HMi &.%*. &€M > ** • ' *&& ■re * A *>: * v- :- J .^ y^ •• 4fW . ai * A' • ; 4 rSJB II "MS fi *m*j:» % ritf$$ UNIVERSITY OF NORT H r* D ZT^ S " ! BOOK CARD ~ Please keep this card in book pocket 3 S s ,-/V ii s f^l 1 ' - -Id rr 1 ~s? ;x ; i s 11 8 i it u — a J r ■ •'■ « — ) nre 1 c i is 1 ! &: i i» L EP 3 -r S 1 1 jJsl i Z, [ 1=3 I I - THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL ENDOWED BY THE DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETIES PL8U91 JO This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be renewed by bringing it to the library. DATE RFT DUE RLT DATE DUE KtT - 1 ■ '""' , OCT 6 1987 -' ^b^j 1 d 2001! 1 FU3 ' "' m r n mi i FP 513 & msslo social £ /fa/. 7 -ryr C.M.S! Library. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/granrnnarofmandingOOnriacb A GRAMMAR THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE WITH VOCABULARIES BY THE REV. R. MAXWELL MACBRA TRANSLATOR OF THE GOSPELS INTO JtfAJSDJNGO, &C, c LONDON : PRINTED FOR THE WESLEYAN-METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 77, HATTON GARDEN. SOLD BY JOHN MASON, 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW. SOUS CONTENTS. Page, Introduction , , v Alphabet 1 Remarks upon the Pronunciation * , ...» 2 Nouns. Number 3 Gender 4 Case , , , 5 Noun of Instrument 6 Noun of Quality , ib. Noun of Office and Agency ib. Attributives or Adjectives , . . . . 7 Diminutives 8 Comparison , ib. Numerals , , , , < ib. Pronouns. Personal Pronouns 9 Possessive Pronouns 11 Reflective Pronouns ib. Relative Pronouns 12 Indefinite Pronouns , 13 Demonstrative Pronouns ib. Verbs. Indicative Mood 14 Aorist Tense ib. Perfect or Past Tense 16 Pluperfect or Definite Past Tense ib. First Future 17 Second Future, or Future Proximate ib. Present Tense 18 Conditional Mood 19 Imperative Mood. , 20 Infinitive Mood 21 Participles 22 Negation ib. Interrogation 23 Passive Verbs ib. Causative Verbs 24 Compound Verbs , , . . ib 4 CONTENTS. Page. Substantive Verbs 25 Impersonal Verb 26 Adverbs. 27 Prepositions ••..,....... 29 Conjunctions 30 Government ib. Notes , 35 a vocabulary op words. I. The Universe 37 II. Time, Seasons, fyc ib. III. A Country, fyc 38 IV. A House, Furniture, Src ib. V. Man, his Relations, fyc 39 VI. The Body and its Parts, fyc 40 VII. Dress, fyc 41 VIII. Brute Animals, fyc 42 IX. Food, fyc 43 X. Produce, Merchandise, fyc ib, A VOCABULARY OF COMMON VERBS ib. FAMILrAR PHRASES 46 Appendix, in reference to the Scriptures 49 Glossary of words used in Scripture 59 Some religious sentences 65 Praxis G7 INTRODUCTION. The Mandingo is one of the most extensive lan- guages of Western Africa. It not only prevails in various parts of the coast, south of the Senegal, but reaches interiorly towards the Niger and the myste- rious Timbuctoo. It is spoken by all the native tribes settled on the banks of the Gambia, and has been adopted by the roving hordes also which fre- quent the neighbourhood of this noble river. In so large an extent of country, peopled by dif- ferent nations, a considerable difference of dialect must necessarily take place, especially in an unwrit- ten language. The author of this Grammar, and of other Mandingo works, is therefore fully aware, that many natives may express themselves in a manner slightly differing from the rules and phraseology which he has adopted as the best standard of the language. The inhabitants of the interior use a more elliptical method of speaking than those on the coast ; but the author would not have been justified in making choice of such a dialect as would tend to degrade the language. It has been his aim to study clearness, precision, and a regular grammatical form ; so that whilst these works may be understood by all the Mandingoes, they may also be the means of giving them a habit of precision in the manner of their daily intercourse. VI INTRODUCTION. The greatest difference of dialect existing amongst the aborigines of the Gambia, proceeds from the frequent omission of the possessive and personal pronouns, the neglect of the sign of the possessive case, and the abbreviation of familiar words and phrases. But such contracted forms of expression render the phraseology somewhat ambiguous in its meaning, and would make it almost unintelligible in writing. The natives of Western Africa have also little idea of the value and divisions of time ; hence some ambiguity occasionally arises in relating the circum- stances of an event. The author has endeavoured to fix the value of the tenses of the verb with as much precision as usage will admit of. Nor must it be forgotten, that as there can be no regular standard in an unwritten language, so every native esteems his own way of speaking to be the best. In this respect also, the pretensions of indivi- duals have been set aside, and those forms of expres- sion are adopted which are most agreeable to the laws of construction ; that so, these first attempts at Mandingo