Initia Amharica: An Introduction to spoken Amharic, Part I

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INITIA An

AMHARICA

Introduction to spoken Amharic

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE, C. F.

ILonion:

CLAY, Manager.

FETTER LANE,

so,

Hciviia: l^eta

Bombag

gotk:

anl) Calculta:

E.G.

WELLINGTON STREET.

F. A.

G. P.

BROCKHAUS. PUTNAM'S SONS.

MACMILLAN AND

[A/i Rights reserved.

"l

CO., Ltd.

AA {i^lx^

INITIA AMHARICA An

Introduction to spoken Amharic

BY C.

H.

ARMBRUSTER, Sudan

late of

H.M.

M.A.

Civil Service;

Administration, British Central Africa;

sometime Minor Scholar of King's College, Cambridge.

Part

I

GRAMMAR

Cambridge at

:

the University Press

1908

eMoi Ae HApA

nANTA TON AofON YTTOKeeTAI

yn' eKACTooN ako^

OTI

TA AGfOMeNA

rp^cpcx).

Herod,

ii.

123.

To a Frie?id

PREFACE. rriHE words and

phrases in this work have been taken down from the mouth of natives \ As

-L

many

as possible of the phrases are such as have

been said spontaneously,

The

of cross-examination.

members

are not the products

i.e.

Abyssinian,

like

other

of partially civilised peoples, or uneducated

individuals of

hi
races, does not always

speak naturally when (juestioned by a stranger. If he has had no education of any kind he experiences the same difficulty in answering en(iuiries concerning the language he unreflectingly uses as would, circumstances, an uncultured European.

in similar

Those, on the other hand,

who have any smattering

of learning tend to supply one with

may

which

or

may

'

fine

language

not be idiomatic, instead of the

ordinary conversational expressions current themselves.

'\ '

In any case

of course incompatible

it is

with the position of the white

among

man

that natives should

address him in the style in which they address one another.

what ^

I

I

have, therefore, paid

more attention

to

have heard natives say to each other than to

While the language of

all sorts

and conditions of men, from

wherever they come, has been noted,

it

is

hardly necessary to

say that care has been taken to avoid as informants individuals

speaking Tigrmna, Agadnfia, Gallinna, Arabic,

Amharic only as an acquired tongue. - cp. the so-called ^J^ Lgijt and

t^^**-*-

etc.,

and knowing

Preface.

viii

what they have said to me, and have not excluded words or modes of expression on account of their so-called vulgarity^

:

the object in view being to give

some description not so much of what, in the opinion of learned Europeans and natives, Abyssinians ought to say as of what in point of fact they do say. In dealing with a spoken language

have not

I

hesitated to use colloquial English.

Those who wish to pursue their acquaintance with Amharic beyond this Introduction I would refer to the writings of Guidi, my indebtedness to which I In his magdesire to acknowledge most gratefully. nificent Vocabolario a work indispensable to serious '

'

'

',

students of the language, there

is

a brief bibliography

of Amharic and kindred subjects.

In the few cases where

I

have differed from Guidi

regard to the meaning of words ^

in

has been

it

with diffidence, and only after repeated verification. Differences as regards form are of as I have

occurrence,

more frequent

concerned myself with the

spoken rather than the written word.

The publication of

this series has

been rendered

possible by the financial assistance of the Egyptian

Government, as advised by Lord Cromer, and by the liberal attitude of the Syndics of the Pitt Press.

Quot homines,

^

[).

201 >i'>^T'

vulgaire

'

:

'

:

yet

I

tot sententiae

lieard this useful

Dejjazmach Gassasa, a 2

I

man

In cases like ?iH,^

(Vocab.

p.

487)

find in use.

:

e.g.

Mondon-Vidailhet, Gram.

Cette facoii de parler passe aujourd'hui pour

may be

or

word employed repeatedly by

of great courtesy and refinement.

XH^ = there,

Guidi's

the original meaning

:

I

'quello L\'

give the one

Preface. I wish to express

my

cordial thanks, for valuable

information supplied and for assistance rendered in

many

ways, to Maj.-Gen. Sir F. Reginald Wingate,

K.C.B.

etc..

Sirdar and Governor-General, Lt.-Col. E.B.

W.

May, Capt. R. C. R. Owen, C.M.G., A. L. Butler, Esq. and J. Grieve, Esq., of the Sudan Government: to Lt.-Col. Lord Edward Cecil, D.S.O. and Capt. the Hon. C. James, of the Egyptian Government: to Capt. R. B. Black, Capt. C. Garvice, D.S.O. and El Mulazim Awwal Mustafa Effendi Izzeddin, of the Egyptian Army: to H. Farnall, Esq., C.B. etc., of the Caisse de la Dette, to F. B. Wynch, Esq., of the National Bank of Egypt, to W. B. Heard, Esq., late H.M. Vice-Consul at Addis Abeba, to Dr E. A.Wallis Budge, of the British Museum, and to Prof F. C. Burkitt, Dr M. R. James, George Wherry, Esq., M.A. etc., R. T. Wright, Esq., M.A., A. R. Waller, Esq., M.A. and J. Clay, Esq., M.A., of Cambridge: ?i'}*7^U Ae

U

hi,

h

If

A

la o

A-

lu

A.

li

A

la

A.

l^e

A

li,

1

A- V'o

rh

ha

rh-

hu

rh«

h1

'h

ha

rh.

h>e

rh

hi,

h

rh

!

'

o

9° mi, o'

m T

si,

s

I

ao i*»

(i

ma

ao*

o

mii '^ mil*^

ma

'^ m>e I

sa o

M*- sii

ra o

iiiiiau,

htC^

:

he refused to give §

36,

§

me 42)

allii,

there

is

beggar,

a beggar

last rad.

7

dgiii, find,

::

ti^'ia*^ h.*!"^

me

he gave me,

some parts of verbs with

hl'^

us

lammdniioc, beggars,

.

A*^'*/

in

me, to

ffive

lammau, a beggar,

:

t^a^'f^-'i'

(iii)

suft! (§ 12c)

hii K alsatjinn dla,

:

he refused to

dla,

alsatt'iiiiiim,

standing for A*^'^

us,

alsattanu

::

sattiin,

r.

t\fiifiiiy^9" a

(ii)

he gave

the pers.

(i)

tell us,

yilunnal, they will tell us,

S^fk'^fi\.

-fi,

12c) us, to us:

alun, they told us,

I',

Y\fit^'i9'*

-'•^

(§

pox;

::

find him,

dgiiiii dliiii,

he told

me

to find

words

kiiff*iii,

small-pox,

h^F'ti9°

::

kiiff'iiifi

aidallam,

it is

not small-

:

:

:

:

Amharic Grammar.

16

-T

[§

in certain words

-t

aoa\*?

t

matat, sometbinar to drink,

aoav'?

:

hti

drink

§

matatt

::

36,

allii

?,

is

there something to

?

standing for

(i)

-i,

-je,

6

§

-A.

-li

(§

1h) of the part.

31,

when nothing

or doubled

42), is single

(§

follows or before a consonant, doubled before a vowel: •I'je.

:

qSi or qayy

+J&

:

^fl>-

+^

red

(part, of

qai (qayy) nau,

::

it is

+A

qalla),

red,

qayyu (§11) the red one,

:

?»/Z,^A9"

*I»/S. :

(ii)

(§ 3),

::

qayy aidallam,

it is

not red

;

in parts of verbs with last rad. f is usually single

when nothing

follows or before a consonant,

doubled before a vowel: jili/J.

::

^*fe^

:

/J.'fef

^

yiqwwi, let

Vnc ::

>i'l'*fej&

:

::

him

yiqwwi nabbar, he was waiting,

yiqwwjrj iin, let K/V-^

wait,

::

him wait

for me,

me

not

(sayi

+ /i)

attiqww'yy dluii, they told

to wait.

The

inter, suff

-h -a and -at^ or

-o/Z.

when they

double certain consonants -wi) (wwi, -wdi O' O oo

*'

\

are attached to them

-A

-1,

of the aux.

