"I. UilufflummummHalliRafflullim RrzBxvim nq FROM Cie-veda-t%4 abit, L*%, 89 4'. "I, AN ELEMENTARY PALAUNG GRAMMAR BY MRS. LESLIE MILNE F.R.A.I., M.R.A.S. Author of 'Shans at Home' WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY C. O. BLAGDEN, M.A. OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1921 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE CAPE TOWN BOMBAY HUMPHREY MILFORD PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY PINTHED IN ENBLANB1 EXCHANGE CLEV.ELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SYSTEM OF WRITING PALAUNG RUDIMENTS OF PALAUNG GRAMMAR PARTS OF SPEECH PAGE 5.. I I3 Nouns Pronouns Adjectives Verbs Adverbs Prepositions Conjunctions Interjection SENTENCES. 13 I 7 37.. 65 86 1 I27.... 132.. 133 PALAUNG STORY HI-i ltau (The White Water-Snail) 146 A2 I I I I I I i i FOREWORD IT is my hope that this first attempt to reduce the Palaung language to writing and to unravel its construction will not only be of interest to philologists, but may also be of use to Europeans who in future visit the Palaung country. I began this work by making a study of the Rumai branch of Palaungs. Many of these people live in their villages in the hills of North Hsenwi and other parts of the Shan States, and when I went into the Chinese Province of Yiinnan I found many of them there. I spent altogether fifteen months at Namhkam, in North Hsenwi, visiting the Rumai villages in the neighbourhood and working on the language with Rumai women who came to my house. Afterwards I went to Namhsan, the capital of the Palaung State of Tawngpeng, one of the Northern Shan States, and my way was made easy by introductions given to me through the kindness of Sir Harvey Adamson, K.C.S.I., and Mr. Hugh Aylmer Thornton, C.I.E., I.C.S., to the Chief of Tawngpeng. The Chief did all that he could to help me, finding both men and women who were willing and able to work with me on the dialect 2 FOREWORD 'spoken by the Chief himself and his own special clan, and which is considered by the Palaungs themselves to be the most correct and aristocratic form of their language. At the same time my previous studies among the Rumai were not wasted, as although the pronunciation and even many of the words are different in the various clans,-none of which have a written language-yet the construction of all these dialects is the same, and the words, even when they differ, suggest a common origin. This grammar is concerned with the language as spoken by the Palaungs of Namhsan, the capital of Tawngpeng. I am indebted to Mr. C. C. Lowis, I.C.S. (retired), to whom I had shown my collection of Rumai words, for encouraging me to make a serious study of the Palaung language. There are many other people whom I should like to thank for their help in the preparation of this book. I am most grateful to Mr. C. 0. Blagden for the kind interest that he has for many years taken in my work, and my very special thanks are due to him for writing the Introduction to this Grammar. In the arrangement of it Professor G. R. T. Ross, of the College, Rangoon, helped me very much; my FOREWORD 3 sincere thanks are due to him, also to Professor J. A. Smith, of Magdalen College, Oxford, who kindly looked over my manuscript and made many valuable suggestions. Miss Maud Diaz was of great assistance to me; and I cannot say too much of her thoroughness and of her patience in helping me to arrive at the exact meaning and right pronunciation of many Palaung words. Her knowledge of both. English and Burmese enabled her to interpret between me and my Palaung helpers, who also spoke Burmese. Among these helpers, provided for me by the Chief, my special thanks are due to I-kQ-i, who left her home in Namhsan and came down with me to Maymyo and to Mandalay, remaining with me many months. My publishers having required a subsidy this was kindly provided, partly by the Secretary of State for India in Council, and partly by the kindness of my old friend Colonel William Clark, D.L. No list of words is given at the end of this book, as I hope to publish separately the large vocabulary of Palaung words referred to by Mr. C. 0. Blagden. M. L. MILNE. 4 I INTRODUCTION THE author of this Grammar having asked me to say something by way of introduction, I gladly comply with her request, though well aware that her excellent work needs no words of mine to introduce it. Indeed, it is quite capable of speaking for itself, being the first grammar ever published of a. littleknown language belonging to a very interesting and scientifically important family of speech. Since the days of Logan, in the middle of the last century, the relationship between Palaung and the Mon-Khmer group of languages has been generally recognized by scholars. More recently, Father W. Schmidt, in an appendix to his Grundziige einer Lautlehre der Khasi-Sprache (Abhand. der K. Bayer. Akad. der Wiss., I. K1., XXII Bd., III. Abth.) showed that Palaung, at any rate as regards its vocabulary, lies about halfway between Mon-Khmer (of Lower Burma and Camboja) and Khasi (of Assam), just as the area of the language also lies between them in geographical position. Within the Mon-Khmer group, it seems that Stieng, Bahnar, and Khmer are somewhat more closely akin to Palaung than the latter is to Mon (or Talaing), with which language I myself am more familiar. Indeed, if one regards the matter from a Mon point of view, Palaung strikes one as being rather a distant relative. Bu until a full Palaung vocabulary, such as the author of this Grammar has prepared but not yet published, is available for comparison with these other languages, it is hardly possible to speak confidently as to the precise degree of affinity existing between Palaung and each of the others, though as to the genuineness of the relationship there can be no doubt whatever. In morphological type they are all characterized by a structure based on monosyllabic root-words, from which derivatives are 6 PALAUNG GRAMMAR built up by the addition of prefixes and infixes. Some of these languages have tended more than others to maintain, or in their modern forms to return to, a more rigid moliosyllabism. In certain cases, notably in Mon, this can be shown to be largely a secondary phenomenon due to the phonetic breaking-down of derived forms that had been built up by means of this characteristic system of prefixes and infixes. We possess in the Mon inscriptions fairly extensive specimens of the Mon language of the eleventh and fifteenth centuries, which can be compared with the modern forms; and we are, therefore, in a position to trace in detail this tendency towards a secondary monosyllabism. For Palaung there is no such evidence available. Comparing the two languages, Palaung and Mon, in their modern plhases, one is inclined to estimate that Palaung is even more predominantly monosyllabic in type than Mon, to say nothing of the morphologically more elaborated and better preserved Khmer (or Cambojan). In the sentences given in this Grammar there is a great preponderance of monosyllabic words. The question, therefore, naturally arises whether in this case the phenomenon is due, at any rate in part, to the fact that the system of prefixes and infixes was never developed as fully as in the sister languages, or whether the secondary tendency of phonetic decay has operated more strongly in Palaung than elsewhere to break down the structural system. Here again, it would, perhaps, be premature to hazard an opinion until the evidence has been more fully marshalled. At any rate, we can notice that two or three prefixes, which can be traced in the sister languages, have also survived in Palaung. The most obvious are the verbal causative p, with its derivative pan (which is also sometimes a verbal causative, but generally forms verbal nouns), and the very loosely attached prefix ra which also has the latter function. Of the force of p in Palaung the following will serve as examples: yti, 'to rise', pyii, 'to rouse ', yam, 'to die', pyam, 'to kill'. The prefixes pan and ra are fully illustrated in ~~ 248-55 of this Gramimar. INTRODUCTION 7 Now the causative prefix p runs not merely through the Mon-Khmer group, but practically also through the whole / Austroasiatic family (of which Mon-Khmer is considered to be part), as well as through its rather distant relative the Austronesian (or Malayo-Polynesian) family, some of whose languages also use it (and likewise pa + nasal) in the same way and with the same force. This formation seems, therefore, to be one of extreme antiquity. In Mon the prefix p appears, moreover, to have maintained its existence as a separate word in pa, ' to do ', to make', besides being in very common use as a causative. The form with the added nasal, probably never very common in Moll, has now been completely obscured by the process of phonetic decay already mentioned. A rather isolated example fiom an eleventh-century inscription is illuminating: ar, 'to go', p-ar (probably to be pronounced paar), literally 'to cause to go', and hence 'to carry on (a course of conduct)', pun-ar, literally ' a going', hence 'a course of conduct'. Like pan in Palaung, pun here forms a verbal noun; but it also sometimes occurs in Early Mon as a causative verbal prefix. The analogous, though not strictly identical, Kllmer prefix ba + nasal,(originally pa + nasal) also has this double function, besides others: e.g. tas, 'to resist', bantas, 'bar, bolt', lak, ' to chisel', banlak, 'cold chisel ', ybl, 'to understand', banyol, 'to cause to understand'. In Stieng, chSt, 'to die', forms ponchit, 'to kill', du, 'to flee', pindu, 'to drive away'. In Khasi the pheiomena are much the same, both as regards the siniple p prefix and the form with a nasal. The prefix ra occurs in Khmer under the modern form ro with various meanings. A few cases correspond with the Palaung use, e.g. mu, 'to roll', romu, ' packet', damia, 'to hammer', rbdahi, 'shock'; but as a rule the prefix is extended by a nasal. In Bahnar, hach, 'to melt' (intransitive), forms rihach, ' something that melts', 'a place where there is a landslip'. It would seem, however, that in Palaung the prefix ra has preserved something of its original status as 8 PALAUNG GRAMMAR an independent word, for it can be separated by the negative particle from the root to which it belongs (~ 255). In Mon, though there are a few traces of an r prefix, I have found little correspondence in meaning with the Palaung ra. There may, however, be some very remote connexion between the latter and the old Mon infix ir which formed substantives from nouns and adjectives. This old infix is only traceable in two or three words in modern Mon, but occurs frequently in the eleventhcentury inscriptions. It may be conjectured that it was originally a prefix identical with the Palaung ra, but positive evidence is wanting. The Palaung prefix kar, which represents the last mentioned prefix preceded by k and seems to indicate reciprocity (~~ 174-5), may be paralleled in Khmer by various prefixes, which when followed by r have a similar force. But enough has been said to illustrate the fact that in its morphological system, or what there is or remains of it, Palaung agrees substantially with the cognate languages. In its phonetics Palaung also agrees in the main with its relatives, the few sounds that are peculiar to it being evidently either of secondary evolution or else due to the presence of loanwords from alien tongues. The language has been exposed for a long time to a variety of foreign influences: importations from Slian and Burmese (and through these fiom Pali and Sanskrit) occur fairly frequently in its vocabulary, without, however, really swamping it with foreign material. Like most of the languages of its family, Palaung possesses a rich vowelsystem; nice differentiation of vowels performs in the MonKhmer family much the same function that difference of tone does in the Chinese, Tai, Karen, and Tibeto-Burman groups. Otherwise, owing to the prevailing tendency towards monosyllabism, which in a greater or less degree affects all these languages, their available phonetic material would be quite inadequate even for everyday requirements. But Palaung, like Bahnar and Stieng, has preserved its full range of consonants, not having lost any of its original sonants, as Meon and INTRODUCTION 9 Khmer have done; so that the differentiation of vowels in Palaung has not been as imperatively necessary, nor has it apparently been carried as far, as in these two languages. In syntax, Palaung also agrees substantially with the cognate languages. The attributive adjective and the genitive follow the qualified substantive, the subject usually precedes and the object normally follows the transitive verb, though a few peculiar cases of inversion are to be found. But this same general type of syntax also occurs in the Tai family, which in that respect agrees to a curious extent with Mon-Khmer, though in other ways the two families are so widely different. At any rate, Palaung has preserved the normal syntactical system of its own family; and perhaps this is partly due to the fact of its nearest neighbour being Shan, a Tai language with an almost similar system, so that there has been no strong modifying factor to disturb it. Had Burmese influence been in the ascendant, the result might well have been quite different. Among the more characteristic Palaung formations may be mentioned the dual fornis of the personal pronouns (~ 27), three of which have the same initial consonant as the corresponding plurals, but followed by the word for 'two '. Somewhat similar formations are not unknown in some of the allied languages: Nicobarese, for example, has a curiously parallel system. The present Grammar is intended mainly for practical use, and accordingly speculations regarding the past history of Palaung and its relations with other languages naturally lie outside its scope. This must serve as my excuse for having introduced here a few points of that kind for the sake of any one who may happen to be interested in them, and in order to indicate that even a language like Palaung, with no recorded past, has a certain scientific value for students of language in general, and particularly for those who may be specially concerned with the comparative study of the family to which it belongs. Being spoken by a small nationality, many of whose 10 PALAUNG GRAMMAR members are scattered among alien races, it is not unlikely that Palaung may eventually die out, and be replaced by Shan or some other foreign tongue. Already many Palaungs are bilingual. But the day of its final extinction seems to be still far distant, and if and when that day should dawn, this Grammar will at any rate survive as a valuable record and memorial of an interesting form of speech. In the meantime it will serve the more immediately useful purpose of enabling Government officers and others who may visit the Palaung country to deal directly with the people in their own language, a difficult matter, no doubt, in a polyglot province like Burma, but none the less highly desirable. Both the practical and the scientific value of the present work will be much enhanced when it is supplemented by the Vocabulary, to which I Ihave already referred; and I venture to hope that the publication of that Vocabulary will not be long delayed. C. 0 BLAGDEN. System of writing Palaung. a as a in Mann (German). a,, u,, but.,, e,, get, or well. e,, a,, pane. i i,, pin. i,, i,, machine.,, o,, bone., o,, hot, or law, u,, o,, foot, or fool. au,, ow,, fowl. ai,, i,, mine. o,, o,, Knig (German).,, ii,, fr (German). b,, b,, bid ch;, ch,, church,but this sound is sometimes slightly aspirated. d,, d,, dock. f,, f,, fat. g,, g,, gate. h,, h hand, when h begins a syllable. h final, as ch in the Scotch word loch, or in the German ch when it ends a syllable, as in the word ach. j as j in jam. k,, k,, kite. 1,, 1,, let. n,, m,, man. i n,, not. ng,, ng,, sing, never as ng in finger. p,, p,, pat. 1,, r rat. In the syllables bar, kar, and par the r is so much rolled that it almost becomes a separate syllable, pronounced b.-ra, ka-ia, and p4-ra.,, s,, sin. sh,, sh,, shine. t There is no sound in English which exactly represents the Palaung t. It slightly resembles the sound of th in the English word thing. 12 PALAUNG GRAMMAR v as v in vine. w,, w,, wine. y,, y,, yet. z,, z,, zero. This sound exists only in a few words, which have been borrowed from sources foreign to the Palaung language. 1i These letters are aspirated, the h being p pronounced after the k, p, t, and s. A near approach to the sound is s. I as kh in ink-horn. p as ph in up-hill. f as th in ant-hill. s as sh in mishap. Palaungs often pronounce the aspirated s as the English sound of sh in shine. The Palaung word for bird is sometimes pronounced sim, sometimes shim. In the combinations h,ll hm, hn, hr, and hw the h must be pronounced distinctly before the letters 1, m, n, r and w. When the letters k, p, or t end a syllable, the explosion is greatly reduced, these letters being almost silent, as in the 'checked' letters of Burmese. ny is pronounced as in the word banyan, and in the Spanish n. Inu the combinations ngw and ngy the ng is pronounced as the ng in sing, the w or y following the ng must also be pronounced. When there is no diacritical mark over a letter, the vowel sound is short: when a straight line is over a letter: —a, the vowel sound is long: when v is over a letter: —a, the vowel sound is short and abrupt, as in a short staccato sound in music. In a word of two or more syllables, each syllable stands alone, clear and distinct. RUDIMENTS OF PALAUNG GRAMMAR PARTS OF SPEECH 1. There are eight parts of speech in Palaung, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, and Interjection. NOUNS Number. 2. There are two numbers, singular and plural. The Plural is formed by adding the word ge (they) to the noun, but the noun is used without adding ge when it is followed by an adjective of number indicating the plural. It is not necessary that ge should immediately follow the Noun.1 Examples. Bee pyar. Bees pyar ge. Many bees pyar bi-9ng bi-0ng. The women who loved her went i-pan kar-juh an ge 19h. women loved her they went. Gender. 3. There are two genders recognized, Masculine and Feminine, the gender corresponding to the sex. 4. Inanimate objects have, as a rule, no gender, but tools and instruments of all kinds, such as bst (a knife), ra-jar (a comb), and ra-fai (a plough), are feminine. 5. In other cases, the male sex, in human beings, is denoted by adding i-me (a man, a male) to the noun, as: Younger brother va i-me, older brother vai i-me. A little one, a child kwn;, a boy kw'n i-me. 1 See N. 2<6. 14 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 6. Some nouns stand for males alone, and their use cannot be mistaken: such nouns have no terminating affix signifying gender, as: Chau a monk. 7. When proper names begin with a they are masculine, also a shows the masculine gender in such words as a-)b one (man), a-sa a friend (male). 8. In words denoting ogres and all the lower animals except birds, the masculine gender is expressed by adding a-fiuk to the noun, as: An ox muk a-t'fik, an ogre pT-lu a-fiuk. 9. In birds the masculine gender is expressed by adding a-king to the noun, as: Gander han a-kong. But when it is already known whether the creature referred to is male or female, the terminations may be dispensed with. 10, The feminine gender is expressed, in human beings, by adding I-pan (a woman, afemale) to the noun, as: A little one, a child kwin. A young girl, a girl child kwpn T-pan. A younger sister va T-pan, an older sister vaii -plan. 11. The letter I is a prefix in proper names which means female: it also means female in words such as I-bs-i one (female), i- a a female friend. 12. Some nouns stand for females alone, and their-use cannot be mistaken: such nouns have no termination signifying gender, as: Ya-lau a nun (Buddhist). 13. In words denoting ogresses and all the lower animals and tools, ka-ma is added to the noun to express the feminine gender, as: A cow mfk ka-ma, a goose han ka-ma, an ogress pI-lu ka-ma, a knife bht ka-ma. See N. 196. NOUNS 15 14. Ya (grandmother) is sometimes used as a prefix, to denote an ogress, as: Ya pi-lu. 15. The sex of spirits, is generally denoted by Ya (grandmother), or Ta (grandfather), placed as a prefix before the word kar-nam spirit, as: A spirit (male) ta kar-nam. 16. The word Bi (a human being), a person, when used as a noun, has seldom an added word to express gender. When used in the singular, it generally expresses Man, though it is occasionally used to denote a woman. When used in the plural it includes both men and women, as: A man goes bi loh. I see many people yii bl blam blanm. I see people many. 17. When, in the conversation, a child or an animal has already been referred to, the suffix denoting gender is generally dropped. 18. Verbal Nouns are often formed by prefixing Pan (what, or that which) or Ba to the verb, as: To be conceited, to be particular ll'a-ke. Conceit pan-kra-ke. To sit m~, a seat ra-m'. Case. 19. Nouns and pronouns have no change in form to express Case. Where, in English, we should use the Possessive Case, the two nouns are placed side by side, the last denoting the possessor, as: The elephant's trunk ngong sang. trunk elephant. A jungle bird sim bri. bird jungle. 16 PALAUNG GRAMMAR The Place of the Noun in the Sentence. 20. In simple sentences the subject precedes the verb, as: The day is fine sa-ngi la. day is good. 21. In longer sentences the subject sometimes precedes and sometimes follows the verb, as: Long ago there lived a king a ho yui hk-liam u pa.l one past time lived king one. or f ho hb-lKam yu i pa.' one past time king lived one. 22. In a sentence in which the words kan (if or when), lui-i (as), and yam (time), occur, the subject often follows the verb, as: From the time that the king goes or yam l9h hQ-lam iu pa. from time goes king one. As my father returns Kliu-i veng kln Q. as returns father my. 23. The object generally follows the verb, as: The child loves its mother kwon rak /ina a-n. child loves nother ifs. 24. When the verb is imperative, the object often precedes the verb, as: Give me another fish k hbar ii t51 deh ta 9, or fish other one give to me. dih k hbar ta 9 u to. give fisk other to me one. Put my umbrella in the house 11 9 un ta gang. umbrella my place in house. 1 See N. 196. PRONOUNS 17 PRONOUNS Personal Pronouns. Singular. 25. I, me, my...... Thou, thee, thy..... ml, or de. e, him, his...... n, or de. She, her.. an, or de. It, its....... an, or de. Plural. jJTe, us, our'...... y, or TYout, your...... p, or de. They, them, their..... ge, or dce. 26. When the noun referred to is collective, or is a common noun with a large numeral, instead of using the pronoun ge they (them, their), an he (she or it) is alternatively used, as: Give me a hundred men, let them follow me dih bi i pa-ri-ah, drh an ihlh jom 9. give men one hundred, give him go follow me. or or people come Dual Pronouns. 27. We (thou and 1) both being present. ai. Us (thee and me),,,,.. Our (thy and my,),,,,,. ai. WTe (he or she and I) both being present. ai. Us (him or her and me),,,,,. ai. Our (his or her and my),,,,,. ai. W1e (he or she and I) if one is not present yar. Us (him or her and me),,,,,,. yr. Our (hisor1 herand my),,,,,. yar. 1 See N. 81, N. 46, N. 58, and N. 107. 2 Yi we (our, us) is applied when some of the people to which cwe refers are not present; ~ zee (our, us), is used when the people are all present. 2383 B 18 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Thley (or them) (two) lie (or she) and thou. Him (or her) and thee. His (or her) and thy Observe the following expressions: Thou and we Thee and us We and he (or she) Us and him (or her) Our and his (or her) gal, or de. par, or dt. par, or (dt. par, or dC. ml ys, or mi ~. Il yI, or ml E. yE (or E) gar an. yS (or E) gar alln. yi (or E) gar an. Possessive. Singular. 28. Mine Thine His Hers Its 29. Ours Yours Theirs ha Q.2 ha ml, ha an, ha an, ha an, ha yE, ha pE, ha ge, or or or or or or or ha de. ha dc. ha de. ha d,. Plural. ha de. ha de. Dual. 30. Ours (belonging to him or her and me) Ours (belonging to thee and me) see above. Theirs (two).. Yours (belonging to him or her and thee) ha ai, or ha yar. ha ai, or ha yar. ha gar, or ha de. ha par, or ha de. I Gar may also be used to unite two nouns, one of which may be plural, as:-Give me the bag and the three small baskets toll ra-py5 gar krgng dyat u-ai pang,3 dill ta g. take bag them (two) baskets small three give to me. 2 Ha literally means place. 3 See N. 196. PRONOUNS 19 N.B. When there is a noun in the sentence, the word ha is generally omitted, as The house is ours gang yar. house our. 31. The Personal Pronouns ml, an, pg, gs, gar, and par when repeated in a sentence, often take the form of de (self) as: You must not go yet pi hnyam bap de (or ps) 19h. you not yet is necessary you go. You (two) must not go yet par hnyam bap dc (or par) loh. you two not yet is necessary you go. 32. But the first persons singular and plural, or the dual pronouns ai and yar do not follow the above rule, as: Ware must not go yet ys (or A, or ai, or yatr) hnyam twe not yet bap yE (or a, or ai, or yar) 9bh. is necessary vwe go. Examples of the use of Personal Pronouns. They asked him to retur'n to them ge hman ta an veng ta de. they asked to him return to them. We two chatted till late, it was past midnight yar kar-mon m- la, s0m hlwO-i. we two chatted till late midnight past. I am surely going to-day 9 12h y pa.-din. I go surely to-day. You must not hurry pm mai nyet. you must not hurry. or do not We could not wait ye ka bE yE re. we not able we wait. Who is it? A-she an moh? who it is. It is mine ha 9. B 2 20 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 33. Where a noun might be repeated in a sentence, de is often substituted for the second noun, as: The man moust not go yet hi hnyam bap do1 lbh. man not yet is necessary he go. My father didnot tell me kun 9 ka yui dc grai ta Q. father my not has he told to me. 34. In a conversation, where a person or a thing is being discussed, the Personal Pronoun, relating to the person or the thing, is often omitted, as: Where is the horse? (answer) it has run away ha mO gwai brang? 1 du pwot. place what is horse, run away away. 35. Sometimes a Personal Pronoun is repeated in a sentence, where the repetition would be unnecessary in English, as: Go away please ml veng bli mi tyi. thou go back on thou please. or still The old man says kwin-hyar dah. or kwQn-hyar an dabh. old man says. old man he says. Bring me here the little dog toh dEh ta 9 a-o dc dyat an h io. take give to me dog it is little it place this or here. In the above sentence an it may be omitted. In telling a story, to make the meaning very plain, the Personal Pronoun is repeated very often, as: His father and mother said klun an gar ma an dah gar. father his they two mother his said they two. 36. The repetition of a Personal Pronoun sometimes changes the meaning of a sentence, as: I shall go 0 chang 191. I shall go. I go as I please g chang 9 o1h. I shall I go. 1 An it understood. 1 PRONOUNS 21 I shall work chang ror. I shall work. I work as I please c chang r1or. I shall I work. 37. When two verbs follow one noun, the Personal Pronoun is sometimes inserted between the verbs, as: Alien say bi dah ge1 grai. men say they tell or speak. The woman does not seek to know I-pan ka tip de lnlp. woman not seeks she know. The thieves cursed us bi rat e1 yE kin yE. people steal cursed us cursed us. I see yui 9 men. lie saw an yii de men. I saw I saw he saw he saw or or looked. looked. We do not wish to see her yi ka sin ye yi an. we not wish we see her. 38. In telling a story, to make the meaning very plain, the Personal Pronoun is often repeated, and the Possessive Pronoun is repeated with each noun, as: His father and mother have died kun an gr ma all hwo-i yamn gar. father his they (two) mother his finished dead they (two). His older and younger brothers said vai an gar va an gar dah. older brother his they (two) younger brother his they (two) said. 39. In a sentence expressing a command, the Personal Pronoun is sometimes expressed and sometimes omitted, as: Do not eat pi ma-i hlm. or mai hpm. you do not eat. do not eat. 1 Or de. 22 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Go quickly 19h pai pai. or mi lh a' i pai. go quickly. thou go quickly. Go back please mi veng bDi mi tyl. thou go back still thou please. or on 40. Il sentences, one following the other, both expressing command, the Personal Pronoun is generally omitted in the second sentence, as: Do not talk, do not speak to the girl ml mia ngyi mai glrai JQim ra-pya. thou do not words do not speak follow girl. or speak Place of the Pronoun in the Sentence. 