectives observe the following very
general rules of inflexion : —
When qualifying a noun with the def. art.,
add a.
When qualifying a plural noun, reduplicate the
first syllable.
Both inflexions take place concurrently, e. g.
ninki wanaksana dagahhanta yaryara.
dagahha -wanaksana dagahhan balbalaran.
dagahhan yaryar.
§26.
baan, bad-tempered.
dab, true.
fian, good, smart, clever.
§54.
In § 24 it is noticed that most polysyllabic
nouns change their gender in the plural. If the
plural form is masc, the masc. form of the verb
is used, and vice versa, irrespectively of the
natural gender of the noun ; e. g.
ninki wa imanya, the man is coming,
nimanki wa imanyan, the men are coming,
askarigi wa wanaksenyihi, the soldier is good.
ADDENDA 83
askarti wa wanaksentahain, the soldiers are
good.
nagti wa imanisa, the woman is coming,
naguhu wa imanyan, the women are coming,
dagahha wa hunyihi, the stone is bad.
dagahhanta wa huntahain, the stones are bad.
the camels weut.
§/■•
alan-ki, flag.
bedel, relieve, change.
markhad-di, witness.
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