/ifl^^A

j&n^A

::

::

yiyaqal,

yiyaqalla

jiflj^A^JR

-9"

-m

(as

-KA

::

-al (§

it is ?,

32)

enough,

^flj^Afflje, «

yiyaqallwi

?,

is it

yiyaqallwwi

enough ?

above)

hf^R'M)^"

::

hjf^F-fiVP^

aidallJihim, ::

you are not

(§

40),

aidallidiimmwi ?, are you not ?

?,

:

§

;;

:

Phonology.

6] -'•f

17

certain words

-c in

dinnic, potato,

J^^^

:

JE^"}^

::

dinnicca

The w of -wai oo ao^at^

t -n

::

potato

?,

?

doubled after a vowel

(-wa>i, -wi) is O

\

O'

mattawwf ?, has he come ?

::

words

in certain

consonant

is

single

when nothing or a doubled before a

follows, single or

vowel

man?, who?

'I'i

(§15),

man yauqal who knows ? man (nn) dliih who told you ?

*^'>

:

fah^fi\.

^Tr

:

htiV

::

::

?,

?,

mindin?, what?

y"'>j^-'>

J^^J^*} ^'

:

9^1^''} •^

:

iwi'n

::

15),

(§

matta?, what niindiu o o o •

•

htn*m

::

came?

amatta what did he miudinu ?, o o o •

•

'

bring ? -^ -n in S^Vi yihan (ace;

§

8;

§

13a)

single or

is

double in any position:

^Vi dyM hr*m :

:

yihan (nn) faras anta

K

(§ 7r^),

bring this horse, |MJ'>

:

h9"m

::

yihan (nn)

linta,

bring

this.

In analogy with the above variations the

11

of

becomes 1 when the -9^ is dropped, unless a vowel follows, and -^ -fin in parts of verbs with last rad. 7 is pronounced single Ai^A^AJ^ aidallam (da-

^*7

:

h^^-AJT"

^19^

:

^JR,^•A

::

::

y^F-^ YiTr^Vi :

§

7r/; §

dagg aidallam, and

daggimm .-

didal,

he

is

yaidiill indah'^on, if

biggaii for biggaiin 11*1^ AM. GB,

40)

i

if

he

is

not good

he

is

not

found. 2

:

:

;

:

Amharic Grammar.

18

The doubled

-A

final

[§

6

-11

*

-qq

-h

-kk

-T

-tt

-*?• -cc

of adv. and

with

h^

ala

more than one usually become

of

interj.

VflA)

(s.v.

syllable constr.

single before a

consonant 'flA^P'A'^

:

h^

'nA*P'A'^

:

ftAA

'flA^P'A'^

:

/I.A

biliclicc ala, it lightened,

:

biliclic vilal, it is lightening,

::

:

biliclic

h(D- a

nau, there

lil

is

going to be lightning. -qq, -kk are ft4*4»

:

sometimes retained before y

JiAA

::

siqiqq

yilal, it

J&AA K saksakk rattling sound

?fh?fVl

:

grates,

yilal,

makes a

it

slight

and sometimes before any consonant j^'flA4»A4»

:

hii

::

divliqliqq dla,

it

was in great

confusion, j?:'nA4'A4»

:

JiAA

;:

divliqliqq

(§

8)

yilal,

is

it

in

great confusion, j?:'flA4'A4*

:

rt,A

:

diyliqlfqqi

(§

7d)

sil,

when

it

is

in great confusion.

When final

such words are not constr. with hii their consonant may be single, and remain so before

a vowel: jt'flA4'A4» diyliqliq, in great confusion, j?:'nA4»A4»

:

h^F'^9^

::

in great confusion.

divliqliq aidalliim,

it

is

not

;

:

§

Phonology.

7a]

Monosyllabic adv. and

in

A

;

;

19

and those ending consonants other than the above usually keep a

doubled H(D*

consonant always doubled:

final At

:

A

zauw

::

(UA

r/fl>- 1

interj.

(§

zauwi

:

he entered unexpectedly,

3) dla,

he

if

vil,

(S "Jd)

un-

enters

expectedly; 'i&J^

:

hA

^&J^

:

f *TLA

g" (')fafF dla, he was very stout,

::

:

dfXh

:

g""^

ofaff yammfl sau, a very stout

man. Crasis or Contraction of Adjacent Voiveh.

When

§

the formation of words, grammatical in-

flexion, or the application of

other prefixes or sufiixes

involves the meeting of certain vowels, the following

contractions and modifications occur giiz

a(a) giiz

a(a) fffiz

a(a) rdvi

a

+ + + +

gfiz

a

(§

=

46)

rdyi,

=a

rayi

=

rdyi,

a

=

a

+ sddis = + i =

"rSz,

offiz

=

rdvi,

a

=

a

+ +

^A

e.g.

for ffl/wi'T*

e.g.

for e.s:.

yii-

e.or.

+ hii

exists,

dlla

bdmat, by the year,

fl-

ba- +*>/w>'> amat;

f CA« varsiT, of him, his, for f -

a(ji)

which

yalla,

yii-

fc<w»'')A,

+ ?»CA-

frsii

vimatal, he

is

f^tm^ yimata

ing, for

com-

+ -^i

-al(§32); rdvi

a

+ +

ravi

=

rdvi

a

=

a

e.a:.

^;^^fl^ g^etdccau, their master,

for

-accau

1^

(§

gJ'eta

+

-dl^iD-

126)

2—2

7a

:

:

; ;

.

Amharic Grammar.

20

= =

gTiz

i

+ +

sddis

+

sadis

i

-f

i

sddis

a

= =

So

rdyi,

sadis,

ftrh.j^

e.g.

for

i

o

+ y= + ya = i(i § 7r?) + ya

i

e.g.

ft- sio

= =

+ R -f

i

yi

^

when

I go,

-f ?irh.J?: '^ ihad o

'

syam), when he brings, for

7d)

(i §

shall I

?,

+^9"^anta;

sihad,

+ ^ao^ yamata

e.g. ft.«w»^

salis,

7d)

7a

fL^aom siyamata (siam-,

ft- si-

sadis

(§

bring?,for A-li-

a

^i sdlis +

sadis

[§

Mnta

fi9^m

e.g.

.

simata (sim), when

he comes, for

ft- si-

4- J&<w»«l

yiniata. o o

*>

may

f

+

salis 1

-f

arise

= a =

gjiz

from

salis

+ ^,

sadis

e.g.

(the con-

sonant)

•

-f ya

^A4'?"^A7I tilaqmyallas,

you (f are picking, for ^A^**^ tilaqmi htiti alias )

-I-

°° (§32a).

mav

f

hamis + yg

-h

arise

= =

gfiz

a

from hdmis

sadis -h^-, (the con-

sonant)

hamis + e

^

-1-

rdyi

=

sadis

a

=

(the con-

sonant) ^

This

is

phonology -

in

§

+ ya

;

-I-

-I-

e.g.

A^'J^^Aih laqimmyallau^

have picked, for A4**^ laqimm> e -H ^Ai> al(§ 7f?),

I

l^b

32«)

(§

^-, e.g. flC^'f fl>-

ya

bull, for

^

baryaccau, their

fl<J.

bar> e

+ a^fl>-

-dccau.

a point of orthography rather than of the common pronunciation is syam-

one of the resultants absorbing ^ e.g. /*J&^^Aih

If the consonant in sadis is o

7b

it

may become

aiccyallau'*

h e.%'

jucc' e

rdyi,

or ^l^^Al^ aiccallau^',

+ ^Al^

allau'^.

:

I

have seen, for

:

§

Phonology.

7&] ID

may *l

21

arise fi^om kdiv or sdvi: o* o •

kaiy

+

rdyi

=

sadis

u

+

a

=

(the con-

sonant)

+ gfiz = ^o + a =

sdyi

sonant)

+ 'P,

-f-

sddis

wa

+ 'P,

(the con-I-

wa (6a)

(=

e.g. rtrju^flH

rtT^Pif^flJ- §

46)

sattwdccau, they gave them, for rtm- sattii e.g.