41. In a simple sentence, the Pronoun, being the Subject, precedes the Verb, but it is often omitted, as: I shall go 9 dl 19h. or di 1Qh. I shall go. shall go. MIy mother calls me nml 9 an t2 Q. mother my she calls me. I do not wish to go 9 ka sin 9 l9h. or ka sin l9h. I not wish I go. not wish go. 42. In asking a question, when a Personal Pronoun is the Subject, the Pronoun precedes the Verb, as: Where dost thou live? ha mo ml gwai? place what thou livest. 43. After the words kan (if or when), liR-i (as), and yam (time) the Personal Pronoun, being the Subject, sometimes follows the Verb, as: It is true, as thou sayest moah C, liiu-i dilih mi. is surely as sayest thou. 1 The verb jgm to follow also means together or with. PRONOUNS 23 44. The Personal Pronoun, denoting the Possessor, generally follows the object possessed, as: My house giing. house my. This house is ours i-6 pin gang yalr.' this is house our. 45. Following the Verbs toh (to take), du-s (to bring), yu (to have), and others, the Possessive Pronoun precedes the object possessed, as: We take our little child yi toh yi kw n dyat. we take our child little. The young man brought his friend ra-lyang dui-E de gO. young man brought his friend. I have my child 9 yu 9 kwnn.2 I have my child. We (two) have not our child here yir ka yu yar kwOn ha o. t'e two not have our child place this. 46. When de is used to represent a Personal Pronoun (repeated in the sentence) following the verbs toh, dui-s and yu, as above, it precedes the object possessed, as: He has a garden an yu de kar-bum. he has his garden. 47. Where hw9-i imoh (finished is), begins a sentence, the Personal Pronoun, being the Subject, follows the verb, as: It is settled that I do not return hwo-i morh ka vir i. finished is not return I. It is settled that we do not give it to him hw9-i moh ka dTh yE ta an.3 finished is not give wce to him. I Dual pronoun, see N. 27. 2 The sentence y yii kwun y would mcan I. see my child. I see child my 3 An it is understood but not expressed. 24 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 48. In some sentences following the verb moh (to be) but not in all, the Personal Pronoun, being the Subject, follows the Verb, as: I am not deceiving thee ka moh ch' 9 ta mi. not is deceive I to thee. or am I am not mad lap m6h O r Q. nothing am. mad I. Wle are grateful to thee moh rak y_ ta ml. are grateful wte to thee. 49. When a Personal Pronoun is the Object, it follows the verb, when the verb is not qualified by an adverb, as: We are looking at them y~ men ge. w e look them. 50. When the verb is followed by an adverb, the Personal Pronoun, being the Object, follows the adverb, as: I pity thee greatly 9 kar-ve gait ml. I pity greatly thee. le hurt me very much an ran hnyo hnyo o. he hurt very much me. Thank you very much r2k hnyo hnyo pi. grateful very much you. Methods of Address. 51. In speaking to a Chief, the sentence Thou hast spoken, 0 Chief! would be in Palaung, Par-mang yi grai, par-mang 6. Chief our speaks Chief 0. When a person of inferior rank speaks to an official, the word ka-chau servant is often substituted for 9 (I me, or my), as: I go ka-cllau l9h. servant goes. When a boy or a man speaks to a monk, he uses the exlpession ta-bi follower or disciple instead of Q (I me, or my), as: I return ta-bs vng. disciple returns. PRONOUNS 25 In speaking to a stranger, if the stranger is a middle-aged person, it is polite to substitute an (uncle or aunt) for the Personal Pronoun mi (thou, thee, or thy). In addressing an old person, ta (grandfather) or ya (grandmother) is often used instead of a Pronoun. Sometimes in ceremonial language, the first person plural yr (we, us or our) is used instead of the first person singular (, me or my). 52. In such an exclamation as 0 friends come! the Personal Pronoun pi (you) should be added to the sentence, as: 19h ba-gQ pT o. come friends you 0. 53. It may be noted that when one of the lower animals, or an inanimate object (being present) is the subject of conversation, a Demonstrative Pronoun 1 rather than a Personal Pronoun, is used in the first sentence, in speaking of the animal or object, as: It is pretty i-o ka-ri-ar. this is pretty. 54. When the Personal Pronoun an, meaning he, she or it, follows the Interrogative Pronoun shi (what), the a of an is nearly always omitted, the two words being pronounced as one, as: shi 'n. Jrhat is it? shi 'n moh? what it is In other cases when an is preceded by a vowel, the a is often dropped, as: Come before dark lQh krui-s 'n ap. come before it is dark. 55. The name of a person (the subject or the object) is often 1 See N. 97. 26 PALAUNG GRAMMAR accompanied by a Personal Pronoun, which would be unnecessary in English, as: A-peng will not listen A-pEng an ka ju. A-ping he not listens. I-spng and me yar I-sQng. we two 1-spng. 56. In songs instead of 9 I, me and my the words hla and keau are often used. In songs the Numeral Determinative for a human being ku is sometimes substituted for a Personal Pronoun. In the rhymes of children, to (the body, self) is often used to express I, me, and my. Interrogative Pronouns. These are chiefly as follows. 57. Who a-se sometimes pronounced a-she, i-si or a-shi. W"ho is that? a-se msh tai? or a-she moh din'? who is that; who is that. Who art thou? a-se mi mlh? who thou art. Who comes here? a-she lh ha 6? who comes place this. Who did that? a-se ror tai or i-tai a-se rir? who worked that. that who worked. 58. When a-se is followed by two verbs, it is sometimes repeated in the sentence; when thus repeated it often takes the form of de, as: Who searched for the horse? a-se tip de yui braug who searched who had horse. or saw 59. Whose? I-Se sometimes pronounced a-she, a-si, or a-shl. Whose house is this? gang i-o Ia-se n mOh? house this whose it is. 1 See N. 196. PRONOUNS 27 Wthose daughter is she? kwgn i-pan a-se an mo1? child female whose she is. Whose pig is that? 1e tai a-se an m.oh? or e a-se an mo h? pig that whose it is. pig whose it is. 60. Whom? a-e, sometimes pronounced a-she, a-si or a-shi. Whom dost thou see? a-se mi yui de men or ml a-se mi yii whom thou seest thou lookest thou whom thou secst. or seest. Whom did you hear speak? a-se gral pi chang1 sa-ting who spoke you will hear. or pE yui de sa-ting pan-grai2 a-s? you have you heard the speaking whom. With whom has she gone? r'a-se an leh with whom she went out. With whom art thou working? r'a-Se ml ror un? or a-se ml ror fun with whom thou workest place whom thou workest place or or keep. keep. 61. What sl or shl, se or she. What is the matter? shi 'n ny?I what it makes. What is he eating? se an hom? what he eats. What day is this? pa-din she an moh I to-day what it is. 62. What? i-mo, m1. WhIat dost thou believe? i-mQ ml hnyom? what thou believest. What day is this? sa-ngl mg an rot? day what it arrives. At what time did he return? a-lKing mn aln veng? time what he returned. See N. 215. 2 See N. 248. 28 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 63. Whatever da I moh (any?thing is). 7hatever is she doing? da i mOh an nya? any? thing is she does. 64. WVhich? i-mg, or m11. Which is he? i-nm a1 n mo1 1 which he is. On which day was the child born? sa-ngi mIn kWQn pin bi? day which child became human being. or what Which is thy house? i-mo moh gang mi? or i-mQ gang mi moh 1 which is house thy. which house thy is. Place in the Sentence of Interrogative Pronouns. 65. It is difficult to make any rule for the Place in the Sentence of Interrogative Pronouns, but when the verb has a Demonstrative Pronoun, such as i-o (this one) or i-tai (that one) for an object, the Demonstrative Pronoun generally begins the sentence and is immediately followed by the Interrogative Pronoun, as: Who brought those? ge i-tai a-she toll de dui-e. they that who took who brought. or those Reflexive Pronouns. Singular. 66. lyself to 9. Thyself to ml, or to de. Himself to an, or to de. Herself to an, or to do. Itself to an, or to de. Plural. 67. Ourselves to yE, or to 0.2 'ourselves to pi, or to de. Themselves to go. or to de. 1 See N. 31. 2 See note 2, page 17. PRONOUNS 29 Dual. 68. Ourselves (myself and thyself) to yar, or to ai.' IMyself and himself (or herself) to yar, or to ai. Thyself and himself (or herself) to par, or to de. 69. Sometimes the word prim (old) is inserted between the word to (self or body) and the Pronoun: lie cut himself an 4Kl to prim de. he cut body old his or self. I myself told her this to 9 o gral ta aln. body my this said to him. I myself have done it pan-nya to prim 9. the doing body old my. He himself saw the elephant to an yu sang. body his saw elephant. I-k,-i looked at the horse herself I-k~-i to de an men brang. I-kg-i body her she looked horse. Indefinite and Distributive Pronouns. 70. Any da. Which wouldst thou like? Take any i-mo ml sin bon Da pan moh toh nml di-e. which thou wishest- get. any what is take thou brinwg. 71. Some bar-di, par-dT. Give me some dsh ta 0 par-di (or bar-dl). give to me some. There is some in the basket gwai bar-dl (or par-di) ta ju-ar. remains some in basket. I saw some in the market g yu la kalt bar-di (or par-di). I saw in market some. 1 See N. 27. 30 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 72. Some. Sometimes gCo (they), and bar-di (or par-dl) (some) are used together, as: Some of her relations brought cloth to her. va-vai an ge par-dl (or bar-di) du-E an gru. relations her they some brought her cloth. 73. Some f lian-da. This expression means one half, or one part but is also used to express some, as: I saw some in the village 9 yu u kan-da u rfU. I saw one part in village. 74. One, a man a-b5 is sometimes used like the French word on, in the masculine form a-b5, in the feminine I-bo-s, as: One (man) goes a-bo lh, One (woman) says i-b5-s grai. 75. None (no one) applied to human beings ka... bi-mQh (not any one) or bi-mQh... ka. Sometimes bi-moh is pronounced bli-hmhb. There are none (no people) here ha o bi ka yui bi-mlh. place this people not are any one 76. Nlo one ka... bi-mbh, or bi-mQh ka. No one knows bT-mQh ka n.p. any one not knowos. 77. No one, not even one applied to human beings ka... hlai i ku.1 Hlai is sometimes pronounced hlau. I have spoken to no one 9 ka grai ta bl hlai (or hlau) u kf.1 I not sproke to people even one or person There is no one in the house Iui gang bl ka gwai hlal u ku.1 in house people not remain even one. or person 1 See N. 196. PRONOUNS 31 78. None meaning no beasts ka.. hlia (or hlau) ii to.' There arentone (no cattle) on the hill miik ka yui hlai u tr1 ta sor. cattle not are even one on hill. 79. None meaning no fruit ka... hlai fi p~ng.' I have none ka yu hlai f pong. I not have even one. 80. In the same way any other suitable Numeral Determinative may be used, as: I have none (meaning a short hank of cotton) 9 ka yu hlai u k.ng.' I not have even one. 81. Either. There are several ways of expressing either, as: Give me either dsh i-m9 ma-hw9-i. give which no matter. Choose either i-m9 ml 5ng rar ta ml. which thou likest choose to thee. 82. Neither. Neither may be expressed in the same way as Either with the addition of ka (not), or mai (do not, must not) or ttp (do not. nzmst not) to the sentence, as: I shall choose neither i-11m9 ka rar ta Q. which I not choose to me. Take neither i-6 i-tai mai tOlh i-mQ ma-hw9-i. this that do not take which no matter. or i- a-hw-i i-tai ma-hwo-i mai toh. this no matter that no matter do not take. 83. All pai. They went up to the palace, all holding books ge ho ta hQ pai kQng cha-ok. they went up to palace all held books. 1 See N. 196. 32 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 84. Both gar (they two, them two) Both have gone giar hw0-i 19h. they (two) finished go. 85. Each lai. Each sells at the market lai yang ta kat. each sells at mnarket. Relative Pronouns. 86. Wwo a-se or a-she. The word a-se (or a-she) is occasionally used as a Relative Pronoun: it corresponds very much to whoever in English, as: (IHe) who has wisdom can teach others a-se yi do ping-nya an pa n a n.n who has his wisdom he becomes teaches others. (She) who wishes to give may give a-she s.In dih dih. who wishes to give give. As may be seen in the above sentence, the word a-se, when the subject of two verbs, takes the form of de when repeated in the sentence. 87. Who an. An is often used in poetry, and sometimes in prose, to express who; this word, when it expresses who is always inserted between the noun or the pronoun and the verb, unless there is an adjective in the sentence, as: The old man who is ill kwQn-hyar an ka-bE. old man who is ill. You who are young men pE an moh ra-lyang. you who are young men. T'hou who art tired ml an fir. thou who art tired. 88. But when there is an adjective in the sentence, an meaning who is placed after the adjective, as: All the people who remained beside the fire said bl do-st do-st an gwai ta ka-fang ge dah. people all who remained at fire-place they said. PRONOUNS 33 89. Who. Palaungs more often express our Relative Pronouns in this manner: The man who lived there is dead }i gwa-i ha tai an yam. man lived place that he is dead or or who died. or Li an gwai ha tai an yam. man he lived place that he is dead. or who 'The woman who did that work has gone away i-pan hw9-i ror i-tai lh pwqt, woman finished work that went away. or i-pan an hwQ-i rr i-tai loh pwtt y'.1 woman who finished uork that went away. or she 90. Whom. The word a-se (or a-she) is sometimes used to express whom, as: I know with whom she lives 9 nAp r'a-shc an gwai. I know with whom she lives. But Palaungs more often express whom, in this way: The child whom you saw yesterday is ill ho-dtn pE hwo-i yu kan-nyam dyat, an ka-be. yesterday you finished saw child small it is ill. 91. Whom pan. The child whom you saw yesterday is ill kwon kan-nyom pi pan men ho-dTn an ka-bi. child child you wthom saw yesterday it is ill. or little one 92. Whose. The English Relative Pronoun whose is generally expressed in Palaung as in the following sentences: 'lte woman whose husband is mad is here 1i ru i-pan an gwa- hl o. man mad woman his lives place this. or wife 1 See N. 260. 2383 C 34 PALAUNG GRAMMAR or i-pan, ra —lh al rii gwai ha.?woman husband her mad lives place this. or wife 93. W7hich i-mQ. T'he small house which you built gang dyat i-mQ pi ror. house small which you built. 94. Which. Which can also be expressed in the same way, as: The jacket is lost, the sleeve of which is torn sa-dO kar-tl anl kar-sEh, hrai pwt doe. jacket sleeve its torn disappeared awa? it or self. or sa-do ti kar-sEh an hrai y. jacket sleeve torn it disappeared. or sa-d b hrai an y~,1 ti kar-sEh. jacket disappeared it sleeve torn. The fowl that the cat killed is there _. i-ar, a-ngau ga yam, an gwai lia din. fowl cat bit dead it is place that. or a-ngau ga ynam i-r hai din u to.2 cat bit dead fowl place tihat one. or i ar pan ga a-ngau gwai ha din. fowl that which bit cat is place that 95. That That which Pan. What The skirt that the child wears is too large klang pan dl da kwon, dang hnyo hnys. skirt that will wear child large very. 96. What. The sentence I do not know what to do would be expressed in Palaung 9 ka nap liu-i dl nya. I not know as will do. I See N. 260. 2 See N. 196. PRONOUNS 35 Demonstrative Pronouns. 97 This i-o, or 0. These words are used when the object is il the hand, or very near the speaker, as: This is falling i-o joh y~.' this falls. This has fallen i-o hwQ-i joh pwvt. this finished fell away. I shall take this 9 di tSh i-6. I shall take this. 98. This i-nan, or nan. I-nan or nan denotes that the object is at a greater distance than when i-o or S is used, as: Wash this lar i-nan. In such a short senteince, i-nan sounds better than nan. 99. This. Din is occasionally used to express this, see N. 153. 100. 'That i-tai, or t5i. These words are used by people who are near each other, and are discussing a distant object, as: Who is that? a-she m0h tai. who is that. WTio will believe that? a-se di hnyom i-tai. or i-tai a-se di hnyom. who will believe that. that who will believe. I-tii and tii are sometimes pronounced i-twii and twai. As a rule there is no difference in the meaning between i-tai and i-twai, tai and twai, but some families reserve i-twai and twai for objects in the far distance. 101. That i-din, or din. This word is used to express an object not near the person who is speaking, but near the person spoken to,2 as: Who is that? a-se an mSh din? who he is that. What is that? she moh din? what is that. ' See N. 260. 2 Compare Latin iste. c2 36 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 102. These ge i-6, ge &, or ge nan. These follow the same rules as the singular.l If these signifies two persons, giir i-i, gar 6; or gar nan would be used. These (fruits) are ripe ge 6 shin y~.2 or g5 o hwo-i shin y3.2 they this are ripe. they this finished are ripe. or or these these These (horses) were bought in China ge nan hw9-i juir kulng Ki. they this finished bought country China. or these 103. When the plurals ge or gar are repeated in a sentence, the first ge or gar may be omitted, as: TWhose are these? ge o a-she ge m6h? or i-6 a-ishe ge m6h? they this whose they are. this whose they are. or or these these 104 Those ge i-tai, ge tai. If dual gar i-tai, or gar tai. I wish to look at those 9 sin men ge tai. I wish look them that. or those, Those (mangoes) are not good ge tGi ka li. they that not are good. or those 106. Those ge din, or, if dual, gar din. Take those to the jungle ge din toh de dfi-e ta bri. they that take you bring to jungle. or those 106. I-6, 6, i-nan, nan, i-tai, li, i-din, din meaning this and that (man or woman) also the plurals ge i-6, ge o, &c. and the duals (see above) meaning these and those (men and women) can be used in Palaung, where, in English, we should use this and 1 These plurals follow the same rules as the singular, see N. 97, N. 98, N. 100, and N. 101. 2 See N. 260. M I -- PRONOUNS 37 that, these and those as Demonstrative Adjectives, along with a noun, as: This (man) has come to see thee i-o ml lh men. this (man) thee came see. These (men) are waiting for you ge o re pe. they this wait you. or these (men) Go, speak to those (women) l9h kar-grai ra ge tai. go together speak with them that or those (women) These (children) can work ge 6 be de ror. they this able they work. or these (children) 107. The above Pronouns, when repeated in the sentence,' take the form of de, as: These (men) spoke to him ge o dah de gra-i ta an. they this said they spoke to him. or these (men) Place in the Sentence of Demonstrative Pronouns. 108. These generally come before the verb when the Subject and follow the verb when the Object. But whenl the Subject is an Interrogative Pronoun, and the Object a Demonstrative Pronoun, the Object may sometimes precede the Subject, as: Who will do it? I-tai a-she di r6r. that who will do. ADJECTIVES Adjectives of Quality or State. 109. These Adjectives are also Yerbs, as: Sweet, to be sweet.... ngam. Bad, to be bad.... ka-ot. Small, to be small.... dyat. Large, to be large... dang. I See N. 31. 38 PALAUNG GRAI MAR Hot, to be hot... mai. Ugly, to be ugly.... ny. Black, to be black.... yim. An affectionate child kwon rak, child affectionate. The child loves me kwon rAk 9. child loves me. A small house, or the house is small gang dyat. house small or is small. A great mountain, or the mountain is great sor dang. mountain great or is great. The blade of a new knife pla bot kan-mi. blade knife new or is new. Very good red flannel lkying 1ko kya hnyo hnyo. flannel red excellent very. or is excellent. 110. The reduplication of the Adjective sometimes changes its meaning, as: Salt water 5m SQ. water salt. Brackish water,m sq sq. water salt salt. Very salt water 6m S sagng. water salt bitter. Place of Adjectives of Quality or State in a Sentence. 111. When the Adjective qualifies the noun, it generally follows it, as: The beautiful girl can sing ra-pya ka-ri-ar an be kar-nylr. girl beautiful she able sing. 112. The word kwQn (a little one, a child) is often used to - - ADJECTIVES 39 express the sense of smallness; it is then placed before the noun which it qualifies, as: A small bag kwQn ra-pyo. child bag. or little one.A small cat, a kitten kwgn a-nlgau. child cat. or little one 113. The Adjective lai (other, different) is also placed before the noun which it qualifies, as: Other villages lai ru. other villages. or different Otlher countries lai kiing. other countries. or different Indefinite Adjectives of Quantity and Number. 114. Much blam. Mlfuch rice ra-ko blam. rice much. 115. Much sap sap. This expression is seldom used by the Palaungs of Namhsan, but is more often used than lblam by Palaungs in the neighbouring villages. 116. Little che-re, chait, chi chi. Chait and chi chi represent an extremely small quantity, less than che-ra. Give me a little rice dsh ta 9 prm1 clie- l (or cbhait, give to me rice little. or chi chi). or dMh pQm ta g che-re (or chait, or chi chi). give rice to me little. 1 ra-ko uncooked rice, pom cooked rice. 40 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 117. Many blam. Tihere are many pigs in the village lKi-nau rli 1e gwa- blam gat. in village pigs remain many very. 118. Many kon. This expression is applied to human beings and to the lower animals, it is seldom applied to insects. Many people have come here 1l kon 191h ha o. people many come place this. 119. Few bre, ka bllam (not many), or ka gop blam (not very much many). These people are few bl ge nan lbre hnyo. people they this few very. or these Few tigers are killed there ra-vai bi pyam pst ha tia ka gop blaur. tigers people killed quite place that not very much many. Few Palaungs go to Rangoon this year Ta-ang ge leh Yang-nguin sa-lnam o ka gop blam. Palaungs they go doon Rangoon year this not very much many. 120. Few (a few) ar u-ai (two three). Ar u-ai may be substituted for ka gop blam in the above sentence, as: Few Palaungs are going to Rangoon this year Ta- an ge leh Yang-nguln sa-nam - ar u-ai klt.1 Palaungs they go down Rangoon year this two three. 121. All (when applied to humian beings) twon, sometimes pronounced twang, or tu-Qng. 'Ihe Numeral Determinative ku 1 must be used after this wor.l. All men must die bi yaml twnl kf.1 menl die all. or tw9n khu' b yalm. all men die. bi twQn kti bap de yanm. men, all is necessary they die. or must See N. 196. -. a --. - - --- a II. ADJECTIVES 41 They all went to the festival ge lh ta pl-~ tw Qn kfiu. they went to festival all. 122. All bar ge (as many as they or them). They all lived there ge gwai bar ge ha tai. they lived as many as they place that. 123. All when applied to the lower animals twon, twQng, or tu-nng. The Numeral Determinative toI must be used after this word. All the cattle have run away muk twon to du pwgt. cattle all ran away away. or milk g6 twgn to da do-st yv.2 cattle they all ran away all. or bar gwai mik ge du pwot. as many as are cattle they ran away away. 124. All when applied to inanimate objects, twin or tu-Qn. This word is sometimes, but not always, followed by a Numeral Determinative (see N. 189). I am bringing all the things dui-s tw~n nE. I bring all things. 125. All tong. This word is of Shan origin, and, when used, the accompanying noun seems always to be of Shan or'igin, as: She walked all day an 19h tqng van. Tlhe sentence she went all day. An 1911 twQn sa-ngi meanls She goes daily. shie goes every day. The words to express all night tQng ufin aie also taken froml the Shan, but the Palaung words twon hmti (all night) may also be said. In this case hmo, the shortened form of ra-hmo night must be used. They went every day all day for five days gc l9h tgong van tgng van, an do-st pan sa-ngi they went all day all day they all five days. i See N. 196. 2 See N. 260. 3 See N. 26. 42 PALAUNG GIRAMMAR or na-u pan sa-ngi ge bap de 19h twin sa-ngi. in five days they must they go all day. or is necessary In the first example, the reduplication of tong van makes it more emphatic. 126. AU do-st. Her sons are all married kwon i-me aln go brOng do-st. children male her they married all. or kwon i-mie an g6e kat do-st. children male her they married all. or kwQn i-me an hw9-i kat twin kU.1 children male her finished married all. They ate all the fish ge bap do-et ka. they ate all fish. They have finished eating all the rice ge hw9-i hom do-et prm. they finished ate all rice. 127. All do-st do-st. All the women carry lamps i-pan do-st do-st kong rang. women all carry lamps. The expression do-st do-st as well as meaning All seems to express Completely and Altogether, and may be used when these words may be substituted for All in an English sentence, as: All the grass was wet kar-ban om do-st do-st grass wet all. or completely. or kar-ban hw"-i om do-st. grass finished water all. 128. All tang ka-p)un. This expression is not very commonly used, it means All in the sense of a very great number, as: All the people were gathered together bi tang ka-pun kar-chu. people all together gathered. 1 See N. 196. ADJECTIVES 43 They sold all the pots ge yang klo tang ka-pun. They sold pots all. 129. All, the whole pai. He put on all the paint on the whole of his louse an pu-9n do-et sa-nam ta gang de pai klrng.' he painted all paint on house his all or whole. All the year pai sa-nam. Every year tw~n sa-nam. Ile gave me all the bread an dsh ta ~ do-et mong pai pDng.1 he gave to me all bread all. It has rained all this month kyar 6 jfng pai kyar. month this rain all month. or whole or kyar o pia kyar an jfung. month this all month it rained. or whole 130. All pai kiing. This expression really means the whole of the people in the country, but some of the Palaungs use it in a more restricted sense, to mean Whole or All, as: The tiger ate all the ox ra-vai h0m do-et mik pai kung, tiger ate all ox all or whole. but it would be more correct to say ra-vai liQm do-et nmuk f to.1 tiger ate all ox one. The sentence Ra-vai hlom pai muk would mean tiger ate with ox. The tiger ate with the ox. 131. All the people, everybody bi pai kflng pai rdi (people -' See N. 196. 44 PALAUNG GRAMMAR (in) all (the) country (and) all villages), meaning all the people in the country in which the speaker is. All the people, everybody bi twQn kiing twQn rf people all country all villages (people (in) all (the) country (and) villages), meaning all the people in the surrounding countries. 132. Sometimes u (one) is used in the sense of All, or Whole, as: All her life, her whole life u a-sak l an. one life her. They watched the whole night, or all the night ge rE1 hm6. they watched one night. 133. No (none, no one), when applied to hutman beings u kiu ka, as: one not No Palaungs arrived Ta-ang fi ku1 ka rtt. Palaungs one not arrived. 134. Some bar-di, par-di. I saw some flowers in the valley 9 yu p5h par-di ta plong. I saw flowers some in valley. 135. Some u lian-da. This expression really means hal' or a part, but is used to denote some, as: I picked some orchids in the jungle 9 pat liu bri poh ring-geng u lian-da. I picked in jungle flowers orchid one part. or. some IHe caught some fish an bobn a-to-s kai lkan-da. he got caught fish one part. or some Bar-di or pa'-di may be used instead of u lkan-da in the above sentence. See N. 196. ___._. _.._._..__._. _............__ ADJECTIVES 45 136. Some lan-di lan-di. I bought some mushrooms yesterday 9 jur ho-dln tir kan-di lan. di. I bought yesterday mushrooms some. 137. Several ka brc ka blam (not few not many). This would apply to eight or ten people. Several women i-pan ka bre ka blam. women not few not many, 138. Any ting. I cannot get any fruit p16 9 ka bh b)on tsng y.' fruit I not able I get any. 139. Any da. Any man can go da' bi moh pen (or bE) de lgh, lQh. any man is able he goes goes. 140. Any ui... u with the appropriate Numeral Determinative, see N. 196. Pick any fruit peh ple u ' pong2 it png.a2 pick fruit one one. 141. Any (one) ii ka2 ii k.2 one one. Any one may come back veng If k i2 i ku.2 come back one o0e. 142. Not any, not even a few ka.. li a che-rs, ka hlh ki 2 (not even one). 