composition may be the commencement of a series of improvements in a language which is by no means destitute of harmony and elegance. As the Mandingoes have no letters of their own, the Roman characters have been adopted as the most simple, and best adapted to the pronunciation of the language. Many of the Mahometan abori- gines are slightly acquainted with the Arabic letters, but this alphabet is very unsuitable for the expression of Mandingo, the former abounding in consonants and the latter in vowels. Besides, the Arabic has no proper o or e, which letters constitute much of the Mandingo dialects. Twenty-one Roman characters INTRODUCTION. Vll have been found sufficient for the enunciation of all the Mandingo sounds, exclusive of a few diphthongs ; which also shows the propriety of adopting the pre- sent mode of orthography : whilst a considerable help is thus afforded to the English student and to all those natives who are at all acquainted with English reading. The only difficulty with respect to the orthography that need be here mentioned is that of i and y, being frequently pronounced in the same manner. In fact, these letters are synonymous in their enunciation, and both of them are employed simply for the purpose of perspicuity. The author expects that improvements in the lan- guage will take place, in conjunction with the gradual advancement of the people in knowledge and refinement. ERRATA. Page 2 j line 8 from the bottom, insert/, between b and m. 6, line 20, perhaps hakilimalu is more proper. 11, line 21, for nat read nta. 19, line 18, delete the comma after ya, 25, line 2, for akultata read akuliata. 26, lines 7 and 8, for yela read kela. 30, line 17, delete the comma between " until, if." 37, line 2 from bottom, for lukungo read lokungo. 40, line 10, for 6«mo read bama 44, line 24 for / 'ana read fanata 45, line 22, for Hsa read kisata. 47, line 6, for Be sumeyata read Bi sumeiata. 68, line 6 from bottom, for nyima road nyinya, and again nyinyata. A GRAMMAR, ALPHABET. 1. To express all the sounds found in the Man- dingo language, twenty-one Roman letters are employed. These consist of six vowels and fifteen consonants, besides diphthongs. Their forms, and names for native enunciation, and their power in English are as follows : — RM. a NAME. a IN ENGLISH. ah! POWER IN ENGLISH. a, as in ah ! b be bey b d de day d e e a ey, in bey f ef effe f g ge gay g hard, as in garden h he hay h, as in holy i i ee ee, as in been, Be- fore another vowel, asy J je jay j soft, as in jar, jelly k ke kay k 1 el el 1 m em em m n en en n P pe pay P r ar are r s es es s t te tay t u u 00 oo, as in boot w wu woo w y yi ye y, as in ye. But without a vowel following, as ee. 2 GRAMMAR OF The diphthongs are ei, pronounced as in the English word eye ; oi, as in foible ; au, as ou, in our ; eu, as ew, in few ; and ey, as in day. This latter is chiefly used in order to distinguish monosylla- bles in e. 2. The letter i between two other vowels is sounded as if it had also the power of y ; as, asumei- ata, it is cold, as if written, asumeiyata, &c. 3. A has also sometimes a different sound from that given to it above, which arises from composi- tion ; thus wara is the root of a causative verb warandi, to enlarge, which is pronounced like close u in under. Janni, to roast or burn, and a few other words, are pronounced in a similar way. 4. Ng is a ringing sound ; and when these letters are conjoined in a word, they are always pronounced in the same syllable. This is the only difficult Mandingo sound : Thus yne must be emitted at one time, as if e were added to the English word thing, and then thi were removed and the remainder nge were run quick together. Kungo, the head, will be pronounced kung-o, and not kun-go ; and so with all words having this combination of letters. When a termination in ng has la, le, na, &c., added to it, or if such a particle immediately follow, they are run together, and a double n is formed ; so fing le sang la becomes Jinne sanna. Also when t or k follow g, the latter may be omitted, as tiling, tilinti. 5. Again, n before k is always a ringing sound like ng ; thus finkerito, blind, is pronounced like fing-kerito. But n before b or m is changed into m for the sake of euphony : man be becomes mam be. When final n precedes incipient a or e, a g or y is inserted as a species of liquid sound ; so men a becomes meng a or men-ya, (the former seems to be most proper,) many natives not being able to per- ceive any distinction in these two sounds. 6. Final n before / doubles the n and expunges the /, THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 6 so dinna, give to me, instead of di nla, a contraction of di nte la. Tj is sounded like ch in child, as nyantjo, (pro- nounced as nyan-tsho,) a nobleman or prince. NOUNS. In treating of the accidents of nouns, we shall include adjectives or attributives with substantives, the former being merely qualifying words, subject to the same rules of construction as the latter. NUMBER. 