+ -a ^flH -dccau

A4»^A(=

laqmoal,

A4»9", I arave,

allau^, allau^ for allahu ^lAl^, I

hh'^ltKih ilaqmallau'\

I

am

am

present,

picking,

hf^lih addaguh, I was brought up.

This ending

is

also written

-"^^

hwii,

which be-

comes -uh and by a similar displacement hwa becomes uha: ;

bauhdla for bahwdla AAA,

after.

A

:

§

7d]

:

Phonology/. in the pron. suff. (§12

(ii)

;

:

-a^l^

25)

(§

ft,

c)

27

and 2nd

-ac(c)yuh, for

pi.

-dc(c)ihu

ending (see

at

other than the aux. -hA

-al

below)

^%7^^l^ agardc(c)yuh, your

(pi.)

A+*^'f i> laqqamdc(c)yuh, you

But before a

suff.

country,

(pi.)

picked.

(§32, §12c) this displacement does not occur:

A4»'^^AA laqmac(c)yuhal

for laqmdc(c)ihwal,

you

have picked,

(pi.)

but A+'^^l^•'^ laqqam5,c(c)ihut \ you

sammahuh,

A*^i>0

iimih^ sattahut,

I

PAiM'" yallahum, I

I

(pi.)

picked

it,

heard you,

gave him,

am

not present,

f^lihd^' yaddaghubbat, in which

I

was brought

up.

A

similar displacement occurs in dur-^e for

lugdm

and

arw>e hC*S, beast,

for

cp.

hgwdm

ma" wq

A^/", bridle,

(m^'' wq) twat^ for maq'^o (m>'eq''o)

'^*, oribi,

wsao i'h-A, scorch, twkkosao for takk'' o '

dkkul for ofkkul ^YhA, half sdlis,

T

:

fLao"}

often

i,

especially

when not accented

when he comes or simata, sTmata o o o •

•

sometimes when accented Auf^ hid, go. occasionally -dc(c)iihut.

:

; :

:

;

:

Amharic Grammar.

28

For

before -^ -ya see

salis

§

la

it

:

[§ *ld

is

pronounced

+ ya

as sadis

e: o

-ryii,

a,

a in

lela,

duf!^

it is

a tool,

most noticeable when

is

accented, and in e in A»A

tool,

massaryd nau,

::

^

when

-

Initial

o

o

'

(his)

leopard

seems,

'

bimas(!)lau, if

it

seems to him.

disappears after a preceding vowel

i

Tiflhn.U iskazzih, as far as this, o

'

'

<w»/n-

TifihM.U

:

mattu skazzih, they came as far

;:

as this.

ooo

In words beffinninff ~ O with in-, in-, im- the omitted, the n, n or forming a syllable by

m

:

ooo

hh fmbi

dla or n'lbio dla, o

but after a consonant the Ag*^

:

o

often

itself^

rikwan, indeed,

tx'iXK'i ?ilP'fl.

is

i

JiJ^fl.

:

ht\. a

li

i

f

O" o

i

o

is

mbio

he refused

heard: ala, o

the child refused.

on the other hand, vocalised in a word ending

without a vowel, sddis o slightly

consonants or in one doubled ^

as in

Bantu

;

(§

riitu (^v>), etc.

6)

is

often

in two consonant

:

;;

;

;

:

;:

Amharic Grammar.

30

when

[§

consonant, especially an enclitic

i,

119^"}^

Sim mint, eight,

ft?°7^

:

"flC

:

simminti

Ohff:

wudd, expensive,

- wi.

see

li

above

;

§ 3.

wii (see sddis above), ^u,

becomes u

after a,

and forms diphthongs with them, in becoming yu: it,

a, e,

fl^^

wi'ta o

Y\ai*"\

H

:

z is

i

and

.

iluta,

come

wiita,' •

out,

take out.

sometimes

s

before h

(x, k,

see

I/)

yash for yazh ^11 U, you took, yasx for yazx

^'H'fi,

= ^TU

yask for yazk ^'Mh, = ^TiU AM. GR.

3

:

:

:

;

Amharic Gh^ammar.

34

[§

sometimes assimilated to following yass for yazs ^'HTl, you (f ) took. Tf

%

see

:

interchange with

f

and

for y

:

i

see

z^^e

zi,

:

does not

7h)

(§

j.

^ 3.

yi following

Ji

from

z arising

;

s

7d

a,

a,

a becomes

co,

and forms

i

diphthongs with them:

him

yihun, let

j&ihT-

him not be

h^ihTf aihun, let initial J&- yi-

be,

may do

this with the final vowel of

the preceding word ^'^'i'

:

dahnaidaru

/i^4- s

many

In the mouth of

vowels tends to become

i,

!,

good-night

!

(poL).

individuals yy between

and

i

to

become

^

or dis-

appear altogether: ^ft;^^A:: yastdyyal, yastaial, he lets (something)

be seen,

0^

ha^^a,

h^A'h?"

haa ;:

(S.),

aialfim, a>alfim, adl-,

Similarly initial y \l4*9°

s

fA

twenty,

;:

becomes

kffumm

he

will

not pass.

^

yalla,

there

-mm^^all-,

isn't

any bad.

^ d :

before other consonants often becomes r

qarm^o

for

qadm^o

liharnafi for lihad

harku for liadku

*l*J^*r*,

formerly,

nan Arh.Jt V^ :

::

I

am

going,

rh.j^Vh I went,

wwssarku for wwssadku

(Drtj^Vh, I

removed,

h^^ClOh tidrigau becomes drgau, do

it.

:

:

:

:

;

;

Phonology.

§ 8]

%

initial j

:

jS'*?^

interchanges with z in

0o%aod^ majammarya sometimes when

from

with

continues

final

di,

:

d>e

be begun,

taza-),

{aolT- maza),

A^f (§

Ih)

liz,

beginning

for Aj^-

lij,

child,

does not interchange

z.

sometimes almost yy before

:

it

(Tf- za-), begin,

tajammara ('Mf-

arising

verb

derivatives

its

jammara

•f'^ao^

Ok

S.

this variation occurs in a

throughout

j

35

jfgra or 3^7^- zigra, guinea-fowl

when j^#n>

:

t

afwayy toal for afwdctoal hi^^'X^, he has whistled. X,

s is t

:

'm.

tafa,

out of G.

and

axtUf^ i^\^^i,

safa (G.

J\-

:

nau maca o o

;:

^Tfi

tinnis, small,

'IhTfi

;

'i"'ll' ::

Id)

nau\

when

is it

(§

?,

tinnis nat, she

(it) is

<w»Aln'l*''f

malaktanna, messenger,

<w»Ah'^?

:

*i\}

::

malaktiinnd nah

h9°fi amsa,

fifty,

K9"A

amsd

-flC

:

?iVhA tikkul ?iVh

A +7 :

:

pleasant

?

small

?,

senger ?

:

it is

when ?

?,

o

malilfyd

::

yirr, fifty

(§ 7(?),

half,

iikkiil

qan,

^

dollars

noon

Cp. KpeiTTOV

eCTTLV.

are you a mes-

;

;

;:

:

;:

'

;

;

Amharic Grammar.

40

M't

[§

8

dnta, you,

M-lr Ajf

anta

;:

i

(§

Id)

li j

!,

you there

!

(calling a

boy) "h^ fqa, goods,

h^

:

n.'>

TJH'fl

:

iqd yyet, store

:

JiHU

•7Hfl>'

:

::

money and buy I^H-fl

;

j&HU

^i"

:

ganzav yfzah gfzau, take some

it,

ganzav yizah na, bring some

::

money

^VhA ^VbA :

:

flA

cikkul cikkul

;:

yal,

make

great

haste.

The accent from an i

or u (see above),

e.g.

enclitic

the article

the preceding syllable, or the

formed by the ao'i'lfi'

first

-(D*

-u

(§

11),

final

but on

vowel of a diphthong

article

mano^adu, the road,

dao'ilH'lfl;^fl^

does not rest on

A^ bamangadu

s

:

lai,

on the road

o^avatau, the table,

•fld^oh H*C :

::

tasfavatau zur, ^o

round the

table.