1 have not any horses 9 ka yu bailng hlie che-re. I not have horses even few. I have not spoken to any man, or I have not even spoken to one man 9 ka grai ta bl hlai u ku.2 I not spoke to people even one. I See N. 260. 2 See N. 196. 46 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 143. Enough lom. The people are very many, the bananas are not enough bi kon gat, klwQ-e ge o di ka lmn people many very bananas they this will not enough or or these be enough hpm ge. or bi kon gat, klwQ-e ge o eat they. people many very bananas they this or these di ka lim bi kon. will not enough people many. or be enough 144. Lrm oIm, or hlim luim may b)e used instead of 1irm. 145. Enough gop. Give me enough grass dih ta 9 gop lu-i. give to me enough grass. Give him food until he has enough dsh ta an gop pan-hom. give to him enough food. Place of Indefinite Adjectives of Quantity and Number. 146. The Place of these Adjectives in the Sentence may be gathered from the above examples; there is no universal rule. Demonstrative Adjectives. 147. There are no Definite or Indefinite Articles in Palaung, as: The cow came into the garden, or a cow came into the garden muik ka-ma1 ii to lip ta o-yen. cow one entered in garden. or mfk ka-mal lip ta o-yen. cow entered in garden. 148. For the cow, meaning a cow that is well known to the speaker and hearer, din or tai (that) would be used, as: The (that) cow came into the garden mik ka-ma1 tai (or din) lip ta 5-yen. cow that entered in garden. I See N. 196. ADJECTIVES 47 149. This i-6, or 6. Used when the object is in the hand, or very near the speaker, as: This horse's bit is unfastened ga brang o an kar-lAl. bit horse this is unfastened. 150. This i-nan, or nan. I-nall or nan is used when the object is farther away than when i-8 or o is used. Wash this cloth lar gru i-nan (or nan). wash cloth this. I am taking this basket 9 toh Q du- ji-ar i-nan (or nan). I take I bring basket this. 151. That i-tal, or tai. Tllis expression is used when both speaker and hearer are at a distance from the object, as: Take this fan to that man's mother ma i-me tai t6h mi dih ra-yap 6. mother man that take thou give fan this. or ra-y.p i-o tdh mi dti- ta ma a-bo tai. fan this take thou bring to mother man that. or ra-yap i-6 ma a-b5 tai toh pwit de d3-e. fan this mother man that take away thou bring. I shall ask that one 9 di sar-mwot ta i kau tai. I shall ask to one that. Sell that basket at the market ju-ar tai dih yang ta kat. basket that give sell in market. or at or yang jii-ar tial ta kit. sell basket that in market. 152. I-tai and tai are sometimes pronounced i-twai and 1 See N. 196. 48 PALAUNG GRAMMAR twvai. The same applies to the Demonstrative Adjectives as to the Demonstrative Pronouns, see N. 100. That din. Din is generally used when the object is near the person spoken to, as: They went with that man ge l1h j~m bl din. they went followed man that. 153. Din is used in speaking of a person who is absent, it is also used in the sentence They sl)oke in this manner ge dah liiu-i din. they spoke as that or or like this. In repeating the remarks of any one, tis phrase ends every speech: it is often shortened to dah lKi din. 154. These ge (or giir)1 i-0, ge (or gair) o, ge (or gar) i-nan, gc (or gar) nan. These cucumbers are very good ta-ki-ar ge o (or lnan) 1i hnyo hnyo. cucumbers they this are good very. * or these 155. Those ge (or gar)' i-tii, or g6 (or gaur) tii. Those bags have come from BhYamo ra-pyo ge tai y i o Mail-Irn (or yiU lip 'Man-m). bags they that came from from BJamo came from side Bhamo. 01' or those 156. Those ge (or gal) i-twai, go (or giir) twiii. See N. 100. Those mountains are very far away sor ge i-twal sa-ngai hlnyo hnyo. mountains they that are far very. or those 157. 'hose ge (or gar) dln. Those fowls are eating the palddy. i-ar ge din hQm hlngo. fowls they that eat paddy. or those 1 See N. 27. --— ~- - - -;-E - -- - - - -— ~ — ---- ~- ~ ---~ ---- -—; ----~ ~ ADJECTIVES 49 158. Same rium (together), mo-rim (from rmoh to be, rum together). This is the same kind of mango as that ple bri o plo bri tai noh ruin (or mo-rfum). fruit jungle this fruit jungle that are together. or or or mango mango same. This is the same cloth as that grlu O gar grfu tai mo-rum (or moh rum). cloth this they two cloth that same. 159. Same, like, similar hnor. She is like her younger sister an hner va aln (or de). she like younger sister her her.' or is like 160. Like kui-i, or kl. Kfi-i may be substituted for hncr in the above sentence. I have never seen it like this 8 ka to1m yui Kul-i (or lii) o hlai f 18h. I not ever saw as this ever one time. or like 161. Another; other har. Another woman does that work i-pano har rr tai. wzoman other 7worked that. or another or i-pan har u ku 2 an ror tai. woman other one she worked that. or another 162. Another i-har or har. I-liar is often used in speaking of inanimate objects, and sometimes of the lower animals, as: Give me anotherfish dIh ka i-har ta 9 u to.2 give fish other to me one. or another lie has gone to another place an l2h ha har. he went place another. or other See N. 31. 2 See N. 196. 2383 D 60 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 163. Another. Sometimes by repeating a noun another is expressed, as: One day is like another ft sa-ng! hner i s.a-ngi. one day is like one day. 164. Another. The sentence One after another, if applied to human beings, is generally expressed ft ku m6h u kU one is one. if applied to the lower animals u t15 moh it tro, and, one is one if applied to inanimate objects, the same expression is used, substituting the appropriate Numeral Determinative for kii or t5. See N. 196. 165. Other (things) pan-lar. Buy and bring other things jfir ml dui- pn-hbar. buy thou bring other things. 166. Any other dli..., or i.. i., followed by the appropriate Numeral Determinative, as: Give me any other bowl diI ka-ling i phiT n miob an dih ta Q. any1 botl one be it give /o )e. or dih ta t pla '1 i pla.' give to me one one. 167. Other lai (different). Other houeses lii gang. other villages lai rni. other houses. other villages. or or different different 168. Other (people). The Personal Pronoun gC (they or them) is used to express other people, as: The chief and the other people consented par-mang ge dih a-kwqng. chief they gave consent. or other people 1 See N. 196. ADJECTIVES 51 169. Other 1T. Othere countries kfng 1),. Other villages ruf bi. countries other, villages other. 170. Such. There is no word to express the English word Such: the sentence, Such a man is very good would be expressed in Palaung, bi lKu-i an la hnyo hnyo. man as he is good very. or like Distributive Adjectives. 171. Each. When applied to human beings u ki l1 uf kful (one one). one one. When applied to the lower animals u to 1 to.1 one one. When applied to inanimate objects t... i. followed by the appropriate Numeral Determinative,' I gave each kind to each person hwo-i dih y;/2 ta u kui1 i ni u ku1 u i n. 1 finished gave to one person one thing one person one thing. I have given something to each person 9 hw-i dRh ta ge ui n i ni twon ku. I finished gave to them one thing one thing all person. or every Each brought three bowls l ku1 du-e u-ai sa-l ui kfi.1 one person brought three bowlvs one person. 172. Each lai (different). Let each one drink dih ge lai te-ang iu kii. give them each drink one or different 173. Each pau... man. Each of the men i-me pau I-me man. men each men each. 1 See N. 196. 2 See N. 260. D 2 52 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 174. Each other kar. The prefix kar is used before many Palaung words to express Each other, as: To scold, to quarrel eh, to abuse each other kar-eh. N.B. This prefix, however, does not always mean Each other, as: A coffin lng, to gamble kar-lpng. 175. Sometimes kar, used as a prefix, means Together, and sometimes it changes the meaning of a verb, as: To commit a fault lut. To make a mistake kar-lit. To fold, to double ft'p, repetition or repeatedly kar-t'p. To decide sang, to distribute kar-sang. 176. Each, Every. The same Palaung words that express All twQn kf, twQn to, &c. (see N. 194) are used to express Each and Every, and there is no rule for their position in the sentence. 177. Every. Sometimes the word Every is expressed hy the reduplication of a phrase, as: Every four days go to see him pon sa-ngl pon sa-ngl lqh ta an. four days four days go to him. Adjectives of Number. Cardinal Numbers. 178. In counting, hlh is used to express one, but when one is used with a noun expressed, f is used. 1 u, or hlh. 2 ar. 3 u-ai, sometimes pronounced p-i. 4 pon. 5 pan. ADJECTIVES 5 53 6 7 8 9 1 0->" I11 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 0 7 0 8 0 9 0 100 105 110 120 125 200 500 1,000 1,005 2,000 1 0,000 20,000 t~r, or t~i. piWr. ta. kr ik'-r. Sometimes la kau is used. ko'-r Da (or nong.) fi, or ko-r Da (or niing) lusih. nob a (or nong) art. ko-r Da (or Dong) U-Wi, or ko-r na (or iioig) 0-i. k —r ina (or nong) 'j5n. k Or iia (or nong) jPn. kd-r Dna (or nong) tor. ko-r n a (or nong) par. k 05r n.a (or n~ng) tii. ko'ri na (or nong) frni. dr ko —1. air kor Da (or uniig) uor iir ko~r na l1lh. u - iI k 8r. ji~n kor. ptir kor. ta ko-r. t i m ko,,r ii p4-ri-ah, or la pr —it. i! p4-ri-iih na (or nong) j'4un. i! pq6-ri-dh na (or uoing) ko~i. ii p4-ri-ahi na (or nong) air kO'uI. d pu4-1i-ah na (or ii~ng) air ko'-r na P'11 air p4-ri-ah. jPn p-ri-ah. ii hring. ii b~ritig uia (or uiouig) jn41n. ar lhriig. ai huinin. air hliu'n. 54 54 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 30,000 u-Mi hmunfn. 40,000 p 5fl hmiiinI. 50,000 jqii hmiud1. 60,000 tor hmuTn. 7,0,000 piir hmfln. 80,000 tii hintubI. 90,000 fimr hmtin11. 100,000 ii sen. 1,000,000 ii YE-liin. 10,000,000 ii ka-de. 179. Jt may be noted that the Shan numerals are very ofteil used by Palaungs. Ordinals. '180. Thei'e seem. to be nio PalaUng words used ass Ordinials, but three PWi Ordinals are used by the more educated Palaunigs, and these are also used iii their stories. First pii-ta-ma'. Second dfi-ti-a-. Third ta-ti-a. After the third Ordinial number, the Cardinials, tire used, as: The firdt man pii-ta-ma" 1-m(~. first man. T'he fourth man!-me j6n kfl' man four. le is the fifth child gE 03 fi VA they this one younger brother one or these, viii kw~in Oi jau kd.' older brother children he five.Examples of the use of Numeral Adjectives. lie is the first man of the ten g13 O" f koir aii nilli pa-ta-mii bM. they this one, ten hie is first person. or or these. man, 1See N. 196. ADJECTIVES 5 55 Five (people) are picking tea leaves ge pa t hla myam, pa4n ku.' they pick leaves tea five. I have two sons and three daughters yii kwon I-me ar ku,l kwon i-pan u-ai kui. I have children male two children female three. (the second kwQn may be omitted). Hle came twice to see thee an veng men mli ar loB1. he returned see thee two times. That is the sixth woman i-tai moh i-pan t~r ktu.' that is wcoman six. 181. 'The first born child, whether male or female, is called kwQn ting. The eldest son is also called vi dang. Should he die before he reaches the age of four or five years, the second son becomes vi dang. The second son, if there are only two, is called kwOn lunm; if he has an older and a younger brother, he is called vl kan-di (the middle one), or in the short form vi di. The third son.... v dyat. The fourth son.... v dot. The fifth son.... vi krui. The sixth son.... v don. The seventh son.... vi -i. The youngest child, whether son or daughter kwnl t-. The eldest daughter... di dang. The second daughter... di ihan-d, or di di. 'The third daughter... di dyat. The fourth daughter... di dot. The fifth daughter.. di kri. The sixth daughter... di dQn. The seventh daughter.. di lo-i. 1 See N. 19.(; 56 PAIfAUNG GRAMMAR He is an only child an o moh kwon u ku.1 he this is child one. or an o moh go kwpn fu ku.1 he this is only child one. Hler fifth son has died vi kru an an yam. fifth son her he is dead. YThe second daughter of the chief has married di Klan-di par-mang an leh. second daughter chief she is gone out. or is married. 182. Half lRan-da. Kan-da is generally used to express a half, or a part that nlay be removed from the rest, as: Half the men were asleep bi it u lRan-da. men slept one half. lie ate half the fruit an hom ple fi lan-da. he ate fruit one half. 183. lHalf Klan-di. Kan-di generally applies to what cannot be divided and taken away, as: Half way up the hill llan-di sor. half hill. 184. Half bar-di, par-di, llan-di llan-di. These words may all be used to express half. 185. Half or a part don, fi don. I have smoked half my cheroot 0 hwo-i te-ang sa-lek uf don O. I finished smoke cheroot $ne half my. I have smoked the half of my cheroots sa-lek 9 ge hwo-i te-ang fiu lan-dat. cheroots my they finished smoke one half. In the last sentence ii dgn would not be used. 1 See N. 196. ADJECTIVES 57 This well is half full of water om b5ng 8i n~ an u don. water hole this is full it one half. or well or em bong o ni lian-di Itan-di. water hole this is full half. or well Half the house fell gang pyQh de ui don. house fell it one half. or self or ging pyoh pw't fu lan-da bar-di, house fell away one half half or some. 186. As in the above sentences there is often, in Palaung, a reduplication of Adjective. 187. Half kwai. Kwai is used when the half to which it refers is not an actually separated quantity, as: Half a rupee run u kwai. or kwai u bya. silver one half. half one rupee. Give me half a basket of rice ra-k5 u tang din dsh ta 9 f kwai. rice one basket that give to me one half. Place of Numerals in the Sentence. 188. Sometimes the Cardinal Numeral Adjectives are used in tile same way as the Numerals in English, and stand before the noulns which they qualify, as: One village f ru, two villages ar ru. 189. Sometimes the Cardinal Numeral Adjectives follow the words which they qualify, when thus preceded they are followed by a descriptive Determinative, as: Horse brang, one horse bring u tao. 1 See N. 196. 58 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 190. Sometimes the Numeral Determinative precedes thle noun, the number being understood, as: He built one house an ror krQngl gang. he built house. or an ror gang a krlng.1 he built house one. This (one) writing pon1 llk o. or lik i ponl o. letter this. letter one this. 191. In some cases the Numeral, preceding or following tile noun, changes the meaning of the sentence, as: One house gang a krong,1 only one house u gang. house one one house. One hut kar-hup i kring,l only one hut u kar-hfp. hut one one hut. 192. These Determinatives are often used without a number to describe the shape of anything, as: A bolster hmon p9ng,1 a pillow (flat) hmnQn kan-bl&-a.' cushion cushion. A box of matches ngar-kir u i-up,' one match ngar-kir u y nyng.' matches one match one. 193. Occasionally the Numeral with its Determinative is separated from the Noun by another word, as: Give me another horse brang har a t5o dih ta 9. horse another one give to me. 194. These Determinatives are often used after Al 1, Each, and Every,2 as: Give to all the children dsh ta kwon twon kU.1 give to children all. 195. Occasionally the Determinative represents the subject, as: Hast thou burnt thy hand? (answer) Yes, it is painful Mi hyBp ti ml? Moh c,3 kQa' 9 su. thou burned hand thy. is my painful. 1 See N. 196. 2 See N. 121, N. 123, N. 124. 8 See N. 260. t1 ADJECTIVES 59 The person in front k u ra-at. before. The last person in a row (Indian file) kui1 ra-ban. behind. N.B.-But in poetry ku often stands for mi thou, thee, and thy. List of a few of the Principal Numeral Determinatives. Bra Chan Chu D~n GwQng Hllng follows a noun denoting a bundle.of sticks, a bouquet of flowers tied together.,, a meal.,,,,,, a hanging tray, a shelj.,,,,, a halo, the bank of a river, an image of the Buddha.,,,,, something long and narrow.,,,,, a short block of wood.,,,,,, a ring.,,, an arrow, a small boat, a tripod (for supporting the rice pot), a chair.,,,,, a long hank of cotton.,,,,, a weighing- machine, a mortar, bellows, a carriage, a coffin, a box, a bed, a room.,,,, a box.,,,,, a female beast, any tool or instrument such as a sword, a comb, a chisel. i ee N. 196. 60 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 1Ka~n-Ang Kan-bl&a ' Kan-ble'ak - K~an-bI i-a Kan-dci Kan-huin Kar-Anig Ka-ri-qncig Kar-l1hig Kar-vy~ing Kjng K1ong follows a noun denoting a precious stone, a cart.,,,,, anythingflat, a ceiling, a mat, a banknote, a brick, a biscuit, a cloud. 3 5 I ),,,y y I I ) I a cheek. a lump of anything. a flower with many petals, a bunch of small fruits (such as raspberries), a bunch of flowers (not tied together). a bundle, a boot, a lump of amber. a ' comb' of bananas. a coil, a circle. a short hank of cotton. Krong K fi LIi M~1,the bank of a stream, the bank of a tank.,,,, an arm, an ear, a leg, a foot, a hand, an anklet, a bracelet, a bale.,,a,, large boat, an altar, a bier, a house, a room.,,,,,, a human being, a doll.,,,,,, a gun, the sound of an explosion. a,,, storm, an earthquake., a piece of cloth, a husk of paddy. I - _1 I-.-. ___ __ ADJECTIVES 61 Ncymig') Nylng Ny~ng PA Puk Ph7i Plng Oi3n follows a noun denoting a bamboo, a chain, a rosary, a braid (of hair), a stick, a long fibrous root, a buckle. a cactus, a candle, a match, a needle, a pencil, a vein, a floor, a belt, aflower (with few petals), a post, a bow (for arrows), a banana tree.,, a king, an image of a king. h alf of a length of cloth.,,,,, a plate, a leaf, a cup, a basin, aflat board, a mushroom.,,,,, a channel for water.,,,,,, a curtain or screen dividing a room, an envelope, an awning, a skin, a book, a a carpet, a blanket.,,, anything round (such as an orange).,,,,, a bunch of bananas.,,,, a covey of birds.,., a suit of clothes.,,., a song.,,,,, a honey-comb, a wasps' nest.,,, a pagoda, an image of the Buddha. Ra-h1Dng Ra-han Ben-jang Bin-slim Rong 62 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Sim Sang Ta-bo Tl follows a noun denoting a pair.,,,,,, dice (when two, but when one only the affix is p~ng), a drum,playing-cards.,,,,,, a sermon. 5 5 5 3 ) I a crack, a bridge, an account, a colony, a drop of water, a pond, a curtain (over a door or window), a step (in walking), a piece of land, an arch, an elbow, a bubble, a waterfall, a knot, a vegetable. To,,,, the lower animals, a rainbow, a paper kite. U, lip Var Yilp 9,,,,, a whol,, a rhyn,, a bush * 'e piece of cloth. ne for children.,, a creeper. Comparison of Adjectives. 197. The Comparative Degree is formed by introducing the wor(d dor (than) into the sentence, as: My ring is more beautiful than thine la-chqp 9 o ka-ri-ar dor la-chbp ml. ring my this beautiful than ring thy. or is beautiful This house is smaller than yours gang o dyait dor gang p~. house this small than house yours. or is small -j -— l' -.-. ADJECTIVES 63 That girl is more beautiful than those in the village ra-pya tai ka-ri-ar dor ra-pya ge tai u ru girl that beautiful than girls they that one village or or is beautiful those nan hnyo hnyo. this very. He is bolder than his tall friend an vaiu don d5r bi-gO jar do. he bold excels than friend tall his. or is bold The pleasant village where I live is larger than this village r1 ta-lkfi-i ra-gwa-i dang dor rfi 1. village pleasant dwelling my large than village this. or is large This slippery path is shorter than that ra-deng dyat kli-at nm dcr tai. road small slippery is short than that. or ra-deng dyat kli-at ka hiing bar tai. road small slippery not is long as mtch as that. My white horse is not lagqer than yours brang bli 9 o ka dang dor bra ng pe. horse white my this not is large than horse your. or large IIe is worse than his younger brother an var1 dOr va an. he b)ad than younger brother his. or is bad In the following sentence dor is not required. ie is the richer of the two gar ar ku2 an krlm. they (two) he is rich or rich. I Var meaning bad, to be bad, seems seldom used except in the comparative and superlative degree. If another adjective is used in the sentence it follows var. 2 See N. 196. 64 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 198. The Superlative Degree is expressed by dor (than), followed by the plural of the word with which the comparison is made, as: That fat girl is the plainest girl in the whole village ra-pya kling tai ny9 dor ra-pya d5-et do-st pai rni. girl fat that ugly than girls all whole village. or is ugly or li rii ra-pya kling tai nyO dor ra-pya ge har. in village girl fat that ugly than girls they other. or is ugly That black bird is the least beautiful sim yim din ka-ri-ar dor sim har chait chaiit. bird black that beautiful than birds other little. or sim yim tai an ka ring ka-ri-ar dor sim ge liar. bird black that it not strong beautiful than birds they other. or or is strong is beautiful Of the three he is the best lii-niau ge u-ai ki1 an la dor ge. in them three he good than they. or is good He is the worst an ka-la dor ge. he bad than they. or is bad or an var dor go. he bad than they. or is bad or an var ka-ot dor bl hnyo hnyo. it bad bad than people very much. or or is bad is bad 199. The word kyuk is sometimes used to express the most. 200. When a noun stands for the thing compared, it is 1 See N. 196. I ADJECTIVES 65 usual to repeat it in order to express the thing to which it is compared, as: This garden is larger than thine 6-yen o vah dor o-yen ml. garden this large than garden thy. or is large The sentence O-yen 6 vah dor ha m; garden this large than place thy or or is large thine would not be correct: if, however, the gardens have already been compared, an vah dor ha mi might be said. it large than place thy. or or is large thine Place of Dor in the Sentence. 201. Dor follows the adjective, which is expressed in the Comparative or Superlative Degree. VERBS 202. There is no difference in form between a Transitive and an Intransitive Verb. 203. Where the Passive Voice is expressed in English by the addition of the Verb to be, there is often no difference in Palaung between the Active Voice and the Passive, as: I shut the door g sang bang-b.h. I shut door. The door is shut bang-boh sang. door is shut. To float, to be a/oat plur. To arouse (another), to be aroused pyu. To unfasten, to be unfastened 1iah. In many cases the Passive Voice cannot be expressed by a 2S83 E 66 PALAUNG GRAMMAR verb in Palaung: the sentence The man was killed by the Kachins, would be The Kachins killed the man Kang pyam pet i-me. Kachins killed quite man. Occasionally this form is used -me l am de yain kop Kang. man suffered he died on account of Kachins. 204. The Verb is not modified in any way to express Number or Person, as: I give 9 dEh: they give ge dih. 205. Neither is there any way in which the Verb is changed to express a difference in Mood, as: He gives an dih: (if) he give an (kan) dih. 206. The Infinite Mood is expressed by the simple Verb, as: They asked him to return to them ge lmiin ta an veng ta de. they asked to him return to them. 207. But it is sometimes preceded bythe Preposition ta (to). The addition of this Preposition, however, sometimes changes the meaning of the sentence, as: I know my work 9 n.p ror. I know work. I know how to work 9 nip ta ror. I know to zork. 208. Often when a Preposition is used with the Infinite in an English sentence, it is omitted in Palaung, as: To laugh at a person yum bi. laugh person. 209. The Imperative Mood is expressed by the simple verb, as: Go 19h, or, more politely, 1Qh tyy go please. The Verb is often reduplicated for the sake of emphasis, as: Go l1h lQh. VERBS 67 210. The reduplication of a Verb, however, does not always express a more emphatic command, it sometimes entirely changes the meaning of the word, as: To hide bl]ng, to throw water (on a floor) bl)lng blong. To remain gwai; to say, to speak dah. To remain speaking gwai dah. To repeat anything or repeatedly gwKi gwa dah. To throw te, to throw quickly ts ts. To hang without movement jw~, to hang with a swinging movement, to dangle jwi jw~. 211. In such a sentence as Let us go lh, the same form is used as in the Present Tense, TWe go ~ l]h. 212. Tense may be expressed by prefixing or affixing some particle, which, however, is very often omitted when the context makes the meaning clear without it. Some of these Particles, such as Hw9-i (to finish), which is used to express Past Time, are really Verbs. 213. The Present Tense, and habitual action, are both expressed by the simple Verb, as: I go, or am going 9 19h. Thou goest, or art going mi lgh. He, she, or it goes, or is going an lQh. We go, or are going yE lgh, or e lQh. You go, or are going pi lqh. They go, or are going ge lQh. 214. Past Tense is generally expressed by prefixing Hw9-i (often pronounced hwai) or Hi, or Hi hw9-i to the Verb. These Particles immediately precede the Verb, as: I was going, I went, I have gone, I had gone 9 hw~-i lqh, or.Q hi lh, or 9 hi hwo-i l9h. Hw9-i and Hi may be omitted if another word in the E 2 68 PALAUNG GRAMMAR sentence expresses Past Time, and these prefixes are constantly omitted in colloquial speech, as: I went yesterday 9 19h ho-dln. 216. The Future prefixes Chang and ChA are often used, in telling a story, to express Past Tinme, as: Ile said to me an chang dah ta 9 (lie will he saying he will say to me to me). 216. In telling a story, the Verb yu to rise up, to come from, is often used as a Particle to express Past Time, as: The king said hQ-liam yu dah. king rose up said. 217. The Prefix Kyang is sometimes used to express Past Time, it aho has the meaning of Always, ever. The sentence i have been working 0 kyang ror may be translated either as I worked or I have always been working. 218. Future Tense is expressed by the Prefixes Di, Chang and Ch.: ChA is sometimes pronounced sa. These Prefixes are used for the immediate Future (as well as to express Past Time, see above). They are placed between the subject and the Verb, or, if the subject follows the Verb, or is understood only, these Prefixes precede the Verb, as: I shall go now u din 9 chang (or ch.) l1h. one time I shall go. or now I do not know if I shall go 9 'ka nDp kan 9 ch& lh. I not know if I shal go. When I shall sing yam chang kar-nyir 9. time shall sing I. 219. When there is a Negative in the sentence, the Future Prefix precedes the Negative, as: I shall not return 9 chang ka vcng. I shall not return. VERBS 69 220. The Prefix Di may be used to express the immediate Future, as well as the distant Future, as: Hie will go quickly anl di l h pai pai. he will go quickly. or all clhang (or chA or sa) lqh pai pai. he will go quickly. 221. The Prefixes Chang and Di are sometimes used together, as: I shall go 0 chang di l9h. I shall shall go. 222. The Future is often used in Palaung, where the Future is understood, but not expressed, in English, as: Are you going? pi di lh kq 1' you will go. If it rains kan aln di juing. if it will rain. Thou must go ml di bhup de lh. thou wilt is necessary thou go. or mi chang buip de l9h. thou wilt is necessary thou go. She does not know what to do aln ka Lap lufi-i di nya. she not knows as will do. I sawv it in time before it fell Cr yam di j'h all, Q yu. from time will fall it I saw. Her mother waits to speak to her ma an rC di grai ta an. mother her waits uill speak to her. Why should you not go? she pE chang ka lhi 1 why you will not go. 223. When a Verb is repeated, as in the following example, the Future Prefix should also be repeated, as: Will you go or not? pi di Q1h, pa di ka qh? you will go you will not go. 1 See N. 261. 70 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 224. In a sentence expressing a command, when the negative is prohibitory, a Future Prefix is not used in the sentence, as: Do not go (at a future date) ml maii l1h. thou do not go. or must not 225. Certain families among the I'alaungs use the prefix Di more than the prefixes Chang, Chb, and S'a, while others use Chang, Chg, and S'a more than Di. 226. The Prefix Cham is also used.to express Future Time. 227. The Particle Ma-hwQ-i (no matter), is often used to express the English word Let. It is used as a command in the third persons, singular and plural, as: Let him go an l9h ma-hwO-i. he goes no matter. The above sentence is said in angel or impatience: it would be more polite to say Dih an 19h tyl, or dEh an lhh ma-hwq-i. give him go please give him go no matter. 