The Mafulu - Part 28
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Part 28

_dovavemunge_? how much? how many?

_domamai_? how much? how many?

_avevemunge_, as much, so much, as many, so many.

_tale(le)_, many.

_apa(le)_, enough.

_kisiaka_, few, little.

_oko_, few, little.

_-ta_, very.

_ande_, very.

_boboi_, entirely, quite.

_gegeto_, few.

Note. When _apa_ is used with a numeral it precedes it. Ex. _apa gegeto_, two are sufficient.

V. Adverbs of Affirmation, Negation and Interrogation.

_e_, yes.

_akai(ge)_, truly.

_g'akai_, truly.

_me_! what! certainly!

_ila_! I who knows?

_ua(ne)_, not, no.

_na_? is it not (French, n'est ce pas?).

_ouo_! not at all, by no means.

_andal'ai(me)_? why?

Note. _Me_, _ouo_, and _ila_ are almost interjections.

VI. Adverbs of Manner and Likeness.

The adverbs of manner are often replaced by noun suffixes attached to the verb, with the final _i_. (See Verbal Suffixes, p. 323).

_unoi_, together.

_akaumai(nge)_, further, beyond, besides.

_uneke_, only.

_ende_, also.

_elele_, quickly.

_dedi_, slowly _fidefide_, continually.

_kela_, without reason, gratis.

Note. When _ende_ modifies a verb with subject in the third person, it is preceded by the p.r.o.noun _ove_. Ex. _nau fud' ov' ende fufuli_, my bones (they) also ache.

Prepositions and Postpositions.

I. Prepositions.

Only two prepositions are found in Fuyuge. These are _ise_, near, and _ga_, by.

Ex. _aked' is' okid' ando_, the men are near the fire; _ganda_? _ga ma_! by what do you swear? by the thread.

Note. _Ga_, in the sense of "by," is much used, and corresponds to a kind of oath.

II. Postpositions.

1. All the postpositions are used as suffixes to the words which they govern. When the noun to which they are suffixed has a double form, the postposition is added to the short form.

Ex. _uli-tsi_ from _uli(ne)_ pot: _fatsi_ from _fa(le)_, ground.

There are however some exceptions.

2. When the postposition begins with a consonant, the final _e_ of a noun changes to _i_.

Ex. _kodigi-tsi_ from _kodige_, plate; _bulitsi_ from _bule_, garden.

3. The postpositions are often used as nouns.

Ex. _balava u tsi ido asi_, the inside of the loaf is still raw.

III. List of Postpositions.

_-ai(me)_, because of, for: _ovol' aim' andavete_, I weep for the pig.

_-a(le)_, with, by (instrumental): _isong' al' oki ya -andal' a? isong'

ale_, take the fire with the tongs--with what? with the tongs; _amul'

al' ul'ese_, the woman with her child; _uli sond' al' ale_, a pot with a handle.

_-ala_, to, adherent to, along: _yo' ata yarima_, hang it on the rattan; _enamb' ata malele yatsi_, I will take it along the road.

_-fendateme_, near (within bounds): _Sivu Alo fendatem' ando_, Sivu is near Alo.

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

_-ongo_, before, at the side of (with an idea of inferiority): _na nu ongo ando_, I am before thee (at thy service); _non' ongo_, one beside the other.

_-enga_, from the side of, towards: _nani Ambov'enga g'anga_, I have been (gone) towards Ambove.

_-kaine_, towards: _dedi yi kaine tsiati_, later on I will come towards you.

_teti_, under: _sosoeteti ando_, he is under the bed.

_tsi_, to (movement, and time, rest), at, at the place of (Fr. chez): _nani etsi andota, u bulitsi g'anga_, I am in the house, he has gone into the garden; _naga Mambutsil' a tela_, I am come here from Mambo; _kouatsi ma_, put it in the box; _tutsi etsiati_, he will come in the night; _nu datsi sona_? who has he been with?