Certain suffixes bring the accent to the vowel

immediately preceding them e.g.

the emphatic J&U

suff!

-ah -u

yihe, this,

^OtD* yihau, this very one

hH,U

kazzih, here,

hlti>'

kazzfhu, just here

but 'tH.^oh tazzyau and tazzyau, just there.

:

:

;

:

:;

Phonology.

§ 8]

An

:

41

does not throw back its accent across a pause, or on to a word with which it is not immedienclitic

by the sense

ately connected

"h^

AH,U

h^

:

there f A.fl

:

f A.n

:

yJ et, store,

iqd

fl.^

:

:

^^ah9^

for these things

yaPevd nau, he

::

^T

lazzih fqa y>et yallaum,

::

no receptacle

is

'lOh

n.->

:

*iah

i

is

a

thief,

yaP eva damm^'o nau, he O

::

V

is

•

a

thief, too.

The sense,

position of the accent may determine the by showing what words are closely connected

f f«;l:

rt.^

:

which

Ajf

:

«

yiiyetwd-s^ et

?,

the child of

woman ?

yjiyetwa

of which daughter?

s^et-lij,

In some cases an enclitic

back

lij

may

or

may

not throw

accent, however closely connected with the

its

preceding worcU h/*'C 'flH'

:

"flC

:

ifl>-

9^1J^C

i

::

assir virr,

:

bizii o

Vfl>-

::

and

assir virr, ten dollars

nau, and bfzu nau, o o o '

it is

a lot

mindir nau?, and mfndir nau

?,

'

what

is it?

When falls

accented

initial

i

(m a preceding vowel

following n,

hf

'•!"

••

n,

m

disappears ;

if

(§

Id)

its

accent

no vowel precedes, a

takes the accent

M^ah K

ayyacc fndau, she just looked

Both accentuations are common and apparently they do not differ in meaning: all inquiries on the point meet with the reply l^/V- hlff: hah Ki^ViplC ^

:

hahii

.-

.-

-.

:

:

;

:

!

Amharic Grammar.

42 Y\^

:

Mf^Oh

"kl"^!

ayya ndau, he jus^ looked

::

h^aotny*

:

[§

;:

8

;

6kwan, almattam, no, he hasn't

come.

The

enclitic particle

Ki^.

oh, but..., indeed,

(i)nji,

retains its accent

antau

}\9^ii\ah «

h9^fi}(D'

The

:

(§

bring him,

7d),

"hlfK K antaunji

inter, suff.

-h and

oh,

!,

-flij& (§

but bring him

6)

do not throw back

their accent

?iA^A

K alqoal, it is finished,

hA^A «

alqoalla

?,

is it

finished

h^F't{9° K

aidallam, he

is

h^F'^H^j!, K

aldallammwf

,

?

not,

is

he not

?

Other suflSxed particles sometimes affect the accent of the word to which they are attached and sometimes do not e.g. -*^

-mm a,

as for,

^U

yihe, this,

^V1

yihamma, as for

d.^fi'

this

farasu, the horse,

d.dd'^ farasumma, as for the horse. Other variations of Accent.

Apart from the disturbance that may be caused by an enclitic, the accentuation of a word varies in

many is,

as

cases according to

it

its

position

:

according, that

stands (a) alone or before a pause, or

any other word with which

it

is

{b)

before

connected by the

;

§

Phonology.

8]

sense

43

and many words exhibit further variations of

;

accent in each of these positions^. called in this section

nected

'

final

',

The

position (a) is

and the position

(6)

'

con-

'.

Isolated words in the course of this work

Note.

marked with two accents usually take the first, sometimes^ the second, when final, the second when connected. But words with accented suffixes such as -h. -a, -wai (-wwi, -wf),

-IDJ&

accent as

well,

marked with

their

own

original

are pronounced with both accents.

Taking any letters 1, et,

fine

flour,

also

lizziy d''6q^et,

Vh*P^ is

:

f a>pfl^

:

Vfl>«

::

kuffiii

pitted with small-pox.

yawwggau nau, he

;

:::

^Id.G gafar^o

sometimes gafar^ o

gafar^^o,

conn, Oo ffafar"" o o "Jflrt"

fin.

8

:

sometimes gayal^o

:

Kf l^

:

[§

:

IflA" gayal^o, gecko,

*7et, (ir"i

^^^;iA

I

bad''6q^et

?,

(IFa-t-

I

what

cil^'ot,

f-^

'T'f^flH T

rtmflJ-

:

::

the

-p^ when a

-gaf,

:

ih,'^

AhC AM. GR.

000'

i/

in the office

J.

::

?

tacfl^'ot

?,

?

•

•

cil"ot liadu, they

^

suflix is

?

d^oq^ ct sattau, he gave him some

oflice, also

-1^

flour

ofiice,

yet ndccau

::

?

d"oq- et sattau, o o

flour,' also

^•A—K*

with

?

also -g^ef, -g'^of

'-g^ef, 'g''of, /^*&'lh

?

bamfn yiddarragal

made

is it

'h^-A"'>

where are they conn,

::

government

'7-A"'1*

:

flour,

-g- ef,

have gone to

cil^ot hadu. o -"J*?

-g^of receive the accent

attached to them:

sakkar, drunkard, 4

;

:

Aniharic Grammar.

60

8

[§

drunkards, i\hG^ sakkdr^oc, o -^

the drunkards CihC^ sakkar^occu, o

ao&^

market, ground,

<w»<J»i2

mar^etu, the ground

and there

is

;

a perceptible secondary accent on the

penultimate in words like ao'Ufi- manofadu, the road, 4«V-rt*

fdnusu, the lantern,

rt.'t'fs

s^etitu (-itu), the

ihA*fe

tilliqu,

The

adj.

woman,

the large one.

ending -? -nna has the accent on the

syllable preceding it:

hlC^

and conn.

fin.

amariiiiia, ' o

Amharic, '

9^C\i^ mirk^oilna, prisoner;

but when

-at* is

P»^?(»-

added the accent

varies

:

conn, yetiiinau.

fin. yetififiau,

The general tendency in these the accent to come forward before a

variations suffix or

is

for

another

but in some cases nothing but an enclitic brings it forward

word

:

aoMi^ malakat,

malakat "^oc, o o o

aoiiXi-^'^'

tn»h\\^

:

buo^le,

'

V4«

jioMi-f'^'i

:

malakat o o o

::

Vf-

::

buo^les, O

'

naffa,' o

he sounded a bugle, o '

malakaf^occun naffu, they sounded o o o o *'

the bugles,

twl\h^

:

VflH

::

malakat nau,

it is

a bugle.

;

:

:

ACCIDENCE. The Noun. The Substantive.

§

9

§

9a

§

9b

Substantives are of two genders, masculine and feminine, have two numbers, singular and plural, in addition to the nominative

an accusative

and

case.

Gender.

There

is

no special form of the substantive

for

either gender.

Number.

The

pi.

is

before a vowel

formed by adding -"o^ -^oc (-^occ § 6) to the last consonant of the sg.

b>et, house,

n.-!-

Ijf* gxeta,

pi. n.'f^^- b^et^'oc.

master,

A*^^ lammdn

(§

8)

pi. l-f*^*

beggar,

g^ef'oc.

pi. A*^'*?-/-

lammann'''oc

(§ C).

In some cases (see vocab.) -f -ya disappears flC^ bdrya, slave,

and

i

is

pi. fl(?^'

sometimes retained

fid» sail, tailor,

:

pi. AC'lf*

saf^ oc

and (not Besides the

pi.

in

bdr^oc

-''o'T*

G.) fld,P'^ safi^Oc.

some

irregular plurals

(Ethiopic forms) occur fl4'A"

baqP'o, mule,

also

M*^^^

and

?ifl4*^A-f''f

abdqwilt

pi.

fl^A-^ baql^oc,

(ay-, -qwii-, -4»- -qi-),

abdqwilt'^oc (ay-, -qwii-,

-4'- -qi-).

4—2

:

:

Amharic Gramma7\

52

The

irregular pis.

in the vocab.

the regular

all

;

pi.