228. When Ma-hwo-i is used in the first person; it means In any case or Of course. Q lgh ma-hwQ-i means I shall go in any case, or I shall go of course. It is difficult to lay down rules for the exact use of Ma-hwQ-i, as in the following sentence, It does not matter whether you do it or not p~ ka ror ma-hwQ-i, you not work no matter, or do but the same sentence may also mean You have done no work. 229. The word Ka-rang appears to mean To will, to wish; it is generally used in impatience, or in anger, as: If he wishes to go, let him go ka-rang 19ll ma-hwo-i. (he) wishes go no matter. I will speak ~ ka-rang grli. Ka-rang dah seems to mean Let them talk. VERBS 71 230. Need may be expressed by the Auxiliary Verb Li (to want, to require). See examples at page 75. 231. May is sometimes expressed in this way I may go 9 lh, 9 ka Q1h, ka n.p. I go I not go not know. 232. Let and May are often expressed by the Auxiliary Verb D)h (to give). See examples at page 76. 233. May is sometimes expressed by the word Sang-tQ, as: I may go kan ka sang-tq g di l]h. if not may I shall go. 234. The English word Must may be expressed by the Auxiliary Verb Bap (or bup), and Bon (to be necessary). See page 77. Must may also be expressed by adding the Palaung word 1lylno (surely, certainly) to the sentence, as: IHe must be here an gwai hny5 ha 6. he remains surely place this. 235. Ought is expressed by the Auxiliary Verb La (to be good). See page 77. The word Taik is used by some Palaungs, as: I ought to tell him 9 talk grai ta an. I ought tell to him. 236. Conditional sentences are expressed by the introduction of Kan (if) into the sentence. See N. 491. 237. The English words Can and Could may be expressed by the Auxiliary Verbs Bg or Pin, which mean To be able. See page 76. 238. When the English word Should implies Duty, it may be translated by either of the words used to express Ought. See N. 235. 72 PALAUNG GRAMMAR In such a sentence as I should have seen it, if.. Palaungs would say Kan... yfi an. if I saw it. 239. Would is expressed by the Auxiliary Verb Sin (to wish). See page 80. 240. The Verb follows the subject in simple sentences, but often precedes the subject when there are the words Kan (if or when), Ku-i (as), and Yam (time) in the sentence.1 241. When a Verb has two subjects, the Verb is generally repeated for each, as: The horse and the ox ran away brang du pwtt, muk di pwit. horse ran away away ox ran away away. 242. But if the sentences are united by the word Gar (they two, them two, both), it is not necessary to repeat the Verb, as: The horse and the ox ran away brang gar muk di pw"t de. horse they two ox ran away away they. or both or brang iufk gar di pwt. horse ox they two ran away away. or both 243. It is often necessary to repeat the Verb, in sentences where it is understood, but not repeated, in English, as: Wilt thou do it or not? ml di ror k 2, mi di ka ror eh?2 thou wilt do thou wilt not do. 244. When a Transitive Verb has two direct objects, the Verb must be repeated for each, as: First he bought a horse, then a mule loh ra-at an juir brang, loh ra-ban an jur 1. time before he bought horse time after he bought mule. 1 See N. 22, N. 43, N. 299, and N. 49.. 2 See N. 261..* VERBS 73 245. In an Imperative sentence, the Verb generally precedes the object, as: Go into the house lip ta gang, or lip gang. enter to house enter house. or in 246. In the case of a double object, in an Imperative sentence, the direct object immediately follows the Verb, and is followed by the indirect object, as: Give me the knife dsh bot ta 9 tyi. give knife to me please. 247. Occasionally the Verb follows the direct object, as: Give me the knife bot dih ta 9 tyi. knife give to me please. Certain Palaung families use this form, but other Palaungs say that it is more correct to begin the Imperative sentence with the Verb. Verbal Nouns. 248. Verbs are sometimes turned into Verbal Nouns by adding, as a prefix, Pan (what, that which), or Ra. Examples of Nouns formed from Verbs. To give dih, the giving, that which is given pan-dll. To say dab, the speaking, that which is spoken, the speech pan-dah. To be hot mia, the state of being hot ra-mal. To be moh, the state of being, the reason pan-moh. To love r4k, the loving, love pan-r.k. To kill pyam, the killing, the execution pau-pyam. To pull t'it, the pulling, a bandage pan-ft't. To live gwai, a dwelling-place ra-gwal. To comb the hair jar, the combing pan-jar, a comb ra-jar. 74 PALAUNG GRAMMAR To cut gop, that which is cut pan-gop, scissors (for cutting betel nut) ra-gop.1 To place upon gam, a stand (for a lamp) ra-gam. To eat curry hap, curried food pan-hap, a bowl for curry ra-hap. 249. Solletimes the prefixes Pan and Ra, in addition to forming a Noun fiom the Verb, may also form a word which is of an entirely different meaning, as: To be like hnre, a resemblance ra-hner, to be boastful panlhner. To be untidy sok, to interrupt people who are busy ra-sok, pan-sok. 250. Sometimes when Pan precedes a Verb, it expresses To make, as: To be extensive vih, to enlarge, to make larger pan-vah. To be short ern, to make shorter pan-im. To be great dang, to make great, to encourage pan-dang. He encouraged the thieves an pan dang pOm bi rat. he made great hearts people steal. 251. Sometimes Pan used as a prefix expresses To pretend, to act, as: To be drunk viin, intoxication ra-vuin, pretending to be drunk, to act as being drunk pan-vill. A child kwQn, to act like a child pan-kwon. 252. Occasionally both Pan and Ra are used as prefixes to one word, as: To finish hw —i, the completing of pan-hwo-i, the completion ra-pan-hwo-i. To dislike ra-ir, a loathing or abhorrence pan-ra-ir. There is no word ra-ra-ir, but ka-ra-ir is used to express a great dislike. 1 This expression cannot be used for scissors with which cloth is cut, the word for these scissors is gim-hrai. VERBS 75 253. It is difficult to lay down any rule for the Prefixes Pan and Ra, as their meaning varies for different words. Pan-nap an means that which he knows, his knowledge, an pan n.p de means he pretends to know. 254. When there is a reduplication, with Pan or Ra prefixed to a Verb to form a Verbal Noun, the Prefix is only used with the first word, as: To be restless vyang vyang, restlessness pan-vyang vyang, or ra-vyang vyang. 255. Wheil there is a negative ill the sentence, the Prefix is often separated from the Verb, as: To arrive rot, the arriving ra-rot, the not arriving ra ka rot. Auxiliary Verbs. 256. There are many Auxiliary Verbs, which sometimes precede and sometimes follow the principal Verb. 257. The subject generally precedes the Auxiliary, and a pronoun to represent it is inserted before the principal Verb. But when an Auxiliary, such as Pet (see page 77) follows the Verb, the subject or a pronoun to represent the subject need not be repeated. Examples of Auxiliary Verbs. To want, to require lo. This verb is used to express Need, as: You need not work to-day 9 ka 1o pi ror pa-din. I not want you -work to-day. or pa-din 9 ka lo dih pi rlor. to-day I not want give you work. HIe has come here so I need not go an veng ha o, 9 ka lo hqh. he came place this I not need go. 76 PALAUNG GRAMMAR To give dih. The English words Let and May are often expressed by the Auxiliary Verb deh, as: Let in the air dah kur lip. give air enter. Let me go, or may I go dih Q lIh tyi. give me go please. Let him go dih an 19h. give him go. To think fang. This word is sometimes used in Palaung where the word May is used in English, as: I may return 9 'ang 9 veng. I think I return. To be able bi. To be able pin. BE and Pin are both used to express the English words Can and Could, as: I can work 9 be (or pin) 9 ror. I am able I work. I could not eat Q ka bi~ hoin. I not am able I eat. Pii to be able is seldom used in such sentences as: He was able to sleel; an bon de it (he got he (oi his) sleep) would be used. Pin it means In the habit of sleeping. T'o be, to become pin. Iam going 9 pin 19h. I become go. I am cold 9 pin nggng. I become cold. He does not know what is the matter with him an ka-bi, an ka n.p pin bip an. he is ill he not knows become matter him. VERBS 77 I have finished being king 9 hwo-i ka pin ho-lKam. I finished not become king. or am To be necessary bup, bap. I must go 9 bfip 9 lQh. I necessary I go. I must dance at the feast 9 di biUp ka ta plI-e. I shall is necessary dance at Least. To be necessary bon (to get). I must go 9 bon 9 lgh. I got I go. To be good la. La is sometimes used to express the English word Ought, as: I ought to work 9 la ta ror. I good to work. He ought to return an la ta veng. he good to return. To come from y To rise up Y u This Auxiliary is often used where, in an English sentence, Past Time is expressed. Palaungs in telling a story, constantly use this verb, as: The king died h-liKm yuii yam. king rose up died. To finish e\ To throw away pe P't is used as an Auxiliary Verb to denote a completed action, as: It is dead an yam pet. it is dead finished. or quite See N. 216 S 78 PALAUNG GRAMMAR The man has gone, the woman remains I-me hwo-i loh, i-pan gwai pRt. man finished gone woman remains finished. Pet always follows the principal Verb, and, when Pet is used, it is not necessary to repeat the noun or pronoun before the Auxiliary. See 257. To break bri-Ap, to be quite broken, to be of no more use bri-.p pet. To divorce pet p)t. To follow jQm. When JQm is used with the Verb Lgh to go, or to come, the meaning is To go together, or To come together. To get, to have bon. He has slept an bon de it. he got his sleep. 258. The Palaung word hmom, which sometimes means To feel, To be good, to be gentle, is often used to intensify the Verb that follows it, as: To be surprised am, to be greatly surprised, to be astonished hmom am. The addition of this word to a sentence sometimes changes the meaning of the Verb, as: To be afraid yo, to be horrible hmom y9. Examples of Verbs in Common Use. To be, to continue _ To exist, to remain) gw Be good, stay quietly gwai la 1l. remain well. Where is his house? Ha mQ gwai gang an? place what is house his. or where VERBS 79 or gang ain ha mIn an gwai? house his place what it is. or where To be, to belong moh. What is that? she 'n mobh what it is. Which is the hut? i-tm moh kar-hfp which is hut I wrote this letter lik O mih 9 itm. letter this is I wrote. To be, to have To exist Y There are many flowers on that side of the mountain lap tal sor yu poh blam blam. side that mountain has flowers many. or are I have money g yu run. I have silver. The above sentence means that the money has been in the possession of the speaker for some time. If the money has been acquired recently, the verb B6n (to get, to have) would be used instead of Yu. To beto do nya. I wish to know how he is KU]-i m9 an ny n nya n p. as what is does I wish know. To get, to have bon. How old art thou? bar mo a-sak ml bon? as much as what life thou hast. or bar mo a-sak ml gwai? as much as what life thou art or remainest. or bar mo a-sak mi yui? as much as what life thou hast. 80 PALAUNG GRAMMAR To tell To give a message su-st. To send Tell those children to go away kan-nyQm ge tai as-et ge l9h pwit. children them that tell them go away. or those To tell, to speak} To relate gral. Tell me grai ta Q. tell to me. To say dah. One (child) said, 'pick fruit for me' 'i kui dab, ' ph 9 hom ple'. one said pick I eat fruit. The two verbs To tell, to speak grai, and To say dah are very often used together in the sentence, as: Hie said an dah de grai. he said he spoke or told. To wish. D sin or son. To be willing n, or The wife of the hunter wished to speak to them pan-le mu-so s.11 glai ta ge. wife hunter wished speak to them. To go down To go out lb To come down To come out She came down from the hill country an leh dor kung sor. she came down out of country mountains. To go up h. To come up The queen went up to her palace ya ho-lRam hi ta ho de. wife king went up to palace her 1 See N. 196. VERBS 81 To go out (of a house) leh. To go into (a house) h2. As all Palaung houses are built at a considerable height from the ground, any one entering must first ascend the steps to the entrance door, and descend the steps on leaving the house. To come, to go l1h. This verb is used to express movement, the context showing whether the meaning is To come or to go, as: Come here Igh ha 6. come place this. Go there l1Ql ha tal. go place that. To arrive, to appear pp. They arrived at the village ge hwb -i p9 ta ru. they finished arrived at village. To come, to arrive rot. This verb may be used instead of Po in the above sentence. To go back v To return, to come back) vng LQh must never be used in a sentence, when To return is intended to be expressed, as: I am going home (I am returning home) 9 veng ta gang p. I return to house my. To go into lip. They went into the jungle ge lip ta bri. they entered to jungle. To see yu. I have seen my paddy-field 9 yu mar Q. I.saw paddy-field my. 2383 F 82 PALAUNG GIRAMMAR To see, to look at men. Look at me men Q. look me. The Verbs Yui to see, and Men to look at, to see are very often used together in the sentence, as: Can you see? pT yfi de men? you see you look. To look ngop. Look at this ngOp i-5. look this. Ngop and Mien both meaning To look are often used together in the same sentence, as: Look at this ngop men 6. look look this. To look for ) To search for or lem He has gone to search for the horse an hwO-i q1h tip (or lIm) brang. he finished went search for horse. To give dsh. Give me water please, I shall be grateful to thee rok mi, dEh 5m ta 9 tyi. depend thee give water to me please. Sometimes this verb is understood but not expressed, see second example, N. 426. To steal (without violence) rat. Ile stole his mother's things an rat gru i ma dc. he stole things mother his. Rat also means to be in a state of secrecy, as: I shall go secretly 9 rat 9 l9h. I steal I go. To rob (with violence) limma (to snatch). To be difficult kyfu. It is difficult to go lQh kyu. to go is difficult. VERBS 83 To expect mong. She expects a letter an mong de bon lik. she expects she gets letter. The equivalent of the English word Expect is often omitted in a Palaung sentence, as: He asked mne when I expected to return ban mo9 d( veng an sar-mwot Q. time what I shall return he asked me. or when To hope. There does not appear to be any exact equivalent in Palaung for the English word Hope; To think tang, or To expect mong, or To give dch are used, as: I hope to arrive 9 tang 9 1rt. I think I arrive. or Q dih lrQt. I give I arrive. I hope that thou wilt be well to-morrow a-hnap dih mi ka-jo. to-morrow give thee to be welt. To put upon, to place ganm. Put it on the table gain an pang sa-bwe. place it on table. To put into t To drop into) hl p. Put the rice into the basket hlap ra-k5 ta ju-ar. put into rice in basket. To talk, to speak ngye. We talked to them yi ngyi ra ge. we talked with them. The word NgyS is often used in conjunction with grai to speak, as: We talked to them yT ngyi grai ra ge. we talked spoke with them. F 2 84 PALAUNG GRAMMAR To ask, to beg hman. I ask for work b hman 9 ror. I ask I work. or hmin A bon 9 ror. I ask I get I work. Y'o ask (for information) sar-mw-t. Ask him please where the monastery is ha m9 gwai kyong, sar-mw't an tyi. place what is monastery ask him please. Particles. 259. The Particles expressing Past Time (see page 67) and Future Time (see page 68) have been already noticed. There are a few others. 260. The Particles 5 and y~, which may be translated as Surely, Certainly sometimes follow the verb for the sake of emphasis, as: I have certainly worked, I did work 9 ror 6, or 9 r6r yQ. I shall go of course, or I shall go in any case ' di 19h e. I shall go certainly. Of course I told, I did tell ]hwO-i grai e (or yQ). I finished tell certainly. The Particles e and yi may also end short sentences stating simple facts, as: I am well ka-jo, but ka-j5o is more correct. YQ may also be used to express quite. See N. 357. 261. The Particles a, ah, eh, and k9 are used to denote a question where no interrogative word is used, and if the answer can be yes or no, as: Is that all you can buy? ml jir bal O a? thou buyest as much as this. Ah, eh or kg may be used instead of a in the above sentence. VERBS 85 Art thou going? mi di lQh kg or mi di l1h eh? thou wilt go. thou wilt go. Is there enough rice for all the people? pnlm 1om do-et k bi? rice is enough all people. It may be seen from the above examples, that the Particles denoting a question are generally, but not always, placed at tile end of a sentence. 262. When a double verb is used, each verb having the same meaning, the Particle kg may be placed after the first. verb, instead of at the end of the sentence, as: Do you see? pE yui kQ de mlen you see you see or look. 263. When the Particle kQ denotes a question, it is sometimes placed before the object, as: Are you going outside? p S.in leh kQ ra-i? you wish go out outside. 264. The Palaung word pwgt (away) is often used as an affix to a verb, to express Quite, or At once, as: It is quite dead an yam pw't. it died away or quite. 265. The verb pet (tofinish, to throw away), is also used to express Quite, as: It is quite dead an yalm pat. it died finish or quite. 266. The Particle tyi (sometimes pronounced chl) is used as an affix, and may be translated by the English word Please. It is polite to add this Particle to all short imperative sentences, as: Go lqh, or lhh tyi. 86 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Take the horse ton Iiang tyi. escort horse please. Please eat honi tyi. cat please. It is not so ka moh tyi. not is please But note that the sentence MAh C (it is), is never moh tyi. 267. Please, thank you, to be grateful. The Palaung word r'k (to depend on) when used in a sentence, may express gratitude for favours that are past, or for favours that may come. This expression is never used to an inferior in rank, only to an equal or to a superior. I thank thee irk mi. depend on thee or mioh rkk 9 ta mi. or rlk mi tyi. am depend I to (or on) thee. depend on thee please. ADVERBS 268. Many Adjectives and Verbs become Adverbs by reduplication: the word is used alone for the Adjective or for the Verb, and is repeated for the Adverb. Although this is often the case, it is not always so. Verbs are very often the same as Adjectives, and are sometimes reduplicated for the sake of emphasis, and the Adjective is also used occasionally in a reduplicated form. Good, to be good la. Well 1 la. Loud, to be loud rilg, loudly, ring ring. Examples of Adverbs and Adverbial phrases of Time and Number. 269. Before ra-at, kru-e, dong, ai. The above Adverbs are generally interchangeable, but Ra-it and Krfi-e are most generally used. ADVERBS 8 87 Comte beibre dtark rot ra-a't an Ap. arrive before it is dark. or, rot kril-e tli aip. or rot Aii au Aip. ar-rive before it 'is (lark. arrive before it is dark. 270. YVowt, at present la din (one time), or la din Od (onze t ime this). Atpresent I shall give thee ten rupees of wages ft din (or ft diii O), 0 di d~h la-ga- ta miii kdrui byil. one time I shall give wages to thee one ten rupees. I amt going now to see himt di 19h n gdp all fi din &" I shall go look himt one time this. 271. Late, la, Or la 1a, jft-2t, jft-at or jet. Tihe thieves camie late last nAight hi rftt g 0 rot ft yiini jt S'dIn. people, steal they arrived one, time late night. or, I lind0 pi bi rat gll rot Id. night last people steal they arrived, late. To-mnorrow mzorning late come for a little a-hna-p ra-viir la la mi ch6. h" ft rnat. to-morrow morning late thou wilt come up one little, white.272. After, afterwards, then ra-ban, hwo-i (finished). After sleeping he, returned to the fire hwo-i it an chang' v~ng ta 'ngik.r. finished sleep he will return to fire. He arrived after the others 4-n rot ra-ban hi. he arrived after others. 273. Very late, long after jft-t ra-ban. Site arrived long after an rot jft-2t ra-ban. hie arrived late after. or hwO-i ji d n ehang1 rot. finished lowg she will arrive. 1 See N. 215. 88 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 274. Last ra-bln. Thou arrivest after the others, or thou arrivest last mi pO ra-ban bi. or ml rot la ra-ban bl. thou arrivest after others. thou arrivest late after others. or appearest or mi rot jiu-qt la ra-baln bi. thou arrivest late late after others. 275. Early jau jau. Come here early to-morrow morning dih ml p9 ra-var a-hlap jau jau. give thee arrive morning to-morrow early. or appear or ra-var a-hnap 19h ha o jau jau. morning to-morrow come place this early. 276. After a while, in future ban din (future time). Go after a while ban din m1 19h. future time thou go, 277. After a while (in seven or eight days) gra ban (time future). We shall meet after a while yam ban din fi sa-ngi di kar-yi. time future time one day we shall together see or together meet. 278. In a little (fiom a few minutes to three or four hours) a-de. Go in a little a-de mi 12h. or a-d6 mi 12h tyi. in a little thou go. in a little thou go please. 279. In a little (in two or three hours) mQ a-do (till a little). Bring the child here in a little mQ a-de ftn kwin kan-ny[m ha i. till a little bring little one child place this. or child ADVERBS 89 280. Immediately, in a few minutes u ka-pr6, u mot, u prd. I am going immediately 191ll u ka-prc. or p 19h u mot. I go one at owce. I go one little while. 281. For a little f mot. I am going to see him for a little 9 di lh men an u mlot. I shall go look him one little while. 282. When there is a reduplication of i mot, as: u mot u mot, it expresses Frequently, every little while. 283. At once u lh (one time). Mend the road at once bre ra-deng fu lh. mend road one time. 284. Formerly ra-at ho (before past time), or at ho, from one or two months to three or four years. We did it formerly ra-at ho yi hwo-i nya. before past time we finished did. 285. Formerly kru-e:o (before this) from one to two months. 286. Long ago, once upon a time a ho (one past time). Long ago there lived a king u h h y h-lam u pa.1 one past time lived king one. or au ho hQ-lKam gwai u pa.1 one past timne king was one. 287. Often li (to be diligent). Take the medicine often liii te-ang sa-nam. be diligent drink medicine. 288. Already hwO-i (finished), f din (one time, now). His hair is already white hii king an hwQ-i hram. hair head his finished white. or hu king an f din hram do-et do-et. hair head his one time white altogether. I See N. 196. 90 90 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Our prayer time is already past a-fflug gruip pri yS YE hv-i bun1. tim~e reverence god our finished past. or a-king A u-toiig yi hwo-i b~ii y.' time pray We finished past. 269. Already ra-a't (before). I have alrady eaten 0 h~ni porn ra- it. Ir a~te rice before. 290. A moment ago, one time ago ii pi. While I was working a moment ago I cut my heand la yalm rdr1 0 pi RI -a ti g. one time 'worked I one, time ago I cut hand my. 291. Still, yet bnyin. He, was still far an bny-ei gwai a-sijgai. hie still was far. 292. Still, yet bNI-. Wait yet a little rg bWU fi 116 wait stilt one little while. Eat still a little hoin bNi- cle-re' eat still little. 293. Again f~ng (repeat). Say it again fang mi gr~i. or gr~i ting hnyo Iiiyb. again thou tell, tell again very much. 294. Again vir, or vird Ii 6h (again one time). Cor'ne again mi vir l9h fi I-bh. thou again come one time. He is dead, Ishall not see him again an hwo-i y~m y',' he finished dea'd Win din 0 bwo-i ka vir yti &n. future time I finished not again see him. 295. Again and again -a 16_h 1ing fi 106hi (one time repeat one time). ISee N. 260. ADVERBS 91 I have told you again and again not to do it hw~-i u 16h t~ng fi 1oh 'mai nya', dah pe. finished one time again one time do not do I say yot. 296. Once again t'fng u 18h, or vir' i 18h. Come once again veng ftng ui 18h. or vir l1h u 1oh. return again one time. again come one time. After this come once again ra-ban o veng ha o u lih. after this return place this one time. 297. Once again u yam din o (one time time this). 298. Only once i 1i5h go (one time only). 1 have only owe seen hinm 9 yfi an u lh go. I saw him one time only. 299. When, while, during yam, ui yam (one time). This expression may be used either in speaking of the past or of the future. When thou didst arrive I was changing my dress u yam rQt mil kar-hlai rin-dia. one time arrived thou I changed dress my. When you go to-morrow yam di lh pi a-hnap. time will go you to-morrow While I was at Rangoon I was not well i yami gwai 9 Yang-ngiin ka-bi. one time remained I Rangoon I was ill. In some sentences Yam is used in preference to U yan, it is difficult to lay down a rule as to which expression should be used. 300. When (relating to the future) kan, sometimes pronounced kin. Please tell him when you see him po kaln yfi an, gra-i ta ain tyi. you when see him tell to him please. 92 PALAUNG GRAMMAR When the time comes I shall speak kan,oQt a-l.ing an 9 di grai. when arrives time its I shall speak. Run when he calls thee an kan t' mi, pung pw't de. he when calls thee run away thou. or yam t all ta mi pung pwRt yt.' time calls he to thee run away. or yam to mi ta an, lQh pai pai. time calls thou to him go quickly. Let us dance when the drums beat kan gar krung ye kia t -et do-st. when beat drums we dance all. or y k ka yam gar bi ta krung. we dance time beat people to drums. or ui yaml gar bi ta kruing, y di ka. one time beat people at drums we shall dance. or to 301. First ra-at (before). First he built a bridge, then he dug a well ra-at an ror kar-ppu, ra-ban an king om bong. before he made bridge after he dug water hole. or well or hwo-i ror kar-pu, yui2 kding om bong. finished made bridge rose up dug water hole. or well 302. Last ra-ban. See the above sentence. 303. Over, past and gone lut pwpt (? over away). Our eating time ispast a-ling hrm i lut pw't. time eat we?over away. or a-ll.ig hQm r hwQ-i lut. time eat we finished?over. or hw9-i bon a-kling hQm e. finished passed time eat we. 1 See N. 260. 2 See N. 216. ADVERBS 93 304. Soon ka ju (not long). He will soon marry an ka jui an di bring lilt. he not long he will arrange to marry. 305. Soon, immediately ka-pr6 (? little while). He will soon arrive fu ka-pr6 an di rot. one? little while he will arrive. or soon 306. Always she she. God exists always pra-pen-chau gwai sh& she. God remains always. 307. Always da yam moh (any time be), or twpn loh (all time, every time). Thou canst always come here to see me dih ml veng ha o da yam morh (or twOn 1oh). give thee return place this any time be every time. 308. Always (in the life time) fi jo (one existence). If thou always livest with me, I shall love thee ml kan gwai ra 9 u jo dJ 9 di rAk mlo. thou if remainest with me one life thy I shall love thee. He is always ill an ka-be uf jo de. he is ill one life his. or an ka-bi she she. or an ka-b ufin she she. he is ill always. he is ill keeps always. 309. Never ka... hlai u o1h (not... even one time) or hla ii 16h... ka. Hle never goes to see his mother an ka lQ9 men ma de hllai u o1h. he not goes look mother his even one time. or hlai u 10h aln ka 19h men ma de. even one time he not goes look mother his. Hlai fu 15h is sometimes pronounced hliau ii 1 oh. 310. Never ka tom (not? ever). I have never seen him 9 ka tomn yfi an. I not? ever saw him. 94 94 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 311. Sometimes fT 16. 10db, pin 10-h pin sii. Sometimes the chief goes to Mfandalay ft 16 10'-h (or pin one? time time 106h pin sii) p~r-mang 1Ah KfI Dg-birgn. or p~r-m&Dg chief goes down Mandalay. chief leh Kftng-bran it 16 106h (or pin 10'-h pin sfi) goes down Mandalay one? time time. Sometimes he works in his pad-il t 16 1hil (or p~n one? time time 10dh pin sfi) an riir ta milr. he works in paddy-field. Sometimes he cannot sleep fi 16 1-h ii n ka bo~n de it. one? time time he not gets his sleep. or has 312. Once ft 1ili (one time). I see him once, a month fT ky~r -9 yiii an ii hib1. one month I see him; one time. or yd. n ft kyi~r ft 105h. I saw him one month one time. or, pin ky~r Q yf an -it 105h. become month I see him one time. I have seen him once ydi an ft 105h. I saw h im one time. or. yd men an fl MMh y~ I saw I looked him one time. 313. Days and Years. To-(lay C 4-din. To-morrow a - h n P. To-morrow night ra-hmo- a-hna-p (neight to-morrow). This afternoon. ga.-ng! c a-din tyfin h m&" day to-day not yet night. or Ca-din Aa-ngi blwo-i. or j4-diii hlwo-i hI hi. to-day day past. to-day past late. or sun I See N. 260 ADVERBS 9 95 To-morrowv afternoon a-hna-p 4-ng! hlwo-i. to-morrow day past. 01' a-hna~p sa-ng! h~wo-i h M~. to-morrow day past late. The day after to-morrow a-ku. In three days a-k,~. In four days a-ki. In five days -a-ki'U In six days tor S'-ngi di roit. six days will arrive. A week pilr S~a-ngl, pflr Sa-ng! ii 106b, fit grA, ft pit. seven days seven days one timne. Two weeks pulr sa-ngi air 10dh. seven days two times. Ten days ft x'5ng. Twenty days air vo-ing. Yesterday ho-,din.1 Yesterday night ra-hinoi h6-din. The day before yesterday kar-vfl-e hi'-din. Three days ago kai'- vii-e kar-vii-e bd'-din. One day before ra-At n~n. The other day ta 'at nAh. Four days ago hwo-i b~in jc 6 ca~-ngl. finished past fonr days. This year ga-n&m d._ year this. Last year sa-nam bwo-i ben. or Aa-nam hd0. year finishes I past. year past time. Two years ago kar-vfl-e A-nam blid. above year past time. Three years ago ka~r-vfl-e kar-vfl-e 4a-nam lid. above above year past time. F our years ago ka~r-viu-esa-nam 63 pcon s-nam, above year this four years. 1Literally hi6 past time and din time. 96 96 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Five years ago hwo-i b,5n jMan S'-nam. finished past five year's. Next year Ca-n~m di rot, or Aa-nam di p0. year will arrive ~ jear will appEar or arrive. Jn two years dr sc-nU-n di1 rp t. two y/ears will arrive. or air Aca-nim di ~ two?years will appear. or arrive Adverbs of Place. 314. Near d~t, d~t d~t, pi'~ (beside). If thou art near, thou canst hear him speak ml ka.n gwWI dft drit, nml cb~ng 4-ting ngyE AD. thou sf remainest near' t/hou wtilt hear words his Do not stay so near mali gwa-1 d~t. do not remain near. 315. In front ra-a't. Ife stood in front of mne fiu j~ng r-a-lit lb stood b efor -e me. or in front She sat in front fin m- ra-a't. she sot ill firont. 316. Behind ra-ban. I shall follow behind 0 di jom ra-bAD. I shall follow behind'. 317. On bfi. I am going on t di v~iig h~is 6. I shall return on. 318. Far, afar off Aa-ig~ii. Far beyond the village s~h rni sc-Dgal a-Dgal.2 beyond village fa r far. I See N. 260. 2See N. 268. ADVERBS 97 319. Here ha o (place this see N. 97). He is not here an ka gwai ha 8. he not remains place this. 320. There (near by) ha nan (place this see N. 98); ha din (place that see 99 and 101). The cat is there a-ngau gwai ha din. cat remains place that. 321. There (at a distance) ha tai (place that). The lightning struck the great tree there Kla-sr to ting he dang ha tai. lightning struck tree wood great place that. or tree 322. Ha tai is sometimes pronounced ha twai, and, by some Palaung families, ha twai there is used to express there at a great distance. 323. Here ].p o (side this), and there l1p tai (side that). Go to the far village there 19h ta ru sa-ngai 1&p tii. go to village far side that. The colour of the mountain there is beautiful a-rong sor 1&p tai ka-ri-ar hnyo hnyo. colour mountain side that beautiful very much. The cattle are here muk ge gwai l&p o. cattle they remain side this. 324. Where, whence ha m '(place what), lap m0 (side what). I do not know where I put it 9 ka nAp ha m9 9 un an. I not know place what I keep it. or place I know where it is lip mo an gwai g nap. side what it remains I know. or 9 n.p lAp mo an gwai. I know side what it. remains. 238S 0 98 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 325. Ha (place) is sometimes used to express The place where, as: Ife knows where it is an n.p y l ha gwal an. he knows place remains it. I know where I put it h1a uill 9 11 n1p yA.' place keep I it I know. or place or uin ha m5 an, 9 nip y'.1 I keep place what it I know. or place 326. Below ra-krum (the place below) is sometimes used, where, in English, the Adverb alone is used. Place it below fin an ra-kriim. keep it below. 01O place Look well, it is below ps men men la ]a, an gwai ra-krum din. you look look well it remains below that. 327. Below, under the house likm-lkk. Palaungs say that lim was originally krfim below, and lMok stable. Horses and cattle are often tied up under a house. K im-ltok is now used as one word. 328. Around. The verbs kar-vyar (to go round), and karrQp (to go round) are used, as: They went around ge lQh kar-vyar. Kar-rqp may be used they went went round. in this sentence instead of kar-vyar. 329. Above nong to be above. Nong is generally used to express a great height: it is also used to express Up stream. The sky above is full of stars pleng nong sa-ming be n~. sky above stars overcome is full. 1 See N. 260. - c ' I ADVERBS 99 or sa-minbg blam nong ta pleng. stars are many above in sky. 330. Above kar-vii-e. This word may either be used to express a great or a moderate height. It is sometimes used with Nong. There are many birds in the trees above kar-vfi-e ta ting hel sim blam hnyo hnyo. above in trees wood birds are many very. or trees or sim blam hny5 kar-vfi-s ta ting he. birds are many very above in trees wood. or or surely trees 331. Out, without (outside) ra-ro. I am going out 9 1lh ra-r6. I go doewn out. Adverbs of Manner, Quality, and State, and Adverbial Phrases. 332. Generally kyang, or kyang. He is generally late an kyang la. he generally is late. 333. All, completely, quite, wholly do-et, do-et ds-st. It is wholly finished an hwo-i do-et do-et yt.2 it finished wholly. 334. Suddenly ktit. Ka-don (to be startled) is sometimes used. The lightning flashed suddenly la-lo plang ktit. lightning shone suddenly. 335. Well la la, kya kya. Kya expresses excellence. He speaks well an grai Ia lIa. he speaks well. Work well ror la l'a, or ror kya kya. work well work excellently. 1 H6 is sometimes used to express a piece of wood. The two words Ting he are generally used together to express Tree. 2 See N. 260. G 2 100 100 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 336. Pleasantly, nicely- neatly Ae-cha Ae-cha, Se-ly Sek Sp~eak pleasantly gr-al Ae-chat 'e-chii, or gra-i ngyj ta-kti-i. speak pleasantly speak words pleasant. 337. Surely, certainly lhny6. He certainly knows an -nrp buy,5. he kzo'ws surely. He will certainly arrive an di rot hiiy6. he will arrive surely. 338. Surelye, certainly chim. He certainly knows the story an di n~p ch~m a-pfini. he wil know certainly story. Ile will surely return Aii di veng eb~m. he will return surely. 339. Surely, certainly 6., y~. See N. 260. They surely knouw n~p i6. or g~ n~p 6. or n~p yo. know surely. they know surely. know surely. or gri 11PL y,. they know surely. 340. Surely, certainly hm~n bmn~n (truly), a-hman (truly). Indeed I shall certainly tell him hwo-i mi-Oh di gr~i ta an liman hman. finished is shall tell I to him certainly. or 0 hwo-i mobli gral ta an bny,5 A~ I finished is tell to him certainly certainly. or 0 Jhwo-i ino"ih griii ta an. I finished is tell to him. He told his mother that he was surely coming An hwo-i grWi ta MA de, an dl roit a-hmAn. he finished told' to mother his he will arrive surely. 841. How bar mO (as much as what). I wish to know how tall thou art b~r MO ml jar 0 gin nrip. as much as what thou art tall I wish know. ADVERBS 101 342. In vain chum, lap lap, lap... l-i. He spoke in vain an hw9-i gral chum. he finished spoke in vain. or an ngyE lap lap, or an ngyi lap ngyE 1-i. he spoke in vain he spoke in vain spoke in vain or or or empty words empty. 343. Quickly pai pai, 9-kat 9-kat. They run quickly ge puiig pai pai. they run quickly. It would not be correct to say ge pung 0-kat 9-kat, but Go quickly q1h 9-kat Q-kat may be said. The reduplication is necessary, as 19h ha 6 9 kat would mean Come here I am cold. 344. Slowly 10-i l9-i. Speak slowly ngyi lQ-i 10-i. speak slowly. 345. Slowly ting. Work slowly tiig mi ror. slowly thou work. 346. Ting precedes the Verb, or the Pronoun preceding the Verb; 10-i 10-i comes in the sentence after the Verb. Adverbs of Degree. 347. Almost liit che-rs, ltit che-re che-rs, lfit chait, lilt chait chait, lfit chi, Kilt chi chi. All these expressions mean remains little. It is almost time to go mi rot a-ling loh a, lit che-rs. till arrives time go we remains little. He is almost well lw9-i Li1 yi 2 ifit chait chait. finished overcome remains little. Any of the above expressions for Almost may be used in these sentences. IOvercomesa the disease. 2 See N. 260. 102 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 348. Almost 1o che-rI, 1i che-re che-re, 16 chait, 1o chiat chalt, lo chi, or lo chi chi. All these expressions mean Wants little. It almost reaches (in length) 1o che-ie di rQt. wants little will arrive. It is almost big enough dang lo cbe-re. to be big wants little. Lo che-re che-ri, lo chait, &c. may be substituted for Lo che-re in the above sentences. 349. Almost kyam. Almost well kyam ka-jo. almost well. 350. Almost. The future prefix Di is sometimes used, as: It is almost dark an di ap. it will be dark. 351. Almost. Sometimes the past prefix HwO-i (to be finished), with the future prefix Di, is used to express Almost, as: It is almost time to go hwo-i di r9t a-ling lQh. finished will arrive time to go. 352. A little dygt, bre. Eat a little (rice) hlim dyat. eat little. Eat a little (fruit) hQm bre. eat little. 353. A little bre bre, che-re che-re, chalt chalt (this expression is not often used), che-ri che-ri, chi chi. The expressions che-ri che-ri and chi chi mean an extremely binall quantity. Bring a little toh mi dti-e bre bre (or che-lr che-re, chalt take thou bring little chalt, &c.). 354. A little more t'ng che-re (again or repeat little), tEng t'ng (again again or repeat repeat). C -----------— n --- -~~ --- —-— ~- --— '- --.. ----L-. —.,-I ADVERBS 103 Give me a little more dih tlng, ta Q che-re. give again to me little. or repeat or dsh bi t~'ng (or t'ng tfng). give still again or repeat or delh t'ng bre ble. give again little. or repeat 355. Quite. There are several ways of expressing Quite. Do-at or do-st d-ast (Completely, altogether or All) may be used, as: It is quite black a.n yim do-st do-st. it is black all or altogether. The rice was quite bad ra-k5 ka-l do-st (or do-st do-st). rice was bad all. ie has quite forgotten my orders an bi-L' do-st a-ming Q. he forgot all orders my. or liti-i a-ming Q an hwQ-i bi-sr do-st. as orders my he finished forgot all. 356. Quite N9 (to be full) is sometimes used to express Quite, as: She is quitefifteen an kor na pan n1 1 la. she ten and five is full good or or extra well. 357. Quite y". See N. 260. He is quite dead an ya.m y9. he is dead quite. 358. Very hnyo hnyo. It is very hot mai hnyo hnyo. is hot very. or very much. 104 PALAUNG GRAMMAR He is very tired an fir hnyo huyo. he is tired very or very much. When there are two verbs with one subject, hnyo hnyo follows the second verb, as: He is very anxious to have an sin bon hnyo hnyo. he wishes have very or or get very much. 359. There are a great many words which express Very, which are only used with certain verbs or adjectives, as: Red 11o; very red B1o ro ro. Black yimn; very black y.m hi hih. Yellow t'ng; very yellow feng 1o lo. White bl~; very white blo blut, blo ble-au. Big dang; very big dang lang lang. Small dyit; very small dyat lang lang. Ugly nyo; very ugly nyo lut-lai. 360. Sometimes the adjective is omitted, and the words to express Very are used alone, as: It is very red an ko5 ro ro, or an ro ro. it is red very it (is red) very. 361. Very, very much hnyS, huyo hnyo. He hurt me very much an ran hnyo Q. he hurt very me. or] very much It is very hot mai hnyo hnyo. is hot very. 362. Very gat (very much). It is very large an dang gat. or an dang hunyo hnyo. it is large very. it is large very. How can we have it very good? Ha mo1 yfi gat la 1? place what have very good. or how 1 See N. 398 ADVERBS 105 363. Gat follows or precedes the Verb or the Adjective which it qualifies. 364. Very g6p (much, enough, very much, very many), ring (stronyly). Hle is not very tired an ka gop tir. or an ka ling fir. he not very tired. he not strongly tired. He remembered very well an g6p un nu-ar. he very much kept mind. Not very long ka gop ju. not very long. or very much 365. While hnyo or hiiyo hyno follows, ghp and ring precede the words which they qualify. 366. Very a-ki. This expression is occasionally used, as: He works very hard an ror a-ki hnyo. he works very much very. 367. Very. Bi gop (overcomes very much) is sometimes used to express Very, as: To-day he walked so much, he is very tired pa-din an lgh hnyo hnyo, bi changl gop fir. to-day he went very overcome will very be tired. Or or very much very much 368. To make Very more emphatic, two adverbs are often used ir the sentence, as: She is not very sorry an ka gop ring sa-dai. she not very strongly is sorry. or very much 369. Too. The words to express Very are used; there are no special words to express Too. 1 See N. 215. 106 PALAUNG GRAMMAR It is too large to go in at the door an dang hnyo hnyo, ka bon de lip ta bang-bob. it is large very not gets it enters at doorway. or very much 370. Too hlo (to exceed). That weighs too much tai (or i-tal) sa blam gat. that weighs much very. or ta1i a hlo blani hnyo. that weighs exceeds much very. or tai hl6 blam hnyo hnyo. that exceeds much very or very much. 371. At most blam, blam hnyo. At most I can give thee a rupee blam hnyo 9 bs1 drh u gy.p. much very I able I give one rupee. or sih d gyap 9 hw9-i ka bE 9 d~h. beyond one rupee I finish not able I give. 372. Rather tan tan (moderately). She is rather fat an kling tan tan. she is fat moderately. My.father is rather better kfin ka-jo tan tan. father my is well moderately. 373. Enough lom lom (sometimes pronounced lum lum), ka-do-e. They have enough ge yfi lorn 1 m. they have enough. He has eaten enough an hbm lm lom. he ate enough. or an IhwQ-i iii. he finished is full. ADVERBS 107 If it is as long as this, it is enough kan hwQ-i ju bar 6, ka-d5o- bti. if finished is long as much as this enough still. He has worked enough paLn ror an din ka-do-s. what worked he that enough. or that 'which 374. Enough hi (to be full, to be filled), hui hu. I have not slept enough Q ka bon 0 it hu hi. I not got I slept full. 375. Accordingly bar (as much as). They told him and he went accordingly bar pall as much as what kar-grai ge hi hwQ-i ta an, an lQh pwot. together told they finished finished to him he went away. 376. Accordingly ta-di. Ta-di may be substituted for bar in the above sentence. Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation. 377. Yes moh (he, she or it is). The expression Moh meaning Yes is seldom used alone; it is generally followed by the affix 6, as Moh 6, see N. 260. In answering a Chief or a high official, the expression Moh c Qh (it is surely, master or lord) would be used. 378. Yes. When Yes, as the answer to a question, cannot be expressed by Molh 6, the Palaung word representing Yes is oh, or ho-i if the person answering is at some distance. 379. No. In the same way when the English word No cannot be expressed by Ka mrh (he, she or it not is), the expression for No is 6 d, the voice being raised at the second O.' 1 See N. 266. 108 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 380. Not mai. Mai is a prohibitory Negative, it expresses Do not, must not, as: Do not come near me, thou must not come near me mai dlt 9. do not be near me. Do not speak to me ml mai grai ta Q. thou do not speak to me. or must not 381. Not thp. Thp is also a prohibitory Negative, it is used less than Mai. It may be used instead of Mai in the above sentences, as: Do not speak tap grli. 382. In simple sentences, such as the above, the subject precedes the Prohibitory Negative, or is omitted altogether. Tell him that he is not to do it grai ta an, 'mai (or t&p) ror.' tell to him do not do. or 'Mai ror,' gral ta an. do not do tell to him. or an ka bon ror, gral ta an. he not gets do tell to him. 383. Not ka, ko. Palaungs say that K0 is an older form than Ka; in many sentences it is immaterial whether K0 or Ka is used, in others, K0 or Ka is preferred. When used with.m to wish, to be willing, KQ is generally preferred. Only practice will teach which Particle should be used, as: I am not going 9 ka 19h. It would not be correct to I not go. say 9 k~ lh. I do not wish to go back 9 ko sln veng. I not wish go back. or 9 ka sin veng, but the former is more usual. I not wish go back. / ADVERBS 109 J shall not be here when you return u yam veng pe, 9 ka gwai ha o. one time return you I not be place this. or pe kan vir rot, 9 hw9-i ka gwai. you when return arrive I finished not am or or again remain. I shall not stay here if you return pi kan vir rot, 9 ka gwai. you if return arrive I not am or or or when again remain. or pi kan vir rgt ha 6, 9 hw-i. you if return arrive place this I finish. or again 384. Not yet hnyam. Hnyam in a sentence is usually placed between the subject and the Verb, as: I have not yet finished 9 hnyam hw9-i. I not yet.finish. He has not sung yet an hnyam kar-nylr. he not yet has sung. 385. Not yet dar. I have not yet slept 9 dar it. or 9 hn) am it. I not yet slept. I not yet slept. 386. Not yet tyfin. Not yet dead tyuin yam. It is not yet noon tyun Aan ka moh. not yet noon not is. 387. When the subject is omitted, the Negatives Ka, KE, Hnyam or Tyun precede the verb. (He) has not yet gone (an) hw9-i ka l1h. he finished not goes or gone. It is not yet dark hny.m Ip. not yet dark or is cark. 110 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 388. When there is an Auxiliary Verb the Negative precedes the Auxiliary, as: They are not able to come yet ge hnyam be de loh. they not yet able they come. 389. When there are two verbs in a sentence, having different meanings, the Negative must be expressed with each verb, as: The house was not yet cleaned or swept when their friends arrived bu-gQ ge chang1 rot, gang hnyam ta-kri-at hnyam pir. friends they will arrive house not yet cleaned not yet swept. or their or linyam ta-kri-at hnyam pir gang buf-g ge chang' rot. not yet cleaned not yet swept house friends they will arrive. or their 390. No, at no time ka... u jo (not... one existence). He eatsfish at no time an ka hap ka u jo de. he not eats fish one existence his. or ka an hap ka hlai i l1h. fish he eats not even one time. Interrogative Adverbs. 391. When ban mQ (future what, time what). When wilt thou return? ban m i mi di vir veng? future what thou wilt again return. 392. When a-ling mo (time what). When will they arrive? a-king mo ge di rot? time what they will arrive. 393. Where ha mo (place what); l1p mo (side what), kan-da mO (part or side what). Where is the village? lp m r1u an gwai? side what village it is 1 See N. 215. ADVERBS 111 or ha mo ru an gwai 1 or ruf gwai 1an-da mo? place what village it is. village is side what. Where is the cat? a-ngau ha m0 an gwai? cat place what it is. 394. Ha m9 is sometimes used to express How. See N. 398. 395. Why shi, she, she... Ie. lVhy art thou here? shi ml chang (or chA) gwai ha o? why thou wilt - be place this. or she ml gwai 16 ha 8o why thou art why place this. or she ml nya chang d-k gwai ha o? why thou doest wilt stop be place this. or what Why do they laugh? shi ge yum l? why thou laughest why. Why is he waiting? Shi au dQk re kg? why he stops waits. 396. Why ur, fir... e1. These expressions are generally used in answer to a remonstrance, or to a question, and seem always to be used with a negative. Why should I not know? fir ka nip? why not know. Why should I not ride? fir kia ba brang e? wchy I not mount horse why. 397. How klfi-i mn (as what), sometimes shortened to lii mo, or mn. How should I tell her? lIfi-i m9 9 nya 9 grai ta an? as what I do I tell to her. How did he do it? Hfi-i mO an hwo-i ror tai? as what he finished did that. 1 See N. 261. 112 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 898. How? Sometimes Ha mi (place what, where) is used to express How. How should I dare deceive thee? Ha m9 9 dl yA cho ml? place what I shall dare deceive thee. How should they be angry? Ha mg ge rau? place what they be angry. 399. How much, how many bar m9 (as much as what, as many as what), dang. How much silver is there? rftil ta bar mQ an gwai silver that as much as what it is. or rfin tai dang kor an gwai silver that how many tens it is. or bar m9 rUn di gwai ha tai? as much as what silver will be place that. How manyfish have you got? ka bar mO pi bon? fish as many as what you got. How many people are staying with you? dang u ku1 bi pe ge gwai? how many one person you they are. or people How many oxen has he? bar mn muk an yfi? as many as what oxen he has. or dang to1 $n yti de muk? how many he has his oxen. How many oxen have you just got? dang to5 pi bon de dti-e miuk? how many you got you brought oxen. or bar m9 pi bon de dfi-e mik? as many as what you got you brought oxen. or bar m9 muk pi bon? as many as what oxen you got. 1 See N. 196. ADVERBS 113 How many villages are there? dang ru ge gwi? how many villages they are. How old art thou? bar m~ a-sak ml gwi? as much as what age thou art. or life or dang sa-nam mi ytiu? how many years thou hast. How old is that pagoda? kQnig-mui bar mo sa-nam bon? pagoda as many as what years got. or kong-mu bar mo an hwo-i ji? pagoda as much as what it finished long. How old is the tree? lie dang sa-nam an bn? tree how many years it got. or bar m9 a-sak ting he an bon? as many as what age tree tree it got. or life or dang sa-nam he o bon? how many years tree this got. Comparison of Adverbs. 400. Adverbs are compared in the same manner as Adjectives, see N. 197. She went more quickly than her elder brother anll lQh pai pai dor va i de? she this went quickly than elder brother her. His horse went the quickest brang an 1qh pai pai dor bi. horse his went quickly than others. 401. The negative form is often used adverbially in comparison, as: Badly ka.. li. (not well). He has worked worse than his friend an r6r ka la dor bfu-go de. he worked not well than friend his,, 114 PALAUNG GRAMMAR PREPOSITIONS 402. Prepositions usually precede the word which they govern: where used in English, they are often omitted in Palaung, as: He laugWed at me an yum Q. Only practice will teach he laughed me. when to use certain Prepositions, such as Ta which may mean to, at, in, against, for, from, on and with, andl the Palaung words lif, lu-nau, or nau may mean at, in, on, to or among. 403. At ta, or before a vowel t', ii, fi-nNau or nau. ie is at home an gwa- ta gang an. he is at house his. (1' in 404. Where At is omitted in an English sentence, Ta (at) is sometimes inserted in a Palaung sentence, as: I see the flowers 9 hloh ta poh. I see at flowers. or arrive He laughed at me an yum 9, but the sentence HIe smiled to me would be an -Co -o5 ta 9. he smiled to me. 405. About bar (as much as, as many as). There were about fifty people bi pan kor yti bar an. people five tens were as much as it. 406. About ta. Let us go up to ask the Chief about the feast yE h i) lau par-mang ta pl-~e. we go up ask chief about feast. 407. A bout ra. Po not worry about me ml mai cha-pa ra Q. thou do not worry about me. or or must not with PREPOSITIONS 115 408. About ra-deng (the way, the road). Do not talk about her mai gral ra-deng an. do not talk way her. 409. About long (on account of). This expression may be used instead of ra-deng in the above sentence. People talk about thy work ling r6r mi bi grai. about work thy people talk. 410. About sang (?). About to sit alng mq. 411. About gar. If Istay about a month 9 kan gwai gar f kyar. -I if am about one month. or remain 412. After ra-ban, hwg-i (finish). I shall come back after you ra-ban p~ Q di veng. after you I shall come hack. rlfter a week ra-ban o pua' a-ngi. or hw^-i pur sa-ngi. after this seven days. finished seven days. 413. Against ta. I leant against the door 9 hne ta ra-sang. I leant against door. The Kachins came against the village Kang ge l1h ta ru. Kachins they came against village. 414. Against ft (on, to be upon). The case will go against him a-hmu di ft aln. case will be upon him. 415. A cross. To express the English word Across, the Palaung verbs Kam, or Kar-lam (to cross) are used, also the verb Kar-hl1h which also means to cross. The man walked across the road I larm 1h pwqt ra-dleng. man crossed went away road. or bi kar-liam (or kar-hloh) pw~t ra-deng. man crossed away road. H2 116 PALAUNG GRAMMAR The bird flew across the water sim par kar-lam (or kar-hlQh) om. bird flew to cross water. 416. Across 1ap O lap tai (side this side that). I am going across the water 9 lh pra im lap I lp tai. I go shore water side this side that. 417. Across. Sometimes the word Across is expressed in this way: He swam across the water an 10-i pra om o pra tal. he swam shore water this shore that. 418. Above, at a great height nong (above, to be above). The top of that hill is far above us kar-tQ sor nong jar kar-vfi-e s. top hill above is high ~ above us. 419. Above kar-vfi-s. This word may either be used to express a short distance above or a great height. See last example. Above the house kar-vfi-e gang. above house 420. Among liu, fiu-nau, nau. Among the stars some are brighter than others liu-nau sa-mjng par-di plang dor bi. among stars some are light than others. or or in give light. or sa-ming nong par-di plang dor go de ge. stars above some are light than friends their they. or give light or sa-ming nong par-di plang dor i-har. stars above some are light than others. or give light PREPOSITIONS 117 421. Round. The verb Kar-vyar (to go round) is used. I caught him before lie was round the house lhnyam tan di kar-vyar gang, W bon 9 to-~ an. not yet before will go round house I got I caught him. 422. Round. The verb Kar-rqp (to go round) may be used instead of Kar-vyar. in the above sentence. 423. Between sar-na, lan-di. Put this one between these un i-6 Klan-di gar nan. put this middle them (two) this. or these or sar-na gar i-nan Uil i-o. between them (two) this put this. o1' these The girl between the two others is the prettiest ra-pya fu kul girl one gwai sar-na gar i-tai ka-ri-ar d5r bi har. is between them (two) that pretty than people other. or those or ra-pya u ku1 lan-di ahr ku. tai ka-ri-ar dor bi. girl one middle two that pretty than others. or between Tie centipede came out from between the boards min-je-rang leh sar-na blai. centipede came out between boards. Iln this sentence Kan-di would not be used. 424. Beside pro. Put these lotus flowers in the vase beside the lamp polh bo ge o hlp b ta nyQng-ye-o pro rang. flowers lotus them this put in vase beside lamp. or these Stand beside that man j.ng pro a-bo tai. stand beside man that. 425. Beyond sih, da. Look beyond the pagoda ngop s-h k~ng-mu. look beyond pagoda. 1 See N. 196. 118 PALAUNG GRAMMAR The cattle have strayed beyond the tea gardens mlik gi cattle they kar-lut deug hrai l,)wt se11 (or da) ron-vang myanm. mistook way disappeared away beyond gardens tea. 426. Besides bh, da. Besides this one give me another ssh o dhl pan har ta 9 u i l. besides this give what other to me one thing. or sSh o deh ting ta 9. besides this give again to me. or repeat Besides this coarse tea, give me some fine please shll myalm 1l ' t' ng bfi mya.1 nyQt ta 9 tyi. besides tea coarse this again still tea fine to me please. or repeat Besides these take the fruit da ge o toll de d(i-s p1c. besides them this take you bring fruit. or these 427. Except sih (besides). All died except one sh ui ku 2 yanm do-st do-et. besides one died all. or except or yam do-st ltfit go u ku.2 died all remained only one. 428. Near (outside) hyar. The man hid near (outside) the house i-mc mQ hyar gang. man hid near house. 429. Near dbt, dat dat. He came near the village an lh dat ru. he came near village. 1 Ka a branch, as coarse tea is made of stalks as well as leaves. 2 See N. 196. PREPOSITIONS 119 Do not remain so near me mai gwai dAt d.t 9. do not remain near me. 430. Behind ra-ban. The sun disappeared behind the mountain sa-ngi ka-tar de ra-ban Sor dang. sun covered itself behind hill great. The young man hid behind the door ra-lyanlg mo ra-bai ra-sang. young man hid behind door. 431. Before ra-pt, krti-s. lie goes before me an 1h ra-at Q. he goes before me. Before this time I have never come here krfi-e o 9 ka l1h lo-i ha o. * before this I not go nothing place this. 432. Down. There seems to be no Palaung word to express the English word Down. To express To go down, to come down the verbs leh to go down, to come down, and jom meaning to follow are used, as: Go down the steps leh ta ting-dun. go down at steps. lie swims down the stream au l1-i jlnm o1. he swims follows water. 