[§ 9c, § 9c?

more commonly

in use are given

nouns with irregular

pi.

also

have

in -^'o^.

Case.

9c

The

accusative

formed by adding

is

nominative (of which

final sadis receives

nom.

n.'^

b^et,

„

^;^

g^eta,

„ „

-1

ace. fl.^'}

-1 -n to the i)

b^etin. o

„

^;^'>

g>etan.

A*^^ lammafi,

„

^*n^l^

lammdiimn

n.-^^ b^et^oc,

„

n.-f^'}b^et^6ccin(§6).

comes

after the art. (§11)

but before other

and

(§

12&),

sufF.

the house,

n.iJ'}

b^etun,

rt.'fci^'}

s-

rt.'fc'J

b^et^en,

my

fl»;l:'>

b^etwan,

her house,

the woman,

etitun, ' o

'

'

b^etunim,

house,

our house.

dt^'^lr'i b^etdccinin, o o fl.i^'JJ^

pers. suff.

(§ 6).

and

his (the) house.

The Ethiopic Accusative.

Qd

some cases, in which the form but not necessarily the meaning is acc.^ the effect in Amharic is generally to give an objective sense to a following noun

The Ethiopic accusative

in -a

survives in

:

:

^

'Status

I 125,

constructus.'

'Quoad formam

num nomen

in eo

an genitivi an

Praetorius,

Gram.

^th.

status constructi nihil refert

positum nominativi sensum habeat

accusativi.'

:

:

Accidence.

§10, §11]

53

t'h^^ nigus, king, 'i'hw

i

hl^^

peror

nigdsa nagast, king of kings, em-

:

;

flA bal, master,

flAHi^ balav>et, master of the house.

But

in

tive sense

some phrases the form (§

67c)

'lie naar, 'lid

iid

s

word,

nagara

:

sari,

The The

in -a has the objec-

(maker of words), slanderer.

Adjective.

adjective does not differ in accidence from

§

10

the substantive: sg.

nom. ^*7 dagg

good,

(dii-),

ace. f^ll daggin, pi.

nom.

^-J'T-

dagg" oc

(-cc

§ 6),

is

kd-), bad,

\\^}1'

kif^oc (-cc

*!(."'/-'>

§ 6),

kif^^dccin.

(Eth.) pis. see vocabulary; all adj.

with these form the regular

There

(Ivii-,

h^'J- kffun,

ace. ^^'-I'l dagg^^occin.

For irregular

h^- kffu

pi.

as well.

no special form of the

adj.

for either

gender.

The The

definite

article

Article, j 'the'

is

expressed by the §11

suffixes sg.

m. f

pi.

-u, -i'|2

m. & f

1 i.e.

written -Oh after a voweP, -itu (-itu),

written -^l^ after a vowel,

-u.

after

any

class of letter

but sddis

(§

4a),

Amharic Grammar.

54

has

S.

sg.

-*?

f.

-wa.

All the above form the ace. in (!••>

house,

b^'et,

[§11

fl>'fc

b^^etu,

-'>

-n.

the house, ace. (Ll^^

b^etun.

1^

l^tD' g^etau, the master, ace.

o^eta, master,

1^(D*1

woman,

s^et,

rt.^"

ace.

gJ^etaun.

A.'t'fs'}

s^etitu (-Itu), the

ih't'}?

woman,

s^etitun (-itun).

b^ef^oc, houses, n.-f'^ b^et'^occu, the houses,

tt.'f'l'

ace. fl.'f^T' b^et^Occun.

horse,

d^^tl faras,

article

or to the

may be

+yerb

rel.

When

it is

nant, the form (gfiz

§

4a

attached to a noun sub. or adj.

(§ 14).

attached to a verb ending in a conso-fl^ is

of connecting the pron.

The f ending -^'' out the connecting a, and in

-Oh

§

12c).

-c (-cc

-t

or -*

E.g. f T*^'

§

suff.

takes -Oh with-

6)

G. -v^ -itu (itu).

After a verb ending in -u the

-^

by the vowel a

used, connected

mode

cp. the

;

9a),

(§

the mare, ace. d*Ci\Ji faraswan. faraswa, o o o o

S. <J.^0,

The

mare

art.

takes the form

-tu.

:

yam^dta, who died,

^*Pi'ah

1

fioh

:

yam'^otdu

(§

8) sau,

the

man who

died.

P'^aiC^

:

^'^atCf^Oh

yammiwwrd, that s

H'^il

:

(rel.)

yiimmiwwrdau

that descends. ^qo^'^f

:

yam^dtac,

who

(f ) died.

descends, zfnay, the rain

:

§

12,

§

12a]

Accidence.

fTi-'^Oh'}

woman f f"?^/!*^

rt?*^

who were fi'l^t^r'P'i

those P/n«i3

who

(ace.) :

yam'^otaccyim

rt.^:

:

55 (§

6)

s^et,

died, G. -^'t'J -ccitun

vatagaddalut sau^oc, the

:

the

(-it-).

men

killed,

hf

:

::

yiitagaddalutun ayya, he saw

who were killed, T^m- K yamattutu ndccau, they

:

are those

who came. There

is

no form

for the indef art. in

Amharic.

The Pronoun. The Personal Pronoun.

The personal pronouns

are of two kinds, disjunc-

§

12

emphasizing and distinguishing forms), which stand alone, and conjunctive, which cannot stand tive (the

alone, but are suffixes attached to nouns, verbs, etc.

Disjunctive Personal Pronouns.

The

disjunctive personal pronouns are hi, in?e (§ 8),

sg. 1st

2nd m.

hl'l'

2nd f

h"}^ anci-, you.

3rd m.

TiCCh frsii

3rd f

?iCO, frsod

ht^

^

or

2

hTrh anc,

^

or hib

or

anta (-ta)\ you.

(§ S)^, (§

he,

it.

8)^ she,

it.

ant, (see vocab.)

fssii,

„

?»0. fssod.

„

(see vocab.),

of inanimate objects. ^

I.

which

is

generally used

§12a

:

Amharic Grammar.

56

tx^ fund

pi. 1st

(§ 8),

"kM^

3rd

"hCfi^Oh irsac(c)au-, they.

2nd

is

you, which

"kCCl?* frsa'^o^ (§ 8),

with the verb in the

The

8)\ you.

(§

form of address

polite

sg.

fllant

pi.

3rd

;

pi.

constr.

is

hA^^.

form of reference

polite

12a

we.

2nd

The

is TxCfi^fD',

the Ras, the Rases), with verb in

(e.g.

[§

he, they

pi. 3rd.

form the ace. in -l -n (§ 9c), may take the article (§11), and simple and composite prepositions (§ 47) may be constr. with them All the above

e.g.

"hVi

ao^'^

i

::

in^en mattaii, he

::

yan^en anta

(it)

struck

me,

myself ^^'i

h9^tn

:

(some

of)

h9°'^

f iflj-'}

!

^I'i'

pC

i

mine

:

;:

(f

+X=f

:

1

7a).

§

tanta gar, with you

:

from

bring one of

yan^eun anta, bring mine.

ACA- W»- K larsu nau,

n? ;^^

Id),

(§

it's

for

(i*

+ K = ;^

§

7a).

him ( A + ?i = A

7a).

§

baiind tac, beneath us (as distinguished

:

others).

or MTr-i- illanta

(-ta),

Mt^'

(i)nnant

which

is

(--h -ta, -ta),

S.V. KV-. 2

or

M^ah

issdc(c)au,

generally used of

inanimate objects, or 3

MCd'

or XCAJP

fss'^6

;

(i)nnarsu (-na), ^VA* (i)nnassu (-na-),

:

[?iCA]

frs 6,

hfl?"

in S. also used as pol.

issa o,

htlP

-.

s.v.

[hA]

form of reference.

§

12^

Accidence.

M'i^'i Y\^d,^nT* :

::

5t

you

illaiitin alfalligim,

(pi.) I

don't want.

f V^'^^'l^

yiinnantaitu

«i"'lh ::

:

"

(pi).