433. There are other Palaung verbs which express Down, as: To mpt down, to set down pang: to put down into hlAp. To sit down is simply mo to sit. 434. Up. There seems to be no Palaung word to express the English word Up. To express To go up, to come up the verb Ho is used, as: He walked up the hill an l1h hI Sor. or an h solr. he went went up hill. he went up hill. 120 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 485. Along. The Palaung word Jin (to follow) is used to express Along, as: The horse runs along tie side of the hill brang ra-lang jom sOr. horse runs along hill. 436. For kqp (on account of), kqp po, kik. I am going to the stream for gravel kgp kin-bhak 9 chang bfip ta plong. on account of gravel I will is necessary to stream. or 9 lh kik k!n-haik lKu plng. I go for gra-el in stream. 437. For fang (on account of), or the verb Kar-blu (to exchange), as: lie stffered death for his younger brother au Kam de yam fang (or kar-blu) va de. he suffered he died on account of exchange younger brother his. 438. For lin (instead of). 439. For this reason da lti-i nya. 440. For ta, dsh... ta (give to). Make tie shrine for the spirits ror gang ta kar-nam. make house for spirits. or ror gang dsh ta kar-nam. make house give for spirits. or to Sew for me jing ta 9. sew for me. 441. For kan-rar (on account of). He built the housefor me an r6r gang kan-rar 9. he made house on account of me. Go speak for me to the Chief g1h gri kan-rar 9 ta par-mang. go speak on account of me to chief. PREPOSITIONS 121 442. For pun (portion). Go bring the fruit for him lh toh de dfi-e ple puin an. go take you bring fruit portion his. We shall speak together for them (two) C kar-grai pfn gar. we together speak portion them (two). 443. For a-twa. Bring bananas for his mother dih klw9-e a-twa ma an. give bananas for mother his. 444. For. Where this word is expressed in an English sentence, it is often omitted in Palaung, as: Wait for me re Q. or re bti 9 u prl. wait me. wait still me one little while. or. kQp 9 re bfi u mot. on account of me wait still one little while. 445. From d6r (to go out, to be out of), m9ng. lie went from his country to another country an q9h dor (or ming) kung an ta kung har. he went out of country his to country other. He is freefrom blame an lot dor a-pyet. he set free out of blame. 446. From. The verb Yu (to come from, to rise up) may be used, as: He has come from China an yu Ke. or an rot dor Ke. he came from China. he arrived out of China. The monk comes from the pagoda chau yu kgng-mu. monk comes from pagoda. 447, From mong. From to-morrow begin to take the medicine chit mng a-llnlp te-ang sa-nam. time from to-morrow drink medicine. or begin 122 PALAUNG GRAMMAR 448. From ta. She begged from the people an hman ta bi. she begged from people. I received these baskets from my father Q bon ju-ar ge o ta kfIn Q. I got baskets them this from father my. or these or ju-ar ge 6 9 b)n ta kun Q. baskets them this I got from father my. or these He snatched the fruit from me an hmt pl ta 9. he snatched fruit from me. 449. From (if the distance is great in time or place) or, yui or. The monk comes from Ceylon chau an yu or kung SI-ho. monk he comes from from country Ceylon. I have been ill from the day of my fall or sa-ngi a-ling an 0 joh 9 ka-bi. from time time its I fell I am ill. or im din or sa-ng! joh 9, mn din 9 ka-be. what time from day fell I what time I am ill. 450. From. Where the word From is required in an English sentence, it is often omitted in Palaung, as: Namhsan is far from here Om-yar sa-ngai hnyo hnyo ha o. Namhsan is far very place this. 451. In, into ta. Sometimes, before a vowel, Ta is shortened to t'. I have food in the house 9 yti pan-hQm ta gang. I have food in house. 452. In, into fi-n-au, lii, nau. He is wandering in the jungle an vir lii bri. he wanders in jungle. — r-L —i-Li I-~ r;U I-ICCU-i-C +*~CW-L"--m-~I~Lnrr)~rrr —~R-~"-CI PREPOSITIONS 123 The snake disappeared into the grass hbng hrai de liu (or li-nfau, or nfau) lu-i. snake disappeared itself in grass. If l1nig hral ta lu-i is said, it means that the snake disappeared in the direction of the grass. 453. In, into. I'o put into (in a downward direction) hlklp. Put tobacco into the bowl hlbp blt ta cha-long. put in tobacco in bowl. Wash the pot before putting the rice into it Klo-i bti k15 krfi-s mi hlp ra-ko. or wash still pot before thou puttest in rice. d4ng hnyam hllp ml ra-k5 nau klo din, lki-i klo. before not yet puttest in thou rice in pot that wash pot. 454. In, into. The verb Lip (to go in, to come in) is used. HIe ran away into the house all du pw't lip gang. he ran away away went into house. 455. In, into, to put into sideways, or above (not down) sau. Put that into the box s au i-din ta to. put in that in box. 456. Oj. See Possessive Case, N. 19. 457. On, beside liu (in). The house is on the road gang lii ra-deng, house on road. Thefire is on the hearth ngar li ka-fang. fire on hearth. 458. On ta, pang (to place upon). Write upon the paper tim ta tye. or ten pang tye. write on paper. write on paper. The child crawled on the mat kwQn kan-nyQm mtir pang per. little one child crawled on mat. or chad 124 PALAUNG GRAMMAR In the above sentence it would not be correct to say kwon kan-nyom mfir ta per, as it would mean The child crawled towards the mat. 459. Through. The word liu (in) is sometimes used, but it is more usual to express Through by the verbs Lip kar-hlgh (to enter, to pass, to pass into), or Kar-hloh (to pass, to pass out of, to pass across). In through the door (as a bullet) lip kar-hloh ra-sang. go in pass door. 460. To, towards ta, or before a vowel t'. ie goes to the Chief an 1Qh ta par-mang. he goes to chief. lie threw the ball to me an be-i bwot-lon ta 9. he threw ball to me. 461. To. Ta must be repeated when it qualifies two nouns, as: He prayed to the Buddha and the Spirits an Au-tong ta jra ta kar-nam. he prayed to Buddha to spirits. 462. Ta (to) is often expressed in Palaung, when To may be omitted in an English sentence, as: He begged his father and mother to let him go an tQng-ban ta kuln ta ma de gar dEh an loh. he begged to father to mother his they(two) give him go. or asked pardon 463. Towards ju. Go towards him loh ju an. go towards him. He went down towards his garden an leh ju ta o-yen de. he went down towards to garden his. -- ` --- — ~ --- —,;r,-;n-*-~ PREPOSITIONS 125 464. Till nl1 (time). He stayed till supper time an gwai mg hom hmo. he stayed till eat night. or supper 465. Under krfim. Keep that under the wooden box i-tai fin krfm to6. that keep under box. or finl an kriim to he. keep it under box wood. 466. Under ra-krutm. Ra-krum generally means The place under, but is sometimes used to express the preposition Under, as: Keep the box under the table lin to ra-krum sa-bwe. keep box under table. 467. To ra (with). I spoke to them 9 kar-grai ra ge. I together spoke with them. 468. With ra. I cut it with a knife R9 ll an ra bot. I cut it with knife. 469. With pai. The three little boys are arriving with their teacher ra-lyang dyAt ge rot u-ai kui pai sa-ra de. boys little they arrive three with teacher their. Let them go with thee dih ge 19h pai ml. give them go with thee. 470. The a in Ra with is generally dropped before A-she whom, as: I do not know with whom I shall go out 9 ka n.p r' a-she 9 di leh. I not know with whom I shall go out. 471. With. Where there is a double object, the Preposition must be repeated with each noun, as: I live with my brothers (younger and older) 9 gwai ra v a vai Q. I remain with younger brothers with older brothers my. I See N. 196, 126 PALAITNG GRAMMAR 472. With jom (to follow). Go with him I'li jgm an. or ]Qh ra an. go follow him, go with him. 478. With ta, or before a vowel t'. Do not be angry with him ml mai rau ta an (or t' an). thou do not he angry with him with him. HIe sits with his father an m' ta kun de. he sits with father his. Stop and eat supper with us d'k horn hmo ta ye. stop eat night with ns. or supper I wash (my) hands with water 9 p ia ti ta 5m. I wash hands with water. This means that the hands are washed with falling water; if the hands were immersed in water, the Palaung sentence would he 0 pai tl lit (or lfi-nau or nau) om. I wash hands in water. If you (two) do not eat supper with its par kan ka hbm hmo ta y~. you (two) if not eat night with us. 474. Without. There appears to be no Palaung word to express the English Preposition Without in the sense of not having, except the verb L~t (to be free (from) to be set free), as: Without blame lIt a-pyrt. setfree blame. or free from The sentence Man cannot live without water would be expressed in Palaung bi ka yi om, a-Ask bl hwo-i. man not has water life man finishes. or bi ka yfi om, an ka bon de im. man not has water he not has he lives. CONJUNCTIONS 127 CONJUNCTIONS 475. There are Conjunctions in Palaung, but they are often omitted, where, in an English sentence, they are necessary. 476. After hwo-i (finished). Come after thou hast eaten mi hwo-i hom y"1 pQm veng ha 6. thou finished eat rice return place this. 477. After bon (to get, to have). He died after he had been ill four or five days bon jpn pan sa-ngi an ka-bE an yam. got four five days he was ill he died. 478. And. In Palaung sentences it is not necessary to use a Conjunction to express And: it is understood without being expressed. Hast thou seen the cow and its calf? mi yfi k92 muk ka-m 3 gar kwon an ' thou didst see cow them (two) child its. I saw a man and a woman o yti -m.e u ku3 i-pan u ku. I saw man one woman one. 479. And. Pai meaning With, or Also is sometimes used. 480. And(in connecting numerals) na, nQng, or hlo (extra). One hundred and ten fu pa-ri-ah na (or nong) u kdr. one hundred and one ten. Three women and six children i-pan u-ai ku3 hlo kan-nyQm tfr ku.1 women three extra children six. 481. As, because bro, chi bro, man (sometimes pronounced mong), kqp or kgp po (on account of), long (on account of). 1 See N. 260. 2 See N. 261. 3 See N. 196. 128 PALAUNG GRAMMAR As this is market day you need not work bro (or k9l) or on account of long) an m6h sa-ngl ktt pi chang ka ror. it is day market you will not work. I am angry because thou art teasing me 9 riau ml man cho Q. I am angry thou because teasest me. As she was tired she went to sleep aln 19h it bro an tir. she went sleep because she was tired. 482. As, because shl. She did not sing because she had a headache shi (or brQ) king an jan an ka kar-nyir. because head her was heavy she not sang. 488. As... as bar (as much as). Bring as muach as thou canst carry and come here bar bE ml toh mi dui-, veng ha o. as much as able thou take thou bring return place this. or bar pan kwit mi be mi dii-e, veng ha 6. as much as what carriest thou art able thou bring return place this. The ground where my tea is planted is as good as thine ka-ti ground ra-som 9 ta myn m la bar ka-ti ra-som mi. the planting my in tea is good as much as ground the planting thy. This is not as short as that i-6 ka im bar tai. this not is short as much as that. 484. Although, though b6-e. I like him though he is bad an bo-e ka la 9 ong an. he though not good I like him. Though it thunders I am going pleng bo-s ka-nam 0 di leh. sky though thunders I shall go out. Bo-e generally follows the subject. CONJUNCTIONS 129 485. But (though) bo-e. Ie ispoor but honest an bo-s plan an ro. he though poor he is honest. 486. Before. The word Before in an English sentence, is sometimes omitted in Palaung, the thought being expressed otherwise, as: Ie arrived before I expected him 9 ka fang an yu1 rot, an yu1 rot. I not think he arrived he arrived, 487. Before ra-at, krfi-e, dang, dong hnyam, hnyam (not yet), al. Do not go before thou hast fed the horse ra-at (or kri-s, &c.) ka dih mi ta brang hom mai 1h. before not givest thou to horse eat do not go. or ra-at hnyam (or krfi-e, &c.) 19h ml, dih brang before not yet goest thou give horse hom tyL. or dung hnyam (or ra-at, &c.) 19h mi deh eat please. before not yet goest thou give brang pan-hom tyl. horse food please. 488. When the words Dong hnyam are used in a sentence, to express Before, there should be no intervening word. 489. Either. There is no exact equivalent in Palaung of the English word Either. The word Ma-hwo-i (no matter) is often used in a sentence expressing Either, as: Give them either the large chair or the small ka-la-taing dang i-mo ma-hwo-i, ka-la-taing dyat ma-hwg-i chair large which no matter chair small no matter dih ta ge u h]ang.2 or ka-la-tiing ar hlang2 din give to them one. chair two that an dang ma-hw~-i an dylt ma-hwo-i dih ta ge u it is large no matter it is small no matter give to them one hling.2 1 See N, 216. 2 See N 196. 2383 I 130 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Either. Ma-hwo-i may be omitted as in the following sentence. Either he or his younger brother came here when I was absent an rot, kan ka ilh all, all m6l va an, he arrived if not was he he was younger brother his yam ka gwai Q. time not was I. 490. Neither. Neither is expressed in the same way as Either, with the addition of Ka (not), or Mai (do not) to the sentence, as: Neither he nor his wife told me an ma-hwQ-i pan-le an ma-hwQ-i ka gran ta Q. he no matter wife his no matter not told to me. Neither. Ma-hwQ-i may be omitted, as: Buy neither this horse nor that brang u to 5 gar horse one this them (two) fu to tai ml ka jfir ml f to.1 one that thou not buyest thee one. 491. If kan, sometimes prounouced kin. If we see the king to-morrow a-hnap kan yfi i h-lKam. to-morrow if see we king. If thou dost not come quickly mi kan ka 19h pai pai. thou if not goest quickly. Tell me if you like him pe kan ong an gral ta Q. you if like him tell to me. If thou dost not arrive mi kan ka rot. or kan ka rot ml. thou if not arrivest. if not arrivest thou. 492. Or. The English word Or is omitted in Palaung, as: Is it good or bad? o la ka la? or 5 la kk2 this is good not is good. this is good ka la k?2 or an la an ka la kg 2 not is good. it is good it not is good. 1 See N. 196. 2 See N. 261. CONJUNCTIONS 131 493. Than dor. These are larger than those ge 5 dang dor ge tai. they this are large than they that or or these those. 494. Though see Although. 495. Till, until mQ (time). Stay till it is light gwai m a~n plang. stay till it is light. I shall not speak to him until he apologizes to me 9 ka ngyi ra an mg an 6k-kya ta 9. I not speak with him till he apologizes to me. or words 496. Unless kan ka (if not). He will plough the paddy-Jield unless thou doest it an dl t'fi mar ml kan ka ~ai. he will plough paddy-field thou if not ploughest. or to mi kan ka tai, an dl fai. self thou if not ploughest he will plough. 497. Whether ma-hwO-i (no matter). Whether thou art going or not, I am going 9 dl 19h, ml 19h ka 19h, 9 ka nap. I shall go thou goest not goest I not know. or 9 l1h, ml 19h ma-hwo-i ml ka 19h ma-hwo-i. I go thou goest no matter thou not goest no matter. 498. Whether... or bo-e... b-e. Whether it is good or bad bo-e la bo-e ka la. though is good though not is good. 499. While yam (time), dang or dong, jo (existence, time). I have been ill while my mother stayed with me 9 ka-be jo (or dang) gwai ma 9 j~m 9. I was ill time stayed mother my together me. or follow 1 2 132 PALAUNG GRAMMAR lie fainted while he was waiting an bi-sr pom yam re an. he forgot heart or mind while waited he. or fainted IVWile going and coming j5 lh' jo veng. time go time return. 500. While u an, a-ling (time). IIe arrived while I was here a-lkng 9 gwai ha 6 an rot. time I stayed place this he arrived. 501. In the above sentence, u an, jo or yam may be substituted for a-ling, but when jo and yam are used, the subject must follow the verb, as: Yam gwai 9 ha o. or jo gwai 9 ha o. INTERJECTIONS 502. A la lal! An exclamation of surprise at seeing anything that is ugly. 503. A le-au le-au! An exclamation of disgust. 504. Al-lo! An exclamation of pleasure or disgust, according to the tone of voice in which it is uttered. 505. A ra a! An exclamation of pleasure and surprise. 506. DMh! An exclamation meaning There! I told you so! 507. 8! 6 al-la! Exclamations of surprise. The i is a very long sound. 508. Hih! This is an exclamation of surprise or disgust, as Ugh! in English. 509. Hi hih! This is used to express What an idea! or, if a question is asked such as Are you not afraid? Hi hih could be used in answer to express Why should I be afraid? INTERJECTIONS 133 510. Hwg-i kya! Good! Excellent! 511. Hwo-i la! or hwai la! or hi la! meaning Good! All right! 512. Kya kya' Good! Excellent! 513. 0! Oh! or O/ 514. 0 al-l! An exclamation of surprise and pleasure. 515. 0 m! (0 mother) an exclamation of pain. 516. 0! An exclamation meaning Yes, good! All right! 517. 0 6 a-bo! This is shouted to arrest the attention of a man in the distance: if a woman is addressed, i-bs-e should be substituted for a-bo. The first o is a long drawn-out sound. 518. P'ra! or pa-ra! Hush / 519. Pwit! Pw't (away) is generally used in the sense of Finished, gone, but sometimes it is used as Behold! There they are! There he is! rgt pw-t! arrived away. 520. S'a-ting! Hark Listen 521. 0 may either begin or end a sentence: Pwt follows the verb. The other interjections are used alone. SENTENCES When it was night, when night came rQt ra-hmo. arrived night. When it was morning, next morning rQt lid-i a-hnap. arrived as to-morrow. When next night came rot Kfi-i ra-hmi a-hnap. arrived as night to-morrow. You arrive late rot 1a. or rQt ra-ban. arrive late. arrive behind or after or last. 134 PALAUNG GRAMMAR More than half a month Kan-da kyar hl8l. half. month extra. Quickly, like a flash of lightning pai lfti-i la-l. quick as lightning. Quickly, during the chewing of betel-nut jo plu u mot. time betel-nut one little while. or existence Quickly, in the wink of an eye i kan-nyap ngai. one wink eye. or ii ka-pre ngai. one quick eye. It is not time yet a-lking hnyam rot. time not yet arrived. At any time da yam moh. or yam m9 ma-hwQ-i. any time be. time what no matter. When it is the tenth day bon sa-ngi ship van'. gets day ten days. Not once or twice only i 16h ar loh ka moh. one time two times not is. You are not in time pi ka rot a-l.ing an. you not arrive time its. or ps ka lit a-lling. you not remain time. At last! (on receiving something expected) bobn ra-ban! got behind or after or last. IWhile he was picking the tea leaves it rained u yam pat an myam jung. one time picked he tea rained. or all jung yam p.t aln ta mya.im. it rained time picked he at tea. 0or U2 1). t an lmyaLm jfing. one picked he tea rained. These two words are from the Shan, ship ten, van days, 2 Yam time understood. SENTENCES15 135 He asked me when I was going to the jungle an S'ar-'nw't D 'in moi ml di I2h ta, brW? he asked me time what thou wilt go to jungle. or 'i yan- di bon ml 12hi ta bri V an Aar-mw~t ~ one time wilt get thou go to jungle he 'asked me. From this time I shall give thee a rupee a day OA, m-ng id din d~h idin ii by& ii a-ingi ta time from one time I. give silver one rupee one day to mi. or chA m~ngr 'a-din di dih rfin ti byil a thee. time from to-day I shall give silver one rupee one S~-ngl ta mi. or mQ.ng 63 PWqt ra-At d~h ii day to thee. from this away before I give 'one or in front byA ii d -ngI ta, mi. or cli'a yam din di dih rupee one day to thee, time time that I shall give or ta in! 1din 'a byii i ga-1gl. ti to thee silver one rupee one day. lie saved up his money in order that he might buy a house un kar-chu"i un din an di Jfir gang. or an Mih an hte gathered kept silver he will buy house, he gives h e bo3n di jtiir guiing, kar-chii ka~r-po-m fin rin, or kgpp gets he buys house gathered gathercd kept silver, on-account-of (or cIi"a' birO) An seijn j Ui"r gflng, an hwo-i kur-ebti I time because he wished buy house, he finished gathered silver. Go up to the house lig" gang. go up house. Jump down, t 1db1. jump go down. J~uvp across t1' karn, t9 ka~r-t'. jump go across Juemp point. T/o roll onl level ground giting glIul. To roll -down a slope gting g6. 136 PALAUNG GRAMMAR In and out lip leh. enter go down or go out. She goes for water an 1Qh om. she goes water. Backwards and forwards, to and fro 1Qh lh veng veng. go go return return. He went a long journey an qIh ra-deng sa-ngai. he went road far. They enter the house ge lip ta gang. they enter in, at house, or to I have never been here before krfi-Es o ka 19h lo-i ha o. before this I not come nothing place this. Come back and help me to sew veng j9-i 9 jing. return, help me sew. Large and small needles pan-lI ra-dyat pall-ls ra-dlaig. needles small needles large. I do not wish to return 9 ka ong 0 venig. I not like I return. Do not let us go to take it mai ]Ih C toh an. do not go we take it. One after another hwQ-i ii k 1 inoh i ku1. finished one be one. Teach that one and that one mi pin sa-ra bi an bi an. thou becomest teacher person him person him or or her her. He went here and there looking for it an lgh tip an gang o gang inan gang til. he went seek it house this 2 house this2 house that. Ie expects to arrive an dyk nioIg p1)t an 1rt. he slops expects finish he arrives. or quite 1 See N. 196. 2 See N. 149, N. 150. SENTENCES13 137 lie promised that he would return he di ir ro a n fin~ ka-di. ie wll gainarrve he kepspromise. or places he. a di agin vbng, ai din ngye ka-dI. ~e- illagai reurn e keps ord Promise. or places When thou arrivest at Namhsan please call Nandia ml kan rot Om-y~r to Nan-di-a tyl. thou if arrivest Namhsan call Nandia please. or yAm PO nil Om-y~r t' Nan-di-a ty'i. time arrivest thou Namhsan call Nandia please. or appearest lie does not know if he is going an 19h ka n~p, ka 12hi la n~p. hie goes not knows not goes not knows. I should have gone lead the rain not fallen ka~n ha jiing 0i hwo-i 16~ ta 1911. if not rained I finished good to go. or ought One going before and one following after f, kti lhw —i 1911 fi ku1 d 1911. one finished goes one rises up goes. Because he got work hie did not return cIA br~ an bo~n & ro-r -an kit v,6ig. tfime because he got he wvork he not returned. or his or, an mnan bo~n d ror an ka vong. hie because got he work he not returned. or his I ran away because mny Jather beat me clha bro (or k~p p6") time because on-account-of 1See N. 196. 138 PALAUNG GRAMMAR kun I lar Q, 9 chang du pwot, father my beat me I shall run away away or kuin 9 wmn lar Q, 9 ch. 1 da pwot. father my because beat me I shall run away away. People remain at home, they do not go out but remain indoors bi gwai ta gang ge, bi ka leh leh lip lip. people remain at house their people not go out go out enter enter. They all sat round her ge m1 kar-vyar do-st an. They sat went round all her. Two old people lived in the town ge li king yii gar ii ta u ya. they in town lived they (two) one grandfather one grandmother or or old man old woman. I shall not live a thousand years 0 di a-sak ii hrng ka moh. I shall life one thousand not be. We shall meet at the house yE kar-chu ha gang. we gather place house. I do not like to sit with her 9 ka ong 9 m- ra an. I not like I sit with her. You called me to come pi t" Q 19h. you called I came or or or call me come. I called I-orn when I arrived at her house 9 hw9-i rt bfi gang ain 9 t J I-1in. I finished arrive yet house her I called I-om. or yam rQt ta gang an Q t' I-om. time arrived at house her I called I-om. They did not tell me bi ka yti de grli ta Q. people not have they told to me. When shall we hear the discourse? ban m E bdin h~l ta-ra? time what we get we discourse law 2 or our 1 See N. 215. 2 Buddhist law. SENTENCES 139 or a-l.ing mO i bln i ho ta-ra time what we get zee discourse law. or our He asked me why I picked the lotus flowers 'Shi 'n moh mi pat poh b?' an lsar-mwt Q. why it is thou pickest flowers lotus, he asked me. or 'Shi nya mi chang. p.t poh bo ' an sar-mw't why dost thou wilt pick flowers lotus, he asked Q. or 'Long shi 'n m6h mi pat p6h bo?' n me. on account'of why it is thou pickest flowers lotus, he sar-mwot 9. or shi 0 hwo-i Igh pat pol- bo an asked me. why I finished went pick flowers lotus, he sar-mwit 9. asked me. Empty talk, talk that leads to nothing, to speak uselessly ngyi ka pin hmn pen da. words not become to eat become to wear or or or talk food clothes. or ngye chuim ngye cham, or ngyi a-la-ga. words vain words vain words useless. or or or or or talk empty talk empty talk To say this and that, to talk gossip grai dyt grai dang. speak small speak big. Do not gossip mai grai ngy~ yo-i ngy~ yEm. do not speak words small words small. or or talk talk Be patient, say it again ri-.t bf, tsng ml grai. be patient yet, again thou speak. He is very boastful an pani-hner de lfi-i bang hong hlap ta om. he is boastful himself as shoot dry put into in water. I told you so 9 dong nya pi. I before made you. 1 See N. 215. 140 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Speak at once grai ka-don. or grai ui din 6. speak suddenly. speak one time this. or now I shall tell the Chief about thee Q di grai ml ta pair-mang. I shall speak thee to Chief. lie talks incessantly, he is a bore ngyE an lip bri. words his enter jungle. or talk They talked a long time ge ngyE hner var. they words like rope. or talk or ge dah de gra-i lfi-i te-am 1 ta re-.p. they said they spoke as to chirp. or like You talk nonsense pm ka nap ra-deng. you not know road. A talkative person bi Kit-i sim Qng. person as bird sparrow. or like Do not beat about the bush main grai ngyi dtik ngys gor. do not speak words below words above. or or talk talk Speak pleasantly nigyE ta-lkfi-i. or ngyes l ihy 1)i. words pleasant. words good ears people. or or talk talk or ngyE la 0p5m b1. or grai yin yin. words good hearts people. speak quietly or or talk. calmly. Her mother scolds her ma an bar ta an. mother her scolds to her. She is always scolding her an bUp bar aln she she. she must scold her always. 1 An insect of the cricket family. SENTENCES 141 If it is as twou sayest kan moh lif-i dah mi. if is as sayest thou. or like They asked him b1l sar-mw2t ta an. people asked to him, It is difficult to speak Palaung grai Ta-ang kyu. to speak Palaung is difficult. It is difficult to know nAp kyii. to know is difficult. She roused her father an pyu ta kiun d. she roused to father her. le seems to be unwell in 6 pong an ka-bi. or an a-pong ka-bi. he this (one) appears he is ill. he appears ill or to be ill. After he drank the medicine he fell asleep an hwO-i te-ang1 sa-nam an it pwt 2 de. he finished drank medicine he slept away himself. or at once or ban hwp-i te-ang sa-nam an it pwot de. time finished drank medicine he slept away himself. or at once Take this medicine every three hours sa-nam i-o te-ang an u-ai na-r ii 16h. or sa-nam medicine this drink it three hours one time, medicine i-6 u-ai na-ri u l1h mi chang (or di) te-ang. this three hours one time thou wilt wilt drink. Come to see me every day twOn sa-ngi 'i 15h veng ta Q. or veng ng6p every day one time return to me. return look 9 twin sa-ngi 1u 1h twon sa-ngi a loh. me every day one time every day one time. 1 If the medicine is not liquid hgm to eat is used instead of te-ang to drink. 2 See N. 264. 142 PALAUNG GRAMMAR He struck a hard blow an lar su hnyo hnyo. or ra-lar an jan. he struck pain very much. the striking it is heavy. or the blow When they go to dig the grave yam Igh kfng bi ta bong ta sang-laing. time go dig people at hole at grave-yard. or in It is difficult to build pagodas r6tr kOng-mui kya hnyo. to build pagoda is difficult very. or to make or kQng-mf an kyu hny5 ta ror. pagoda it is difficult very to build or make. They do not know how to do it nya ge n.p dl nya ka moh. to do they know will do not to be. Go ahead with the work lQh u-ar ka-pliim. go in front? work. Work with a will un nu-ar 1] lt. place heart well. or or keep mind Work steadily mai dEh nu-ar mi bltl. blu. do not give heart thy be changeable. or mind ie is very lazy an gran be ka-tir. he is lazy overcome mildew. Do it in this way ror 1lf-i 6. or nya lKi-i 6. work as this. do as this. or do He did as I told him an ror l1fi-i dah 9 ta an. he did as said I to him. or an nya kfi-i ngyE dah Q. he did as words said I. SENTENCES 143 All the village people in each house work bi ror d5-et do-et people work all pal ru klu gang ii kIrOng1 u krQng.' whole village in house one one. I shall bring you the money d dl h p1 ta rfin. I shall give you to silver or money. Good-bye veng 1i-i lO-i. go back slowly. Make thyself at home gang & dsh an lfi-i gang.ml. house this give it as house thy. IHast thou enough to eat? Mi ka-dc-i mi hbm? thou enough thou to eat. Please excuse me (said to an equal or to a superior in rank) 9 lit g grfp ta ml. I fault I reverence to thee. or mistake I am very sorry for thee 9 sa-dai ml hnyo hnyo. I sorry thee very much. Do as thou pleasest ka lu mi. not? thou WVhat does it matter? ka pen ngys sa-moh. not become words anything. It is of no consequence ka yti sa-moh. not is anything. or ka moh sa-moh. not is anything. Two little girls kw9n kan-nyom i-pan ar ki.2 children children female two. or or little ones woman I think of my child 9 nu-ar hloh ta kw~n 9. I mind arrives at child my. or heart 1 See N. 171 and N, 196. 2 See N. 196. 144 144 PALAUNG GRAMMAR Shle called I-s~5ng and I-tying her two friends an t' I-s~ng go dcl, I-tying go di iir kfi.' sk called I-s~ng friend her Itying friend her two. Mfy mother and I, or my mother and me yar MR Q we (two) mother my. A little more bl~m blam che-rs'. much little. I have nothing 0 4~-m~h ka, yi. I anything not have. Not even a little is good an ka 16 h1~i- cbe-r'e. it not is good even little. Not one thing is pretty fl ni ko ka-ri-tar. one thing not is' pretty. O~nly'a little is bad an ka 16 g5 che-re' che-re'. it not is good only little. No talgood an ka I' hWMi fi nE. it not is good even one thing. To be worthless ka lan p~h. or ka fan Aa-tyiir. not worth flower, not worth flea. It is not long enough h5 bhlig cbe-re'. wants long little. It is very small dy~t gwiii bar kar-to ppn-]e' small remains as much as po'int needle. or is or dang an gwtii bar ka-iing la-nDgA. big it remains as much as seed sesamum or is It is our wish to have it mo-h pan-gn b~n, YE. is wish get w e. I hope that he will be able to sing 9 m6ng an bE ka~r-nyiir. I expect he is able to sing. or' hope 1See N. 196. SENTENCES 145 or 9 d nh an bi kar-nyir. I give he is able to sing. or 9 nu-ar hlOh an kar-nyir. I mind arrives he sings. or heart The daughter of a poor old widow kwln I-pan ya ka-mai plan. child female old woman widow poor. or woman She is not a widow an moh ka-mai ka moh. she is widow not is. An old woman i-pan kwQn-hyar. or pa-an I-pan. woman old. old woman. They made him chief ge dih an pen par-mang. they gave him become chief. re do not dare look yE ka ya ng6p yE mnn. we not dare look we look. My ricefield is broader than thine na. 9 vah dor na ml. rice field my is extensive than rice field thy. Which is the larger thy horse or mine? braing ml gar brang Q i-mg dang? horse thy they (two) horse my which is large. or bar mo brang mi dang dor brang 9. as much as what horse thy is large than horse my. or brang ml gar brang O bar mo dang horse thy they (two) horse my as much as what is large gar kar-dgn de? they (two) excel it. The place of water plng 5m. running water water. A stream om plng. water running water, Pickled tea leaves (for eating) myam 5m. tea water. Tea infused (for drinking) 6m r myam. water tea. 2383 K 146 146 THE WHITE WATEIR-SNAIL HQ-i Kaim water-snail wh ite Kfin ho-Khm gar nang Ma-hii-de-vi ga-r ka yti () king they (two) lady queen they (two) not had de kwon d, va; 2gar 19h A-k-t~ & kid s5n their little one their (2) they (two) went to fast selves in garden garden. they (tw o) wore clothes white, seven, days they (two) went s6k-ti, l gar hman d& kwon d6 via. to fast they (two) asked their child their (2). B~n t~r sc-ngi. R~t ra-bm6- gilr it. e Nang rin-p5 got six days. arrived night they (two) slept. lady dreamed kfim ji kb, d~h iii hom pMh bri shiin, 1kh spirit came down gave hler eat fruit jungle ripe came down or dih n lim ma-m~n kam.mangoes (round) gave heer et(long) mangoes goid. Nang ra-90`h, nanig yui grai ta kifin h~-kLM, naing lady awoke lady rose up said to (1) king lady dqh, 8 0 k a t6-n r _ip5 bIwiif 16 h, Ika-iyal 6. said -0 nlot ever dreamed even one time ruler 0 we (two) came to fast place this, to-day is full good seven days 10~ rin-p5 kIn cl lhMI d~h 0i boin mak-rnon I dreamed (1) spirit came down gave me eat mangoes (long) kam nghm linyo hnyc5.' gold sweet very. HO-kam gr~i ta nang, 'Ky6 hnyo hnyr3, po~n king said to lady excellent very that which 12 l rin-p6 mi nailg o, a i dt yti Ki kw~ WQ1 i va, dreamed thou lady 0 we (two) shall have our child our (2) (1) Miln is used as a prefix before hg-]iim, king, and i spirit. It may be translated as Lord or Great. (2) v-h little brother or little sister kw~n... vh child or children, la I& THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 147 The White Water-Snail ' The great king and his queen had not any children, so 2 they went to keep a religious fast in their garden (1). They wore white clothes and 8 they fasted for seven days, and 4 prayed for a child. 5 After seven days, at night when they were asleep, 6 the queen dreamed that the great spirit(2) came down and gave her ripe round mangoes and long mangoes of gold to eat. 7 The queen awoke and said to the king, 8 ' 0 ruler! I have never had such a dream [since] 9we two came to fast in this place seven days ago. 10 I dreamed that the great spirit came down and gave me long mangoes of gold to eat. They were very sweet. '~ The king said to the queen, 'How excellent is that which thou hast dreamed, 0 queen! 12 We shall have a little child. (1) It is understood that there was a pagoda, with a 'rest-house', attached, in the garden. (2) Sakya. K2 148 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 3 moh an tu-~t, an ma-ri-6t leh tek de be hie precious he wonrderful comes cown to be conceived self ta ml nang o.' to thee lady 0. 14 No pur sa-ngl gar veng ta ho. Gar veng were full seven days they (two) returned to palace. they (two) returned gwai ta hQ. Nang tek pa-dik-san-te. stay at palace lady conceived conceived. 15 Brn kor kyar hb-lKam dih bi ti' var Klhir fi got ten months king gave people tie rope gold one or chain nyng, var rtin u nyQng 1G or ha hb ra-gwa(1) rope silver one (1) fiom place palace dwelling or chain nang men ha hQ ra-gwai ilun h-.lkam. 7Kun lady till place palace dwelling (2) king. (2) hQ-lRam dah de tam ai-pyo-dQ nang hb-lRam, 18 Va king said he ordered maids of honour lady king child or queen E kan moh i-me pe dQh var lkrlr, '1 kan moh our if is male you strike rope gold if is or 01* l-pan doh var rin.' chain female strike rope silver. or chain 20 Rot sa-ngi pwo, nang yu moh h-i. 21 Bi ka arrived day birth lady (3) was water-snail. people not niip de doh var. 22 Bi lh grai ta lhQ-lam. 23 'Bi know they strike rope people went tell to king. people or chain dah l.a-nya 8, nang hwQ-i pwQ, var ilbr yE ka say ruler 0 lady finished birth rope gold we not or chain (1) See N. 196. (2) See note on page 146. (3) See N. 216. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 149 '1 He will be precious and wonderful, when he comes down to be conceived in thee. '1 When seven days were past they returned to the palace. They returned and remained at the palace, and the queen conceived. 15 When ten months (1) were past, the king ordered people to tie a gold chain and a silver chain 6from the part of the palace where dwelt the queen, to the part where he lived. 17 He gave orders to the maids-of-honour of the queen, 18 sIf our little one is a boy, strike the golden chain, 19 if a girl strike the chain of silver.' 20 There came a day when the queen gave birth to a watersnail. 21 The people did not know which chain to strike. 22 They went and said to the king, 23 'They say, O ruler! that (1) Lunar months. 150 150 THE 'WHITE WATER-SNAIL i16p yE (loh, 24var 1run yE ka n~p yi d-h, 25 kwon know wee strike r'ope silver wce not knowv we strike child or chain niing mdli1 b —i a-myo). 26 B! yfi d kw~n ho0-i lady is water-snail kind, people have their children water-snail or or person has her child kfath ir mdlih la-gd, ai ka kfin bi moDg-ksn, 4iw fahrits is dragon hie not Jat her people world of men he or naga kiln la-ga, 27 ka-shio 16-i b! Ifhng 4wl.' father dragon ashamed all people on account of iSt. or naga 28 Kiln bo-kam' dkl de- gr-al ta gS, 'HwO-i 1a'! ka (1) king said he spoke to them finished good not nap kf-i nya; di d~h bi idi, di know as to do I shall give people make raft I shall dih b! long ppt 4n j~m Sm.' give people float finish it follow water. '0 HwQ-i1 n1yi kfi-i din. Bd'-n air kyar u-iii ky~r finished done as that. got two months three months bo-kamn gr~ii ta bi, 'Long pe't h~-i. ka-u jQm king told to people. float finish water-snail white follow Sm.' "Ra-gwaii bw —i robr Th, 16. HO-KAm 12hi gr~i water. duelling finished mnade wvell. king wcent told ta niing, bo-Ramn dili:2'N n kwQn~ ~ to lady king said lady 0 child our this give bY 1~ng p~t 4w j~m Sm, ka-shie b! fang people float finish it follow water are ashamed people, on account Of it people say father its dragon are ashamed people. -. or naga, ~'Naiig dilh ta bo-k~m, 'ka 11-p ktfi-i nya, b6-e lady said to k ing not know as to do though (1) See note, page 146. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 151 the queen has given birth, 24 but we do not know whether to strike the golden chain or the silver. 25 The baby of the queen is a kind of water-snail. 26 One who has a water-snail for a child, its father is a Naga. 27 All the people are ashamed on account of it.' 28 The king said to them, 'It is good, but I do not know what to do! 29 I shall order men to make a raft and shall tell them to float it [the water-snail and the raft], down stream.' 30 It was done in this manner. After two or three months the king said to the people, 'Float the white water-snail down stream.' 81 Its dwelling-place was well prepared. The king went and said to the queen, 82 ' queen! Give this our child so that the people may float it down stream. The people are ashamed because of it, they say, "Its father is a Naga". They are ashamed.' 33 The queen said to the king,' I do not know what to do! 152 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL moh hlo-i, toSk (de pen kwgn ai va ai, 54 kQ sin is water-snail right his be child our (1) our I not wish or or claim become drh bi lng an jim om, 0 kar-ve an, ha I nM give people float it follow water I pity it place what an ydi de hbm de da, 30 9 yO ka-lon toh de hQm, it has its food its clothes I fear galon take it eat 9 yO ka dang toh dc hQnm an, 0 di leh I fear fish great take it eat it I shall go down jQm an.' follow it. 36 HQ-1im dall ta nang, 'Ka mMh go pan dall king said to lady not is only that which say bi. 7Kti-i mn mi di nya di leh j~m h9-i? people as what thou wilt do will go down follow water-snail NSip an moh I-pan, naip an moh i-me, 38 ngai ka know it is female know it is male eyes not or face yU i men, lU-i mO an nya ra-na-u ka n~p.' has we look as what it does inside not know. 39 Nang yam ta hb-lkam, h9-am da, M mai lady wept to king king said thou must not or do not yam, nang o, ra-gwai an 9 hwO-i dih bi ror weep lady 0 dwelling its I finished gave people make kyt ky& na ni, 40 9 dsh bl kyak lrirr ta an, excellent I gave people gild gold on it teng lo lo.' yellow very. 1 Ka-gwai an hi hw9-i, hb-lkam hlbp ta klo Iklhr, dwelling its finished finished king put into pot gold tiE lIk u kan-ble-a, 42 'H -i itau r9t ha m9, wrote letter one (2; water-snail white arrives place what bi-moh mai ka-v,, an moh kwon ho-lam. any one do not play it is child king. or must not (1) See note, page 146. (2) See N. 196. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 153 Though it is a water-snail it has the right to be our child. 34 I do not wish to let people float it down stream. I pity it! How can it live [on the raft]. 35 I fear that a Galon (1) may take and eat it, I fear that a great fish may take and eat it! I shall go down stream with it.' 36 The king said to the queen, 'It is not only what people say. 37 What couldst thou do going with a water-snail? Who knows if it is female or male? 38 It has no face that we could see. What it does inside [its shell] we do not know.' 39 The queen wept before the king, who said, 'Do not weep, O queen! I have ordered its dwelling, I told the people to make it very good, 40 I gave them very yellow gold to gild it with.' 1 Its dwelling being ready, the king put the water-snail into a golden pot. He wrote a letter, saying, 42 At whatever place the white water-snail arrives, do not play with it, it is the child of a king.' (1) A fabulous bird. 154 154 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 13H~-kim MIh b! 191i bla~p in ta p'q-ng; b! ]01ig king gave people go put it on raft people floated pwot an jom 6m. away it follow water. ~ oi K ai MIh Sm bon pulr s~m par sa-ngi, water-snail white went down water got seven nights seven days went down arrived country dragon lady dragon went play or or or town naga, naga am, dii-s de &-pya-dO j~n pq6-ri-ah. Ndng la-gii,water brought her maids of honour five hundred lady dragon or naga, ydl de. sin-go-h j'Ong ra-gwai HO-i Jbiiu. 4A grai, saw she looked up raft -dwelling water-snail white, she said 'She 'n m~h i-no-ng 'ka D4p, f&ng lo 15.' N~ng la-gawhat it is above not know yellow very, lady dragon or or UP naga said if is it is good' it is excellent' give it come jal II -ai 0, kan mo-uh 4an ka ]6, d~h an 1g1b towards me place this if is it not is good give, it go far fa r near me do not give it come. or beside 48 PO~ng ra-gw~ii A-I~ng HO-i Kaui keh j raft dwelling (1) water-snail white ecent down towards iiang ]a-gii, kh1 r~t ta nAng. Ndiig 1t-1h de! po-h lady dragon went down arrived at lady. lady took she opened or naga o-mn n ~i H- Iiuiiu, ka-ri-ar bnyo hiiy6 she, looked it was woater-snail white beautifu~l very (1) A-I~ng an embryo Buddlia, a Bodhisattva. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 155 43 The king ordered the people to place it on the raft, and they floated it away down stream. 44 The white water-snail went down stream for seven nights and days. It floated on, till it reached the country of the Nagas. 45 The queen of the Nagas went to play in the water, having brought five hundred of her maids of honour. The queen saw, as she looked up stream, the raft, the dwelling-place of the white water-snail. 46 She said, 'What is it [that I see] up stream? It is very yellow!' Then she said, 47 If it is a good [thing] an excellent [thing] may it come to me here. If it is not good, may it go far far away, do not let it come near me.' 48 The raft, the dwelling of the embryo Buddha, the white water-snail, floated down to the queen of the Nagas. When it reached her, she took and opened [the pot] and looked in. It was a white water-snail, its dwelling-place was very 156 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL ra-gwal ain, 4 Nang la-ga toh de dti-s, veig dEh dwelling its. lady dragon took she brought returned gave or naga ta hiQ-lam la-ga. to king dragon or naga. 50 HO-lKam poh ra-gwai de men, ho-lkam dahll ta' nang, king opened dwelling he looked king said to lady 'An ka bon de gwai jgm e, an moh bi mnong-kon, it not got it lives follow us it is person world of men or human being 51 r moh la-ga, ufr kan lring an, an yam. L2h we are dragons smell our if exhales it it dies. go or nagas t}in an ta p'ng ra-gwai an.' escort it to raft dwelling its. b2 Nang dab, ' sa-daii hnyo an, 9 rAk hny6 an, lady said I am sorry very it I love very much it an ka-ri-ar gut.' it is beautiful very much. 53 Nang la-ga tim Ilk f kan-ble-a, hlap ta ra-gwai lady dragon wrote letter one (1) put in dwelling or naga an, a4 'Mi kan 1 ban din i sa-ngi, ml mai bl-er its thou if good future time one day thou do not forget or must not Q, nu-ar blobh ta Q tyL.' me heart arrive at me please. or or mind to 5 NNang la-ga long pw't an jom om. HO-i lau lady dragon floated away it follow water. water-snail white or naga (1) See N. 196. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 157 beautiful. 49 The Naga queen took it and brought it to the king of the Nagas. 50 The king opened its dwelling-place and looked in, he said to the queen,' It cannot stay along with us. It is a human being of the world of men. 51 We are Nagas, if our smell exhales to it, it will die. Go take it to the raft its dwellingplace.' 52 The queen said, 'I am very sorry for it, I love it very much, it is very beautiful.' 53 The queen of the Nagas wrote a letter, and put it in its dwelling-place. 54 [She wrote] 'If thou becomest good (1) at a future time, do not forget me, please.' M The Naga queen floated it away [on the raft] down stream. It went down stream for seven nights and days, till it reached (1) Becomest a saint or a Buddha. 158 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL leh jinm om bon piir som pur sa-ngi, leh went down followed water got seven nights seven days went down r~t ta kuing pas. 56 Ya (1) pai l1h hum om, yfi d arrived at country ogre. ogress went bathe water saw she sin-goh pong ra-gwaii HO-i kau. Ya pai dah ta looked up raft dwelling water-snail white. ogress said in pom de, 57 'She moh nong? Ka nap, hmom am heart her what is above not know feel surprise or or mind up. hnyo hny6, ra-gwai an feng lo lo!' very much dwelling its yellow very. Ya pai dab, 68 'Ka.n moh an 1l dRh an va jfl ogress said if is it good give it come towards or be b ha 6, kan moh an ka 1l,.dih an 19h sa-ngai me place this if is it not good give it go far or be sa-ngai.' 59 Png ra-gwai HO-i lkau v juf ya pai. far. raft dwelling qwater-snail white came towards ogress. Ya pai poh de men, ya pai ntp pw't an moh ogress opened she looked ogress knew away it was kwon ho-lam 60 Ya pai dahb, '9 di toh 9 in child king. ogress said I shall take I keep 9 kwon 9 va.' my child my (2). 61 Ya pai toh de dfi-e vng an ta gang de. ogress took she brought returned she to house her. Ya pai hlap u n ta klo Eng. Ya pai rbk ogress put into kept it in pot vase. ogress loved yo hnyo hnyS an. AAn gwai j9m ya pai bon pur very much it. it stayed followed ogress got seven kyar, 62 an l1k-klp de pen bhi, ka-ri-ar hnyo hnyo. months it transformed self became person beautiful very. or human being (1) See N. 14. (2) See footnote (2) page 146, THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 159 the country of the Ogres. 66 An ogress Went to bathe and looking up stream she saw the raft, the dwelling-place of the white water-snail. The ogress said to herself, 67 ' What is that up stream? I do not know what it is, I am very much surprised, it is very yellow! The ogress said, 58 If it is good, let it pass to me here, if it is bad, let it go very far away.' 59 The raft, the dwellingplace of the white water-snail, came towards the ogress. The ogress opened [the pot] to look in and she knew at once that it was the child of a king. 60 She said, ' I shall take and keep it to be my child.' She took it and brought it to her house. G1 The ogress placed it in and kept it in a large pot [used for holding water] and she loved it very much. It stayed with the ogress seven months, [then] 62 it transformed itself and became a human being (1). It was very beautiful. (1) A little child. 160 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL Sa-ngi dill ya () pai ka gwai, 63 ya pai lh vir ta day that ogress not was ogress weent wander to or stayed son oyen, An (2) dik 10k de ra-ban ya pal. garden garden he stopped changed self behind ogress. 64 Rot tyun hmo ya pai veng rQt ta gang, arrived not yet night ogress returned arrived at house ya pai veng ju do men HO-i liau, hwO-i ogress returned towards she looked water-snail wfiife finished pen bi. 65 Ya pai re-an hnyo linyo, ya pai toh became person ogress was happy very ogress took or human being. de j2k. H~-i klau gwai jQm ya pai bar she lifted. water-snail white stayed followed ogress as much as kor sa-nam, an hwQ-i de dang. GG Ya pai ka ten years he finished he was big. ogress not dsh a- n 19h vir, ya pai dih an gwai ta gang gave him go wander ogress gave him stay in house she she. always. 67 Ya pai 19h psh gar hQm pie twgn sa-ngT, ogress went pick them (two) eat fruit every day ya pai tam an, an, dah, 'KwQn ~-me 9 5, mal ogress ordered him she said child male my 0 do not hb ta kar-vui-e ai, mai lQh ta o-yen ai lap go up to above our do not go to garden our side van t6k. 68 Mi dik gwa-i ha gang ai,! i mai Igh west. thou stop stay place house our thou do not go vir, kwQn i-me 0.' wander child male my 0. TwQn Sa-ngl ma (3) an tasn an, 69 Mi mai 1Qh every day mother his ordered him thou do not go vlr, 1r gang ai ]t la, 9 Igh pill ai hQm ple.' wander wait house our well I go pick us eat fruit. or watch (1) See N. 14. (2) Hg-i kan. (3) The Ogress. - ---. =...= THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 161 That day the ogress was not there, 63 she had gone to walk in her garden (l). He [the white water-snail] changed his appearance in the absence of the ogress. W4 When it was almost night the ogress arrived at home. She returned and looked for the white water-snail. It had become a human being. 65 The ogress was very happy, she took and nursed him. White water-snail stayed with the ogress for ten years and he grew big. 66 The ogress did not allow. him to go wandering, but made him always remain at home. 67 The ogress went to pick fiuit for them to eat every day. The ogress gave him orders, she said,' O my boy, do not go upstairs, do not go to our garden in the west, do not go, but 68 remain and stay at home, do not wander away, O my son.' Every day his mother [the ogress] commanded him, 69 ' Do not go wandering, wait quietly in our home. I go to pick fruit for us to eat.' (1) SOn 6-yen a garden in which fruit, flowers, and vegetables are grown. 288s L 162 162 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL sa-ygl h16I1 ta iiu- ar -an, an dAh ta j'07m d~, one day arrived at mind his he said in hcart his or or 01. in heart mind 'She 'n ino1i ka ii-p, mna 0 thin 0 twon sc-ugi. what it is not knowv mother may orders me every day "ra-kar-vfi-e min hb," ta 6i-y~n i niii 19h " ma above do not * go up to garden do not go mother dah kuf-i din.',my says as that. fJ sa-igI din ili an 1911 vir kui-nau one day that mnother his wen~t wander in fin-fai- 95m-bUng. HO-i k iiii lat de in~n ra-kar-vii-e great jungle. wvater-snail white stole he looked above JilnEiu gaing. 72 An h- yiii ka-aing C 6i, ka-Atig in house. he wvent up saw bones barking deer bones gang, ka-ang cbs. HO-i k aii da h ta j'05ni elephant bones sambher deer. ivater-snail white said~ in heart or d, nia a n ino-h ya (1)j' I Y-I mind his mother my she is ogress surely. HO-i k~iiu yti ra-kar-vfi-e ga.-dO M~ ma- n,~ water-snail white saw above, jacket ogress mother his he, chap de da Aa-dO p`i a n dah, ( 19h men put on he wvore Jacket ogress he said I1 go look (-yen ma O.' A n dMaa~-do ji, an pq~r igis garden mother my. hte wore jaket ogress he flew went kRi sin 63-Y6e, 1alI 1911 yi Vang D&M Yang Pai, in garden garden he went saw court water court fire vang 1i6m, tih d6 dfi-e pqr pwot d&. court wind took he brought flew away he. HO-i k aii rot pra om Aam-b~k-ta-rii. MA an water-snail white arrived shore water ocean.. mother his V6ng rot ta gang, veng tip, an ka yti. MA E ~n came arrived at house returned seek he not was. mother his (T) See N. 14. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 163 70 One day he thought and he said in his heart, 'I do not know how it is, my mother gives me orders every day, " Upstairs do not go," " To the garden do not go," My mother speaks like that.' 71 On a certain day his mother [the ogress] went wandering in the great jungle. White water-snail stole upstairs in the house to look. 72 He went up and saw the bones of barking deer, the bones of elephants, and the bones of sambher deer. White water-snail said in his heart, ' My mother is surely an ogress!' 73 White water-snail saw upstairs the jacket of his mother, the ogress, he put on and wore the jacket of the ogress, he said, 'I am going to look at the garden of my mother.' 74 He wore the jacket of the ogress, he flew and went into the garden; he went and saw the court of water, the court of fire, the court of the wind. He took and brought [with him some of each] and he flew away. 76 White water-snail arrived on the shore of the ocean. His mother [the ogress] returned and arrived at home, she returned and Ipoked [for him], he was not [there]. His mother followed him, she went and reached him on the shore 164 164 THE WUITE WATER-SNAIL - - 76 M_ 12h join in, 11h H~it aln pra oni. Ma aln yt ujent follow h~im wuent remained he shore -water, mother hiis saw de tfir ' n pra oni s~r-dg. Ma an deah), '0 kwQ-n she looked him shore water other side mother his said 0 child i-rnic ~, ng ta gang iii, iiu-Ar hloh ta mi, al. male my return to house our 1 m1ind arrives at thee we or or or man heart to Veng.' Ho-i k&iu dbib 'Q ka vii yo, 0 di lyli return. water-snail white, said I not retur-n surely I shall go vir kiing vir rd.' wander country wander villages. or touns. 71 Mla inl dl l de thin all, ' h kan 16, bul dinl mother his said she ordered him thou, if good future time i c,-ngi mi, mnii bi-er -2, liu-r hl1-"l ta 0 ty! ' one day thou do nt forget me mind arrives at me please. or or heart to -water-snail white reverenced to mother his finished good mother 0' an dah, XMi ula cha-pa tai. o hre said thou do not worry about me. water-snail uwhite flew away. water-s-nail white went arrived at kftng mnong Chaim-b&-ua-g5. Veng yfi kwonm bi hllng country town Cham-bea-na-go. went saw children other play "O. An hm~n de to jom kwon bi, aln dab, beans. he asked he throw frllow children other he said or play 'Q ka yti Li' 4n liman de ram ta ge, 'Rok I not have beans. he asked he borrowed from them depend or grateful pp. bd-gO pi 0! 81 Gil dill #-n rkm, k~n to L you friends you 0. They gave him borrow he threw beans, or played THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 165 of the water. [When] 76 his mother saw him across the water on the shore, she said, 'O my son, return to our home. My heart goes out to thee, let us return.' White water-snail said, 'I shall certainly not return. I shall go wandering to [other] countries and villages. 77 His mother said, she commanded him, 'If at a future time thou art good [thou becomest a saint or a Buddha], do not forget me, let thy heart go out to me please.' 78 White water-snail made obeisance to his mother, he said, 'It is good, O mother, do not be anxious about me.' 79 White water-snail flew away. He went and arrived at the country and town of Cham-ba-na-go(l). He came and saw other young people playing with beans. 80 He begged them to [let him] play with them, he said, 'I have not [any] beans.' He asked to borrow from them, '[I shall be] grateful [to] you O friends.' 81 They let him borrow, and he played with beans (1) Probably an ancient state and town near Bhamo. 166 166 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL j9m ge, 82 n bo~n di)-et gh, an vy~t tif ge, 4n follow them he got all them he gave back beans their he or paid back hw~-i vy~Lt fi ge bila d& ai. fini shed gare back beans their extra he kept. or paid back. 83Hwo-i Ap ge lid veng, g~ esr-mw't di, 'M finished dark they different returned they asked him thou or each yti kg de kiin de m? Hii m- ml gw~ii~ H hast (1) thy father thy mother place what thou livest. water-snail white said them father mother I not have relations I not have any one I not knowV. Ge diih ta an, ' Kar-v~ my, bl-g- 0 v6 it ml they said to him pitii thee friend 0 pass sleep thou ta (hba-r~p. A-hniA y di 19h hy~ng milk, y) at rest-house. to-morrow we shall go herd cattle herd or krA, a-hn~p yE di t q ye d il-e nl, bii-g- 0.' buffaloes to -morrow w qe shall call wve bring thee friend 0. or take 8An dah hwo-i 16, r-k pE. T~ 0 h11 jorn he said finished good depend on you. call me go follow or or pi ty!.' grateful come you please. 