"hCfi^Oi*!

i

^»f "V-

::

(§

8) nat,

she

is

yours

_ them

irsdccaun ayyitu^,

I

have

seen.

Personal Pronouns conjunctive

tvith

Nouns.

§

The personal pronouns conjunctive with nouns, other pronouns (§§ 16 19), and some adverbs, render-

—

ing the suffixes

possessive

or

the following

are

genitive,

:

sg. 1st

after a

->e,

2nd m.

-U -h^

2nd f

-*rt

2nd

voweP

-f»

-ye

(-ie, ^e)-^,

my. your.

your.

-s,

pol. -a?' -a''o*, after

a vowel

3rd m.

-u,

after a vowel -Oh

3rd f

-

b''etac(c)ihu (-c(c)yuh),

your

^t;^^fl^

b^etac(c)au,

their

(pi.) (his, pol.)

Accidence.

§12&] ()S)

to -a

1^ g^eta,

:

59

master.

^;^p.

g^etai^e (-a^'e)^

my

1^{)

gJetah,

your (m.)

^;^7I

g^etas,

your

(f.)

^;^Jp

gyetd^\

your

(pol.)

^;^a^

g^etau,

his (its)

l;f-e (-1^6^)2,

my

n^'/t-U

bdql'^oh,

your (m.)

n4*/V"7i

baql'^^os,

your

(f.)

n^A-JP

baql^d^o

your

(pol.)

n4'A"flH

bdql^'oii,

his (its)

n4'A"'P

baql^^dua'^

her

n4*{y,'f^

baql5ac(c)in,

our

(-1^6)2,

mule.

„

(its)

„

n4'0u^'^ baql6dc(c)ihu (-c(c)yuh),

your

(pi.)

n4»0L^iii- baqloac(c)au,

their

(his, pol.) „

1

fin.

matta,

(§ 8),

but conn, g^eta^e

my master

has come.

:

^^f"

i

<w>«l «

„

g^eta^e

Similarly, conn, g^eta^o,

g^'etaua. 2

fin.

(§

8)

;

conn, baql^oye, baql^o, bdql^oua.

:

:

Amharic Grammar.

60

12c

[§

The genders and numbers given above

refer to the

possessor, not to the object qualified: 9°t\^\) mistih,

e.g.

flATl

»'

'

fl4*A"^ baql^^occ^^e,

With

wife,

vour husband.

balls, o

your

my

mules.

adv.

a^^'^l

bataccdc(c)in,

guished from

e.g.

beneath us

above

us).

Personal Pronouns conjunctive

12c

(as distin-

Verbs.

loith

The personal pronouns conjunctive with verbs \ rendering the dative and accusative, are the following

used as infixes

suffixes, also

connecting vowel

-^

sg. 1st

-fi

to me, me.

(-nil § 6),

-U -h^

to you, you.

2nd f

-7i -s,

to you, you.

i

2nd

-P

to you, you.

a and none

pol.

^

J

o„j 3ra

-^o^,

-^

-u, -t

I.

after

o, u,

2nd

^

none

„

i^^ne

\

'i\

a

to us, us. ,

-.^.^ .ac(c)au "

also with

IxW or

6)^

fl-,

q.v.

-P^'lh

-''ot;

A-,

*^ *^^^"^' ^^^^^ to him (him, pol.)

when joined -

OY-'^

S. also sg.

(ii)

none none

'

'

to a verb

(§

47a)

;

also

-X, -k, (§ 7^/).

3rd pol.

(a)

a

r

-ad(c)ihu ) you. vyv, / \ ^°^ ,, I to you, ^ '^ (-ac(c)yuh §7^),j

3rd pol.) 3rd j

with

§

-a*'l'i>

pi.

^

]

to her. her. (to)

-> -n (-nn

and a

]

„

,.

'i

pi. 1st

^

-x -^x it, it).

^a- -at, ^+ -aT

/»

i

to him, him, (to

-fl>-

„

&

(a)

2nd m.

o 3rd m.

sg.

a

^

or

->

-una.

:

§

Accidence.

12c]

These (§

61

,

suff.

are attached to

34) except the infin.

the

given in

suff.

The

|^

and

all

parts of the verb

part, which, as nouns, take

Vlh.

connecting- vowel joins

them

to a verb ending

in a consonant.

They are inserted between the verb and the aux. }\ii

(§

32) or another

suff.,

such as the neg.

(§37).

E.g.: (a) after

a consonant fj,li1C

je.'>9^'^

yingar

(iir), let

him

tell.

suff.

-9^

Amharic Grammar.

62 /iV*7Ci'f

A

}1nagrisal,

[§

he

tells

you

(f.)

(pol.)

ff.hmjPYx^

yinagra^aP,

„

„

you

J&V*7^'PA

jdnagraual,

„

,,

him.

JlV*7^;^A

yinagratal,

„

„

her.

^YllS^

yinagrannal,

„

„

us.

^**7^^AA

yinagi'dc(c)ihwal) "

"

(-c(c)yuhal)

J&i*7^^'PA

f

yinagrdc(c)aual,

„

12c

vou (dH ^^""^P'-^

them

„

(him,

pol.)

h^'i*lC9" ainagrim, he will (does) not

h^^*1^^9° ainagraiinim

(-ra-),

he will not

tell.

tell

me.

^j&i*7C01^ ainagr(i)him2,

„

„

you(m.)

hje,i*7C7!9" ainagrisim,

„

„

you(f.)

h^'ind9*9° alnagra^m^,

„

„

you

h^'i*l^(D'9° ainagraum,

„

„

him.

h^'i*1^^9° ainagratim,

„

„

her.

„

„

us.

h^'i1^'^V'9° ainagrdc(c)ihum,

„

„

you

h^'i*l^^ai*9° ainagrdc(c)aum,

„

„

them

h^'i'*ld'i9^

ainagrannim

(-ra-)^,

(pol.)

(pi.)

(him,

pol.)

1

or ^?';^A ra^otal, C?';^A

2

or fl9° -xim.

3

or *lC?*^r*

^

or -V9" -nnam.

:

:

[

C;^A]

[na^'9^] -gr^otim.

r^^otal.

:

§

Accidence.

12c] (13)

sg.

always

ending -"^ -c (-cc § the connecting vowel,

after the

3rd f

;

i (i

Am^U

6) if

of the simp. perf.

there

is

y)

rtm^

rtm^^

63

sattaccin,

sattac,

she gave. she gave me.

one,

is

:

Amharic Grammar,

64

Y\M1^9^

alnaofofaram,

[§12c

he did not

tell.

h^lh^^^ alnao^orarannim (-ra-),he did not tell me. Y\M'\dM9° alnaggarahim^

„

„

you

(m.)

h^h1^'^9° alnaggarasim,

„

„

you

(f.)

hAV7i*7C^^

saticc^esaliau^,

„

„

you

(f.)

AT^P^Al^

saticc^e^odllau^2^

„

„

you

(pol.)

rt'P^*PAl^

saticc^'ewallau'\

„

„

him.

„

„

her.

AT^^;^AiI' saticcyatallau^^,

rtT^^-f :5tAih saticcyac(c)yu-

^

you

(i*f^'^^''^t^(ii)n

saticcyac(c)aual-)

lau^^ {d) after

^*7(^?A 'incvfi^

them (him, pol.)

)

-^o (sdyi):

V^^A

:

[i*7C?>t

A :]

nagr^^onnal,

(pi.)

"

hdllSi^*(§7c/)J

nagrSal, he has told.

he has told me.

§

Accidence.

13«]

67

The Demonstrative Pronoun.

The demonstrative pronouns nom. m.

sg.

f ace.

m. f.

nom.

pi.

^U

yfhe

(yili,

near objects

are, for

yahe)^

§13a :

this, that,

J2.0^ yihic (cc) or je.^ yic (yicc)2, .fcU*}

yihiin (-nn

§

6)

or

^UV^ yihannan,

je.^'J yiccin,

?i^lLU (i)nnazzlh (-az-, -fh

;

§

or KiO

8)^

(ijunyih'ils), ace.

(i)nnazzihin

?iVll,U'>

(-az-,

-fh-),

hMl

(i)nn>ehin.

For distant or absent objects sg.

nom. m. f.

ace.

m. f.

pi.

nom.

^

ya, that, that other,

,?*-!•

jfi

yac

(-cc),

yan or ^V)

MlL^

(i)nnazzya

"MlU^Tr (i)nnazzyan (-az-

also written ^Ti

^

§ 7c?

-

G. "M^f' Ihicc

3

or hiitlV illazzih

*

^

or ?iA.O ilPeh,

§8)^ or Ki^

(-dz-;

(§ 8),

(i)nny§:n

;

yanniin,

^-T-7 yaccin.

(i)nnya ace.

:

;

§ 8),

or hi.^'i

(§ 8).

;

G.

M iWe.

(-ice), ^icc, ice.

(-^z-, -ih

?»5:U

or XAH.^ illazzya

;

§ 8).

(i)nnih (-fh

(-az-),

;

§ 8),

hi^V

fllih (-fh).

?iA.^ fUyS.

5—2

;

Amharic Grammar.

68

[§ ISot

After prefixes

becomes

-H,U

-zzih (zi-).

„

-»t^

-zzic (-cc).

y

,,

-H.^

-zzya^.

^^

„

It^^

-zzyac

J&U

^0^

(-cc).

[P]ai-^U?fl>- (ya)w&;dihfnndu (-dih-

the nearer

§ 8),

;

(of two), nearest (of several),

(ya)w6>dydiinau

[f ]aij?:^?fl>-

(-wda-

S.

§ 8),

;

the

further (of two), furthest (of several) in these forms -ah

All the above

inflected like the article (§11).

is

refer

animate

to

or inanimate

and may be used substantivally or

objects,

adjectiv-

ally.

fE.g.

may be prefixed to its noun. ^U j&flj^A « yfhe yiyaqal, this

^^

:

9"ti'P

:

T^

yacci

::

(§

enough.

is

:

7d) mistu nat, this

is

(that's) his wife.

JiU

:

^H'b ^"J

:

d,dll

yihe faras, this horse, that (near) horse.

:

ydzaf, that (distant) tree.

:

H*b

:

M''^d.may'

yan zaf

«

cut that other tree

down

were speaking about, hil)

oDrnGrh

:

f'^'i

:

:

attiqwiiratau, don't

we

(that tree

saw,

etc.).

T'Tfl^

::

nn>eh

matdf^^oc o •

yiimdn ndccau?, whose are these books?

Mnj)

:

je.nA^rt-

nazzya 1

(§

7a),

but '^^ tdya

in or

on that

:

(§

:

-t^nj

•.-.

these are 8)

there.

nnazzih

yiyaltiillu

more than those

or -Mi.^ tazzyS

(§ 8),

tan-

(others).

from, than,

:

Accidence,

§136] silazzfh

tliiUj)

:

f H,^

rt,^

:

iskazzya

?»fthH,^

:

JiO

AA

:

JiYf

i'H,^

:

because of this, therefore.

(§ 8),

yazzfcci

:

7d)

(§

(§ 8), ::

69

s^et,

of this woman.

as far as that,

up

to there.

yihe yissalal tazzya, this

is

better than that other.

f a)-?.U?(»(-est)

:

^A ydidiil is

who, which, what

present, there

is

39), hf!.?'^T (§ 40)

(§

^A

,

^

becomes

sonant (which,

hti alia (§32),

^

1

mm(i)- after a

eA9"

25),

prei. to

°

cont.(§26) fl^- is

(§

•

or

(§

who

la,

(that which)

-11 § 6),

is

absent,

he who (that which)

not.

The neg. pref ^A- al- (§ 37) comes between the rel. and the verb. The relative refers to animate and inanimate objects.

The antecedent, ^

if

expressed, usually follows the

also written '^VU

r.

mdimiih ?

:

§

Accidence.

14]

verb to which the relative

cedent

expressed the

is

no anteimplies one of any numattached.

is

rel.

Tl

If

ber, gender, case or person, according, if

nom., to that of the verb to whicli

The

take the -1 -n of the ace. E.g. ^aotn

fan")

rto^

:

^oDfRV

he who (that which) came.

yjimatta,

J

yiimatta

:

man who

a

came.

yamminnimata, we who are coming.

^9°TfaDfU

;

^*^aofi]

rtfl>-

:

8) sau,

(§

you who came.

yjimattrdi,

:

in the

it is

attached.

tantamount to a noun, may (§ 9c) and the article (§ 11)^

verb, being

rel. -h

it is

:

yjimmimata

7a

(§

;

§

8) sau,

man who

a

coming.

is

f iP*'"l'/w>m'

::

hCfb

:

:

Vfl)*

yammittmatu, you 'h'%00^

who

(pi.)

nau nnnimata, o o o

a irsil o

•

'

are coming.

he who

it is

coming.

is

h'i'V

:

ifl>-

"htT'l'iiD^

:

::

anta nau mmittmata

?,

is

it

you who are coming ?

^A

:

jifl.'^A

::

f *^A

ace.

'^^'i

nom.

'H'i

man

(-nn

§

6)

?,

who ?,

mdnnan?,

man

(-nn §6)?, or

KWJ

(i)nndman?^

(-nn§6;§8), ace.

'^V'J

mdnnan?, or

or hii^^'i illdmdn

?

M'^'i'i

(-nn

§

(i)nnamdnnan ?

6

;

§

8)

:

§

:

Accidence.

15]

7B

Referring to inanimate^ objects: sg.

nom. &

pi.

nom.

rT'T-

ace.

9"^^'J min'^dccin? o o

may

9"^

ace. 9"'i niin?, what?,

take the m.

conjunctive with nouns

art. (§11),

(-cc

§ 6),

and the

pers. suff.

126).

(§

sg.

nom. &

pi.

nom.

9^'i^C'l' mindir^^oc?^ (-cc

ace.

9^'i^'G'1''i

A

them with the pi.

take the m.

and

'^'>

of

pi.

mindir?^ what

ace. 9°'i^C

may

9^'i^C

mindir^'Occin? o o o

also

formed by repeating

-nna = and

man(nin)n§;man ?* (nn

^'i'7'^'i

ace.

'^IV'^V^ man(nin)namanniin?^

nom.

&

these forms

with a

pi.

sg.

I

rt^^jfJflj,

mannillaccdccau?,

*^V^^^fl>« mannacc'' occaccau

?,

1'i'i¥^'f(D' mannillacc''occdccau?, all

with ace.

-^at'lr -ccaun. o

^

also written f 1^ etc., G.

^

or f -t;/: vetitwa

^

or

?

O'l:

(-tit-).

hatu ? o G.

U^i: hatitu

?,

U^

hatwa ? o ?»&•?•*'?•

(i)nn> et'V)c

?

(-cc;

--f ^•'> -t^^occin (--f ^'>

G.

O-f-'f

hdt^T)c?

(-cc),

?iV(;'|5 (i)nnahdtu? \Q' ft ft

ace.

-•f''^

-f'Occu),

-t^^occun) -f-'-l-'i

-t^^occin,

ace. -*'> -tun.

or

ace.

§

Accidence.

15]

yetffinau?!

f-'V^flJ-

of which

sint

how much

?,

and usually

is indecl.,

which?, what kind

(§ 8),

of?,

inflected like the art. (§11)^.

-at* is

hl^

75

sometimes with the

how many

?,

?,

constr. with a sg.

noun or

verb,

pi.

All the above are used substantivally or adjectivally,

except ri^'C,

^-if;"!-}

and ri^ri, which are

only used substantivally. E.g. *^'>

:

*^*i'Ti

A'^'J

man nau

::

Kf U

I

:

rtrnii

:

iiOh

:

lamdn

::

Va^

?iVT>

man :

:

I

V'-f U-

*^'J

:

hdr

'^'JV^'J

::

::

:

man .

.

.

is it

!

l'"^

I

?

::

man

sdu nau

that will do

it

?

mmya(who

is

?).

nnamdu O

ndccau?, O

who are they? ''

?,

mfinninnaman

::

Y\^\)

AA a min ^A « min

(S 8)

matta

?