86 Rt lifl-i a-hn~ip ge I9h hyang milk. hy~ng kri%, arrived as to-morrow; they went herd cattle herd buffaloes gE v6 t, de dii- an igh jorn- ge. Ge I9h they came called they brought himn go follow them. They 'went or or passed took (1) Sea N. 261. THE WHITE WTATER-SNAIL 167 along with them. 82 He won all theirs, and gave back their beans except [one which] he kept. 8s [When] it was dark they all returned [to the town]. They asked him, 'Hast thou no father or mother Where dost thou live?' White water-snail said to them, 'Father or mother have I none, relations I have not, I do not know any one.' 84 They said to him, '[We] pity thee, O friend, go and sleep in the rest-house. To-morrow we shall go to herd the cattle and buffaloes, to-morrow we shall call to take thee [with us] O friend.' 85 He said, 'It is good, [I] am grateful to you, call me to go along with you, please.' 86 When next day came, they went to herd the cattle and buffaloes, they went and called and took him to go along with 168 168 THE WHITE WATER-ISNAIL rt t tng n, gE, 191b kar-y"t t'i, g,~ ka arrived at flat land paddy field they went threw, beans they not overcame water-snail white hle got all beans their. they dah ta An, 'Mi viiu-l nyo hny5). Ar S'-ng! yE ka said to iim, thout art brave very, twvo days we not overcome thee thou got all beans our. 88 Kiin he-1ium kfing din an yfi d& kwon n~ing, fi lord king country that he had his child lady one kil, ka-ri-rir hnyo hny6 niing. Kwoin hO-J~m kiing (1) was beauteifuel very lady. children kings countries liar twon kting tw~n rd (ge gwhi ii p~-ri-fth) g~ other every country every village they were one hundred they vWng hm-an d& 1E nang lh~-Rlym. came ask they marry lady king. 8~H6&1im d~li, '9 ka n~p 0 d~Ii t~a bi-m~b, ~ kan king said I not know I give to any one I if d~h ta kw-n bo-1k~m fi. kiing O, y~ kwon bo-Jiam give to child king one coutntry this fear children kings 'king nan, kiing t id g~ rhiiu ka n~p - d~b countries these, countries those they are angry I not' know I give ta b1-M(_h. 'O Kan mo-Mi ii kii hma-n, n~p dfli. to any one, if is on~e (1) asks I know I give. PE twon kUna tw-n rfl rot d hm~n, 0 ka n~p you every country every village arrive you ask I not know d~h, pE hinan b1am g~t!' I give you ask many very. 91 HO-Ram dah ta gi~, 'Q di r~r jding jAr, di king said to them I shall make tower high I shall d~h nlnog gw~li hi! din, di d~li nitig be-i sa-pw- t give lady stay place that I shall give lady throw turban de, an kan igli fA ta ra-mqng bi-imoh, d~h Ai ]. her it if goes hangs on neck any one give hi-in marry. (I) See N. 196. -;i. I -- ~. --- —--- -- s THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 169 them. They went and reached the flat paddy land; they went and played with beans but they could not beat white watersnail. He won all their beans. s7 They said to him, 'Thou art very brave (1). Two days we have not beaten thee, thou hast got all our beans;' 88 The great king of that country had one daughter, who wans a very beautiful princess. The sons of the kings of every other country, they were one hundred, came to ask to marry the princess. 89 The king said, 'I do not know [how] to give [her] to any one, if I give [her] to the son of the king of this country [I] fear that the sons of the kings of these and those countries may be angry. I do not know [how] to give to any one. 90 If it were one [who] asks, I should know [how] to give. You from all countries arrive and ask, I do not know [how] to give You [who] ask are very many.' 91 The king said to them,' I shall build a high tower, and shall let the princess stay there. I shall let her throw her turban. If it hangs on the neck:of any one, let him marry [her].' (1) First rate at playing the game. 170 170 THE WH ITE WATER-SNAIL BI grai d -et twon Thiing twon ru, bi 1-mi3z people said all every country every village people male or* men veng d6-et ldi v~ng d5-et dil_ G6 dd d6-et grft returned all different return~ed all they. they wore all clothes ra-I6, grfi ra-kyh, gZ! - ing d~ hibon nirig kwon good clothes excellent they thought th e? got lady child king. nHo-1kirim dah g6, 'Kan bdn-1 put- s-ngT (181 Pe kcing told them if got seven days give you tU.n di-Et, 6, di d~h siing leh gwAli ta j5ang, leisure all I shall give lady go out stay in tower iiing di b,,i sa-pwi't d Iki fA;tn ta ra-mgnlig lady will throw, turban her if hangs i t on neck 1)i-m91h d~h 4n ]E. 14 J-11 ta kwon p~r-miiig ka any one give him marry. falls on child chief not ti'p, j'h ta kiv-n hM-1iRn ka n~.p, j~h ta kwon know falls on child king not knowv falls on child plhin ka i nihp, jl'h h ni i Iu ani h),im.' poor. not know falls place wthat he gets. l~HwO-i nyu- kiti-i din. Bobn piir S'-ng! hi rot. finished done as that, got seven days people arrived dim-et ta — viilng b —Kam, twon kiing twon rP1. Kwon all at court king every country every village. Children W~fi~, kwon p~r-rniRg, kwon ho-1kiim, kwon 1)1 lii rich children chiefs children kings children people in. village in country. (1) water-snail uwhite heard people speak lady will throw sa-pwot dc,. A-IOng 1-10-i haiE- dai ta bii-go de, turban her. (1) vater-snail white said to friends his "-Bd-g~ pi 0, ve-ng jom bi, bi ddh nang di friends you 0 come back follow people people say lady will (1) An em-bryo Buddha. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 171 92 People were all told in all the countries, and the men (1) all came back. They all wore their best and most excellent clothes, they hoped they would get the princess, the daughter of the king. 93 The king said to them, 'After seven days [I] shall give you all a holiday. I shall let the princess go to stay in the tower: the princess will throw her turban, if it hangs on the neck of any one, let him marry [her]. [I] 94 do not know if it may fall on the son of a king, if it may fall on the son of a poor [man], let it fall on whatever place, he will have [her].' 95 It happened in that manner. When seven days were past the people all arrived at the court of the king from every country. The sons of the rich, the sons of chiefs, the sons of kings, the sons of people in villages and towns. 96 The embryo Buddha, the white water-snail, heard people speaking of the princess throwing her turban. White watersnail said to his friends, ' 0 friends, let us return and follow the others. They say that the princess will throw her turban. (1 The Princes. 172 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL be-i sa-pwt d, 97 anll j"h ta bl-moh an bon di throw turban her it falls on any one he gets will 1i. Sa-pwAt hang a0 n jF h ta E, E b)on ~ I marry turban lady it falls on us we get we marry nang.' 9 GQ an ge dah. 'A-she di 5ng mi? Mi lady. friends his they said who will love thee. thou Uir! Y9 l)i lar ml, ml mai lQh/.' Ho-i liau dost smell. fear people strike thee thou do not go. water-snail white dah, 'Ps ka veng, 9 di veng.' Go dah, 'Veng said you not go back I will go back. they said go back mi, yE ka veng.' thou we not go back. 99 H -i au pw't veng j9inm bi. Veng rpt water-snail white awuy went back followed people. went back arrived ta vang hb-liam. Bi kon hnyo hnyc. Bi chin in court king. people many very. people dressed in new clothes de twvn kui. A-lOng HO-i lKau da sa-do pai urir selves all (1). (2) water-snail white wore jacket ogress smelt hnyo hnyo. Bi ka dih an jang pro de, 100 au jang very much. people not gave him stand beside them he stood pro bi, bi rup pt an, 'Mi i ur,' bi beside people people drove away finish him thou smellest people dah ta an, 'Ml mai jang pr9 y. Y~ ra-ir yi said to him thou must not stand beside us. we detest we ka ong, y, sa-ting ur ml.' An 19h jang ra-ban not like we hear smell thy. he went stood behind bi. - B hwo-i jang o-st. people. people finished stood all. Nang be-i sa-pwit de. Nang dah ta pom de, 'DEh lady threw turban her. lady said in heart her give 9 ra-leh lit ui kii, dih sa-pwit 9 o dEh an me husband good one (1) give turban any this give it lo9h fi ta ra-mqng au.' Nang hw-i dah lkfi-i din, go hang on neck his. lady finished said as that nang be-i sa-pwot de, 2 12h fi ta ra-mn ng HO-i lady threw turban her went hung on neck water-snail (1) Numeral demonstrative, N. 196. (2) An embryo Buddha. I THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 173 07 If it falls on any one he will marry [her]. [If] the turban of the princess falls on us (1), we shall marry the princess.' 98 His friends said, ' Who would love tlee? Thou smellest [badly]! [We] fear that people may beat thee; do not go.' White water-snail said, 'Do not you go, I shall go.' They said, 'Go thou, we shall not go.' 99 Away went white water-snail, following the people. He went and arrived in the court of the king. There were very many people. They all wore new clothes. White water-snail wore the jacket of the ogress [which] smelled very much. The people did not let him stand near them. [When] '00 he stood beside other people, they drove him away, 'Thou smellest [badly]' they said to him, 'Do not stand beside us, we detest [thee], we do not like [thee], we smell thy odour.' He went and stood behind the others, [who] were already all standing [there]. 1 The princess threw her turban. She said in her heart, 'Give me a good husband, let this my turban go and hang on his neck.' The princess having spoken in this manner, threw her turban. [It] 2 went and hung on the neck of white water (1) On one of us or on me. 0 174 174 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL Rauh. B i yilm da-et di3-et, bi dib, I'Ka-ri-ar hnyo hny6 white. people laughed all people said beautifu~l very 10-k-lkd-e h —kaian fir lwsyo hniya!' son-in-law kting smells very much. HO-llam ka-sh6 bi-, ingai an K_ ro0 r, an d 5h ta king ashamed people face his red very hie said to n11ng, 'Q ka dih pflr gwi-ilKUi kilng hil 06, 9 lady I not give you (twvo) stay in town place this I ka-shF, bi *faing piir, dC~11 pfls' igh gwgii ashamed people on account of you (two) give you (t wo) go stay de~ sill ki-ing.' NMug dah ta kiln d&, 'HwO-iselves outside town. lady said to father her finished 16, kiln 0, ka n4p U1-i nya, m~h kam. good father 0 not know as do is karma my. 5 HO-Jain diih ta iiatig, 'Q ka dill m! dhi-e Sa-im-h king said to lady I not give thee bring anything yvix Ma ml) yi va-Ir ia-16h mi,! fr am.' NMug u'e (two) mother thy we detest husband thy smells putrid, -lady 110-kiim a.n kai-vi6 kw~is d~, a.n dah 'Q kar-v6 mi king she pitied child her she said 1 pity thee kwon r~k 0 O.' child dear my 0. 6 a n rat de dih an dfi-e 16-clip Selg, dilh mother her stole she gave her bring rings gems gave Rn dii- u —ai gwong, mini an diih ta 4n, 'Kar-v6 her bring three (1) mother her said to hr pity piar, de-11 piir yii & 'fi r de bom die die ta you (two) give you (two) have you buy your food your clothes for or or or or you to eat you to dress piar, ra-16h mi pl1in, ka yii Aa-moh.' you (two) husband thy is poor not has anything. HO-Iiam dih niang 1~h jti A-long HO-i hIiil 'dih king gave lady go out to (2) water-snail white give piar 12h gw-ai dt sih kiing.' G~r 12h pw't. you (two) go stay selves outside town. they (two) went away. (1) N. 196. (1) N 196.(2) An embryo Buddha. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 175 snail. The people all laughed, they said, ' ow very fine The son-in-law of the king smells very much!' s The king was ashamed [before] the people. His face was very red. He said to the princess,' I shall not let you two remain in the town here. I am ashamed [before the] people on account of you. I order you both to go and stay by yourselves outside the town.' 4 The princess said to her father, 'It is good, O father, I do not know what to do, it is my karma. 5 The king said to the princess,' I shall not let thee take anything, we (thy mother and I) detest thy husband, he smells bad.' The queen pitied her child, she said, 'I pity thee, O my dear child.' 6 Her mother [the queen] gave her [the princess] secretly to take rings of gems, she gave her three. Her mother said to her, '[I] pity you two, you may have [the' rings] to buy food and clothing for you both. Thy husband is poor, he has not anything.' The king ordered the princess to go to white water-snail, [he said] 'I order you two to go and remain by yourselves outside the town.' They went away. 176 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 8A-10ngr H —i kaii ror gais kar-hijp hhMA tfAi. 1) water-snail white made them (two) hut leaves palm. HO-i lI i a n- AU ahil ta hiang, 'l M it raing, water-snail white hte Said to lady those sleep alone, self it ranig 0, aii hnyaiu bi ~ng k~t.' I sleep alonte I we (two) )lot yet arrange marry. R.ot kfi-i a-hiiagp gajr p-ni ka y fl, Map k a yhl, arrived as to-morrow they (two) rice not had curry not had or when i- ka fyii k1lo ppm, kMo hap, cba-loug, S'-1 9 ka salt -not had pot rice pot carry bowl (big) bowl (small) not yiii sa-m~hs ka yAi.~ Nanig to-h 16-ch-p d& fi gwong had anything not had. lady took ring her onte (2) gave to water-snail white thoa return to old man rich he or uwho gw 1 lp viau t~k, vWng dill l'-ch'p 5 3 ta han, lives side West return,give ring my this to him an dih mil do5-st rin dili ml ra-k6 dih in! du-e.' he give thee all silver give thee rice give thee bring. ~'HO-i KlAU dali ta nang, 'Mai (leh 16-clig"P nil1 wter-snail white said to lady do not give ring thy this I have m~any like ring thy this beautlful than I6,-cb~p ml, 0 yd &t I 9 A kng ba~r-chfl.' 12 Naing daih, ring thy I have, one valley geits mnany lady said 'Ha mg ni yti M(I3-h ch' ml ta 0! Ha*-i hiad place, what thoue hast. art deceive thou to me. water-snail white dah, ' di 19h u-iar ml men ka~n ka linyom. mn.',said I shall go in front those look if not believest thou. Nang dab, 'HwO-i IC!' lady said finished good. (1) Aln embryo Buddhia.(2SeN.16 (2) See N. 196. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 177 8 White water-snail made for them both a hut of the leaves of palm. He said to the princess, 'Thou sleep by thyself, I shall sleep by myself, we two are not yet married.' 9 When next day came, they had no rice, they had no curry, no salt, no pots for rice or for curry, no large bowls or small bowls, they had nothing. 'O The princess took one of her rings and gave it to white water-snail, [she said] 'Go back to the rich old man who lives at the west part [of the town], go back and give this my ring to him, he will give thee silver and rice for thee to bring.' ni White water-snail said to the princess, ' Do not give this thy ring, I have many like this ring of thine, more beautiful than thy ring. I have a valley with many gems.' 12 The princess said, 'What place hast thou? Thou art deceiving me!' White water-snail said, 'I shall go in front, and thou canst look if thou wilt not believe.' The princess said, 'It is good!' 2383 M 178 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL '3 G~r kar-u-ar d& 191h. Lqb r-t ta 1M, H~-i they (two) togethler in front' they went. w.ant arrived at valley water-snail or or, lead the way together in wht au U r, niing I~n loh 1nin ta hM. A1\6h hiiy6?wiein front lady followed went down look at valley, was surely Ift-i dah Hg-i lkiaiu MOh da-et Aing, mo'hI do-e as said 'water-snail 'white was all gems was all lkirr niing re-An hnyo bny6. 14 N~ng dah ta P'6rn gold lady was happy very, lady said in heart 01* mind d, 'Ra-16h -9 6" mOh A-'~ug ka n~p, id din 06 her husband my this is (1) not know one time this or, now y~r di pEn S-t'6 y-.' we (twvo) shall become rich surely. 1n NMng dah ta HO-i Riau, 'iD k ml dl-e lirlr, lady said to water-snail whitc give thee take gold or bring In! V61ig chang WI thugf ]0 Aa4 f.i gwa-i I'p thou return htire us (two& carts mulc rich (man) he livcs side or who east half town'. named rich (man) Kavilce he has his or or, part swho h1i dcr bi, ~ d'k r ug S''1 Iii lrirr -i ht 6", carts than othcrs I stop watch gcems our gold our place this or guardl 19h v~ig jtWr hi thiig nifik ta Ka(e.' go return buy us carts oxen old man rtcich. 16 H —i Khii PWRt Vng, vi~ng r~t ta ga-ng th water-snail white away returned returned arrived at house old mun rich water-snail white said to him depend on thee give, me grateful (1) An emn-bryo Buddlia. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 179 s1 They went ahead together. They went and reached the valley. White water-snail in front, the princess followed and wvent down to look into the valley. It was surely as white water-snail said, it was all [full of] gems and gold. The princess was very happy. 14 Slie said in her heart, ' This my husband, I do not know [if] he is an embryo Buddha. Now we two are become rich surely.' 15 The princess said to white water-snail, ' Take thou gold and return to hire for us mule carts from the rich [man] who lives in the east part of the town. He is named the rich Kavila, he has more carts than other people. I shall stay to guard our gems and our gold here.' 16 White water-snail went back at once, he went back and arrived at the house of the rich old man. White water-snail said to him, '[I shall] be grateful to thee. let me load thy carts, M 2 180 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL fang hle ml tyl. Bar mQ mi dahl ngwr hl?k to load carts thy please. as much as what thou sayest price carts. how much 7 Ta sa-de dahl 'H1 9 do-et do-t ky6 lkrl dill old man rich said carts my all excellent gold give ta.' HQ-i lau e h lrir tt an, ll lh to me. water-snail white give gold to him he went pWQt. away. 18 Ge dti-es b1, gi rot ta nang. Nang dih ge they took carts they arrived at lady. lady gave them or brought toh ]irl, toh sng, hllap ta hll. Nang veng u-ar take gold take gems put into to carts. lady went back before ge, veng chang bL ror kirr(l). 19 Kror hi 1hw-i, them returned hired people make baskets. baskets finished finished A-l9ng HO-i ltau ge rQt ta nang, ge toh hlap (2) water-snail white they arrived at lady they took put in Asng u klor, klrir a kror ge hw9-i do-et do-et. gems one basket gold one basket they finished all. 20 Chau 111i go veng pwgt. Nang gar HO-i master carts they went back away. lady they (two) water-snail alau dhll bi ro de h, ty g, tyl ty, m, ho white gave people make them palace inlay gems inlay glass palace or their gar ka-ri-ar hllyo hnyo. H0 hQ-liam ka p hI0 their was beautiful very, palace king not equal palace Hg-i klau gar nalg. 21 HO-i kau dah liang, water-snail white their (two) lady. water-snail white said lady 'H O ai hi ihwQ-i, lhl hmain bi hv hQ kan-mi palace our finished finished go ask people come up palace new or invite ai hb gral ta kun ml gar ma mi, 9 ka our go up speak to father thy them (two) mother thy I not or tell (1) Kror see note on opposite page. (2) An embryo Buddha. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 181 please. How much dost thou say is the price [of the hire] of the carts?' 17 The rich old man said, ' For all my carts give good gold to me. White water-snail gave gold to him, he went away. 18 They brought the carts and reached the princess. She made them take gold and gems and put them into the carts. Thle princess went ahead of them, she returned [to the house] and hired people to make great baskets (l). 19 The baskets being finished, white water-snail and the others reached the princess. They put the gems into one basket, the gold into [another] basket. They made ready everything. 20 The master of the carts went away. The princess and white water-snail made people build them a palace, it was inlaid with gems, inlaid with glass. Their palace was very beautiful. The palace of the king was not equal to the palace of white water-snail and the princess. 21 White water-snail said to the princess, 'Our palace is ready, go and invite the people to come up to our new palace. Go up and tell thy father and thy mother, I do not dare go up. I am ashamed (1) A kror is an enormous basket, sometimes six feet long and six feet high, generally used to hold paddy. 182 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL y~l hl, 9 ka-she gar. At-hb gar dali de ka dare go up I ashamed them (two). formerly they (two) said they not ong -.' like me. Nang dal, 'Hwo-i la, va-i 6' 22 Nang pwot 1Qh lady said finished good elder brother 0. lady away went hinman bi. H - i klau lk-lktp de ra-ban hang, an ask people. water-snail white transformed him behind lady he or self ka-ri-ar hnyo hnyo, nya Rfl-i Klun pi, rin-da ka-ri-ar was beautiful very made as lord spirit clothes were beautiful or was hnyo hnyo. 23An m pang kam-pa-la. Ho gar ra-hm8 very he sat on cushion. palace their night hner 1on sa-ngi, a-pong A-l1ng HO-i kl-a nya lfti-i like time sun appearance (1) water-snail white did as or 01 day was bi tong rang. person carries lamp. 24 HwO-i nya kti-i din, nang yu rot ta h0 finished done as that lady rose up (2) arrived at palace gar, an. kl5h men Ho-i lkau, an ka Wnp an, their she arrived looked at water-snail white she not knew him or saw an sar-mwot. 'She mi lh nya ha o? Ha mg she inquired, what thou comest 'do place this. place what ra-leh O? 25 A-l1ng Ho-i lkau dah, 'Q moh ra-leh husband my. (1) water-snail white said I am husband mi.' Nang dah 'Mi ma-i dah lti-i din, pwot ml, thy lady said thou must not say as that away thee mi bo-e ka-ri-ar, 9 ka ong ml! Q ka Asin bon thou though art beautiful I not love thee. I not wish have ml! 9 ong ra-leh 9 an nyq. thee. I love husband my he is ugly. or who (1) An embryo Buddha. (2) See N. 216. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 183 [before] them. In the past time they said that they did not like me.' The princess said, 'It is good, 0 elder brother.' 22 The princess went away to invite the people. White water-snail transformed himself in her absence. He became very beautiful like a lord of the spirits. His clothes were very beautiful. 23 He sat on a cushion. Their palace at night was like the day. The appearance of white water-snail was like a person carrying a lantern (1). 24 It happened in this manner. The princess came back and arrived at their palace. She arrived and looked at white water-snail, she did not know him. She asked, 'What dost thou come to do in this place? Where is my husband?' 2 White water-snail said, 'I am thy husband.' The princess said, 'Thou must not speak like that, away with thee! Though thou art handsome, I do not like thee! I do not wish to have thee! I love my husband [though] he is ugly.' (1) tong to carry in the clothes. White water-snail's clothes were shining. 184 184 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 28A-10ssg HO- l&-d yflm, in dah, 'Q m~h e (1) water-snail white laughed he said I am suerely ra-leh ml, Ulmi rt tl 1 m. husband thy thou must not drive out me please depend on thee. or gratefuel to Nang ka hnyo-m, A-long lip f `1ih S'-d~ ~ i l1~h lady not believed (1) entered took jacket ogress went out or went down - 7 g~i t ml, ml ra-h6 ta naing. Q rika hnyir~n 6" ishowed to lady. I told to thee thou not believest this gad OV 0 niing re-&n bnyo hny6, niiing griFip ta Jacket my. 0 lady was happy very, lady reverenced to in, nang b~ grgi ta kimn d gar M& u him lady went up told to father her them (two) mother her '~ ra-lhli ka-ri-&r bnyo hnyi3! Hnor kifn jd. 0 husband my is beautiful very like lord spirit. 28 Ho y~r ka-ri-&r hinyo hnyi3, lirir yftr yf, keng yar palace our is beautiftel very gold we have gems we have we place in baskets. or keep king was afraid he trembled he feared son-in-law his. HO-llam dfth ta nftng, I'Par inii nye-t h~ ta hO kisig said to lady you, (two) do not hurry go up to palace -.30 kan-me par, rg bti pI~l sa-Dgi, 9 di dih bi new, your wait still seven days I shall give people hmiin d6-et bi liii kd~ng liii rim, dih bi mn-ga-J ask- all people' in country in villages give people bless or invite you (two). 3' Nang pwot votng grui ta A-long Ho-i ]&-U, nilng lady away returned till to (1) water-snail white lady (1) An einbryo Buddha. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 185 6 White water-snail laughed, he said, 'I am surely thy husband, thou must not drive me out please, [I] shall be grateful to thee.' The princess did not believe. The embryo Buddha went in and took the jacket of the ogress, then went out and showed [itj to her. [He said] 27, I told thee, dost thou not believe this my jacket?' O! The princess was very happy, she made obeisance to him, she went up to tell her father and her mother, ' O! My husband is very handsome, like a great spirit. 28 Our palace is very beautiful; we have gold, we have gems, [which] we keep in great baskets.' 29 The king was afraid, le trembled and was afraid of his son-in-law. The king said to the princess,' You two do not be in a hurry to go up into your new palace. 30 Wait still seven days. I shall give orders that everybody in all the country will be invited. I shall let the people bless you both.' 81 Away went the princess to tell white water-snail, she said, 'O elder brother, my father says, " You two must not 186 THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL dab, 'Vai 0, kiin dab, "Par mai nyst hb said elder brother 0 father my said you (two) do not hurry go up hg kan-me par, r1 bfi piir sa-ngi kar-vti-s o. Q palace new your wait still seven days above this I di hman d6o-t mQnng-ga-]l par," 32 kiln dah, shall invite all bless you (two) father my said vali 0.' A-lIng HO-i lita dah 'HwO-i 1.' elder brother 0. (1) water-snail white said finished good. 33 H9-liam dEh do-st llk ta bl, pai king pai ru. king give all letters to people whole country whole villages. or or or all towns all 'Kan bon pur sa-ngi hb do-et ta hQ nang Lon, if got seven days go up all to palace lady LOn or when mong-ga-li nang gar lok-kiu-.' we bless lady them (two) son-in-law. 34 Bon pur sa-ngi bi rQt do-et. Bi kar-hmg de got seven days people arrived all. people hurried they hI, bi sin men A-lQiig HO-i kiau, bi dah, went up people wished look at (1) water-snail white people said or see 'At-h11 ail lny, an ur! UT din o bi grai formerly he was ugly he smelled. one time this people tell or an ka-ri-ar (1do bi.' now he is beautiful than others. 35 1 it dl-st. HQ-lnam dhl gar hilln kung u people arrivtd all. king gave them eat country one or govern ltan-da, ap hl kan-mE, ap king, ining-ga-l gar. half, entrusted palace new entrusted country blessed them. gar py9 vwot sa ya (2) ha din. they were happy place that. (1) An embryo Buddha. (2) I do not know the exact meaning of vwbt sa ya or py —vwotsa-ya. It may be from the Burmese verb piaw bwe to enjoy oneself. THE WHITE WATER-SNAIL 187 hurry to go up into your new palace, wait still for seven days beyond this [time], I shall invite all to bless you both." 32 My father said [this], O elder brother!' White water-snail said, 'It is good.' 33 The king sent letters to all people in the whole country, [saying] 'When seven days are passed, go up all to the palace of the princess LOn. We shall bless her with [my] son-in-law.' 34 After seven days, the people had all arrived, they hurried to go up, they wished to see white water-snail. They said, 'Formerly he was ugly, he had a bad smell; now they say that he is more handsome than other people.' 35 The people all arrived. The king made them [the princess and white water-snail] govern half tie country. The new palace and the country were entrusted to them and they were blessed. They were happy in that place. INDEX PAGE Adjectives........... 37 Comparison of........ 62,, Demonstrative........ 46,, Distributive......... 51 Indefinite of Quantity and Number..... 39,, of Number........ 52,, of Quality or State........ 37 Adverbs........... 86,, of Affirmation and Negation...... 107 Comparison of........ 113 of Degree......... 101,, Interrogative......... 110,, of Manner, Quality, and State..... 99,, of Place.......... 96,, of Time and Number.... -... 86 Alphabet............ 11 Conjunctions.......:.. 127 Determinatives, numeral....... 57, 59 Foreword........... 1 Interjections.......... 132 Introduction........... 5 Nouns............ 13,, Verbal.......... 73 Particles............ 84 Palaung, System of Writing........ 11 Prepositions............ 114 Pronouns........... 17 Demonstrative........ 35,, Dual.......... 17,, Indefinite and Distributive...... 29 Interrogative......... 26,, Personal.......... 17 Possessive......... 18, Reflexive.......... 28 Relative........... 32 Sentences........... 133 Story........... 146 Verbs.......... 65,, Auxiliary. -........ 75 Printed in England at the Oxford University Press IL THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN GRADUATE LIBRARY DATE DUE I I I lk y I iV 1' ~ ' )E[ P 2 81983 -1 -L-41 A " 1-11, 1-"(N i - I i I 0 — a ---- JAN 2 71976& JUN 2?0 iq 771 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 3 9015 02218 2987 - - _ _ 4 mm m11m -— ~ ---.Lnr.iur,. rr —.-~l. ---.-UU,,,,,,,._YLr__Wlllr-~-I ---.~ r