(or

who have come? ::

mfinninnfimannan ayyiih

persons did you see l^**

whom did you see whom did you give

man naccyuh ?, who are you (pi.) ? mann m- mdttu),

"ll^^n'il

?

::

twi'n

:

sattiih?,

Hx'X^^S^lOh

that

'i'f•fl^

It

is it

?

dargau ?, what the

who

\

?

mtinnan ayyiih ?,

::

(them) to

it

-

:

time shall ftU *^

Ai T*% :

:

use 9^'h'i

:

::

gizJ e

lantau ?

(§

A9"«l

::

::

9°lf^C

:

hah

l^'Jj^^ *^

:

>nc

9^1i^l

i

Y\^\}

vihe lan^e min^e nau o O o o

mhum idnta?. mindir

mmdin o o

::

shall I bring?

nau ?, what

8)

(§

what

is it

:

'

ri^ri ^nn « -.

:

ligza

things shall I ^^ii

.

?,

I

am

'V'?*'f^

ace.

may

§ 6),

anything,

minimmin, anvthinar at

all.

M^l {i)i\im, what's-its-name,

sg.

these forms

(-mm

(i)ntin^^oc (-cc

§

6) 3,

(i)ntin^5ccin;

take the

art. (§11).

Referring to animate or inanimate objects sg.

nom.

*^'i'^ah9° (-body),

ace.

ace.

some

mannacc^' occim (mm),

*n'i¥^'}9° mannacc''6ccinim (-mm). o o \

The

§ 6)^,

1^^(D'19^ mannaccaunnim (-mm),

nom. '^T^'f 9"

pi.

mannac(c)aum (-mm any(-body), one of the,

pi.

of this form

is

/

constr. with a sg. or pi.

noun.

^

G. PhA. yiikaPe, ace.

t

-n;

P- (q.v.)

is

after a prp. 2

G. JiS'hA* (i)nnakal^e, ace. -1

^

or nom.

^

or '^l'\'\'ah9° m{lnnillac(c)aum (-mm),

&

ace.

Ml^'i

-n.

(i)nfntin. etc.

dropped

;

Accidence.

16] sg.

nom. &

hlfrl- anddc (-cc

ace.

(-body) sg.

nom.

sg.

;

one of

;

h'i^-l'Oh'}

nom, &

any (-body)

;

§

;

§

8)\

some

one of the.

some

andac(c)au^,

>i'J^'7-fl>-

(-body) ace.

79

(-body);

any

the,

anddc(c)aun.

andand

ace. hlfi'tfii'

some, a few,

(§ 8),

several, pi.

sg.

nom.

hlHlrF''^' andclnd^^oc (-cc

ace.

h'ifi'iP''''f'i

nom.

h^ii*

andand'' Occin. o

ayydPe\ several; much, a good deal, many what a lot how many

a great

pi.

;

!,

ace.

h^Ci*! ayydPen,

nom.

K^A"'T' ayydl''oc (-cc

ace.

h^ti^'-'t'lr

I

§ 6),

ayyal''6ccin.

h^l[» is constr. with

sg.

nom. &

pi.

nom.

A.A"^'* l^l^'oc (-cc §

ace.

A»A"^'''} lel^'occin

a

sg.

or

pi.

noun.

ace. A.A lela, other, another, different,

o

with the

§ 6),

(5),

'

art. (§ 11), A.Afl^ lelau,

^

or h'iH'^9° anddccim (-mm

2

or

h'i^'fi'l'Ot'

h'ifi'l''ah9^

the other.

§ 6).

andilldc(c)au, ace.

anddc(c)aum

--f^fl^'J

(mm),

-c(c)aun,

ace.

-^ahlf^

-c(c)aunnim (-mm), h'>j^-A^flM^ andilldc(c)aum (-mm), ace. -^ahl9^

-c(c)aunnim (-mm). 3

or

h^A

ay>^dl (§ 8).

;

Amharic Grammar.

80 ihA- hull-,

every,

all,

with the pers.

may

it

with -u

1

may be

addition to Avhich

2h), in §

6)

noun;

constr. with pi.

generally follows a

it

Of the

suff. (§

take -9" -m (-mm

it

[§16

noun

it

qualifies.

above,

hl-t-l, JilA,, 9"^9",

nri, M^l

are used sub-

stantivally,

used

Y\^ti» is

and the hlflrty

adjectivally,

rest are

MWtB*

used in either way.

and the forms

in -9" are generally

(Tli9°, *r'i9^'} always) followed (§ 37),

which drops

its

own

by a neg. verb

final -9", if

the pron.

give

to some-

has one. E.g. ti*n'i9°

s

ftT

::

lamannim

(§

8) sit,

it

body. A*^9°

hiiUun

::

ftmoJ-

:

::

sftau, arive

hiiUunim

him

all

sitau, give

of

it.

him

every-

thing. l^Hfl-

li-rt*

:

^TT^7

:

bring ihK^li rh."^

:

l^/V•

:

?i9°^

hullu, all the

money.

K satin^^Occin hiillu

anta

(§

Id),

the boxes.

all

hA*}

:

ganzavu

::

huUdccin o

;:

allan, '

we are

all here.

hfdu hulldccyuh, go away,

l^A't•l^ «

all

of

you. (D^ff^C

:

ihdr

s

rh.^

(D^^C

:

iht\r

:

rh.«^

tD^fjG^

:

l^A•

Oi^fjC^

i

ih^i'Vah

hadu,

all

:

wce>ttaddar hullu hadii, or

::

::

rh.-^ 3

wwttaddar ::

hiillu

hadu, or

w wttaddar'' 6c hullu hadu, or

ih,H'

::

wwttaddar''oc hullaccau

the soldiers have gone.

:

§

Accidence.

17]

83

The Reflexive Pronoun.

For the

pronoun the words

reflexive

li-li

ras,

V^ft

nafs

§

head,

lit.

(nJi-, -vs), lit.

flAO.^ balab^et

iiohh^ saunnat

soul,

(-av-), lit. (-at), lit.

householder,

person,

and the phrase fllH

JtS"

:

bagazzajj

•

has in

(§ 8), lit.

power

its

(s.v.

are used with the pers.

when

7H)

suff! (§

not expressed with

it is

with what the hand

126) to express 'self,

clearness or

s\ifficient

emphasis by the reflexive form of the verb

The above

refer only to pereons,

(§ 21).

and are used sub-

stantivally or adjectivally e.g.

ifib'i

:

l^A

oraddala, he killed himself rdsun O o o

::

'

f onft

:

hCflP

:

^rtP

:

J^.-^

:

each

Xf rt.*

85

AS'PT'

JiP^TV-

hA+? hulattanna

e.g.

AAi"? s^'ostanna

U^?

-anna (-anna)

suffix -a?^

(-la-,

-an-) 2, 2nd,

(-an-), 3rd,

hayaiina^ 20th, etc.

1st is dM-i"^ fitdnna

(fl-,

-an-),

ao%ao6^ majammarya h^l>-

s

Axltf^i

or (-ar-)

asrahandanna

;

but

(-an-), 11th.

In compound numbers only the ordinal form e.g.

i*»AA

:

last takes

the

:

hj'^Ai'? saldsa ammistanna, 35th.

^

or -?

2

or U-A^? hulattiiina

3

or

-nfia.

ue? ha^anna.

(-la-),

AA^?

s^ostfniia, etc.

:

§

20c,

All ordinals d>'\r^ e.g.

:

:

Accidence.

21]

§

:

commonly take the

and ao^aod^

f ^i'^OH

:

rta>-

89 art.

11),

and

first

man.

(§

also the pref. P- yak yafitaiiiiau (§ 8) sau,

the

^ao%aD^^ah Vnc yamajammaryau nabbar, he (it) was the first. ::

:

Another ordinal form U*A^^ hulattiyya

in -^ -(i)yyai

is

2nd, etc.

(-la-),

The Frdction. Fractions are expressed by the ordinals, usually

by the form in -f e.g.

l^A^ /^A^^2. :

is

1/2

V4 is