7. There are two numbers in Mandingo, the singular and the plural, whose use is similar to that of other languages ; but there are some peculiarities in the manner in which the plural form is employed in Mandingo. 8. The plural is obtained from the singular num- ber ending in o by the addition of lu ; but if the final vowel be not o, it is changed into it ; as, SINGULAR. PLURAL. muso, a woman musolu yiro, a tree yirolu mansa, a king mansolu There are two or three exceptions to the above rule. (See 13 and 20.) But it is only the moveable vowel which is altered, for keo or Ice, a man, makes keolu, not changing the preceding e. The lu is pronounced very short when ye is affixed: (See 111:) thus moluye is sounded like molye. 9. The plural of the personal pronouns makes either elu or olu, as ntelu or ntolu, we ; altelu or altolu, you ; itelu or itolu, they ; the last of which forms appears to be most grammatical, but custom allows of either. b 2 4 GRAMMAR OF 10. The indefinite pronoun bey, all, every, has properly no plural, in whatever part of a sentence it may be found. It follows the noun to which it refers, which takes the plural form in its stead ; (being an exception to the next rule ;) thus, molu bey, all people. 11. When nouns substantive are joined with words signifying an attribute or quality of the things specified, the- noun usually precedes the attributive in the order of construction, and the latter alone assumes the plural form, as, SINGULAR. PLURAL. ke bette, a good man he betteolu fane kuoiring, a white cloth fane kuoiringolu 12. Should the qualifying word however denote the material of which an article is composed, it is followed by the noun, which is then put in the plural, as sanna muro, a gold knife, sanna murolu, gold knives. 13. If jama, much or many, be joined with a noun, no plural form will be adopted by either, as nye jama, many fishes ; but jamalu is used alone to signify many persons, as jamalu be je, " many are there." GENDER. 14. No distinction of gender, in so far as regards the termination of words, is known in Mandingo. Only one distinguishing word is used, viz., muso, a woman or female ; thus, from dingo, a child, comes dinke, (ding keo,) a male-child, or a son ; and dingmuso, a female -child, or a daughter. So also, mbadinke, my mother's male-child, or brother. mbadingmuso, my mother's female-child, or sister. ninsemuso, a female ox, or a cow. jattemuso, a female lion, or a lioness. The same personal pronouns also are used indif- ferently for masculine, feminine, and neuter. And the third person of verbs relates to all genders alike. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 5 CASE. 15. There are no declensions in Mandingo ; but a few particles are used to show the place of a noun in the sentence, or to signify the manner of its depend- ence upon the verb. For these particles see government. (110 — 112.) As, however, the possessive case refers to the depend- encies of nouns, we shall make some observations upon it here. 16. The possessive case in Mandingo seems to have been formerly indicated by the simple insertion of the possessive pronoun ala, his, &c. Custom, however, has contracted this latter, and joined it with the noun, so as virtually to become a genitive form : thus from mansa ala kumo, the king his word mfa ala bungo, my father his house we now obtain mansala-kumo mfala-bungo. The la is pronounced as if it were affixed to the following word, and pronounced mfa labungo. For this and other reasons, it has been thought proper to insert a hyphen between the two dependent nouns, which however may be dropped in course of time, when the natives shall be habituated to grammatical construction.* In giving an explanation of what is meant by any of the above phrases, the natives would adopt such a form as mansa ala kumo, &c., which means, " as for the king, his word," &c. 17. The above theory of the origin of the pos- sessive form also accounts for a contracted genitive case. For as the abbreviated form of ala is a, some persons improperly say mansakumo, where the con- traction should not be employed. 18. But in nouns denoting relationship, parts of the body, powers of the mind, &c, the contraction * See Note A. b GRAMMAR OF properly takes place, as musa-dingo, the woman's child. But sometimes a cannot be employed, and then the hyphen alone marks the possessive sense, as mo-nyada, the man's face. NOUN OF INSTRUMENT. 19. This is denoted by the addition of rango to the noun or verb, as, do, work dorango, a working instru- ment or tool. muta, take, hold muterango, a holder, peg, latch, &c. bitte, cover bitterango, a covering, wrap- per, &c. NOUN OF QUALITY. 20. To express an individual possessed of any par- ticular attribute, or quality, we affix ma, molu, some- times malu, as, hakilo wisdom, hakilima, a wise person ; haki- limolu, wise people. fanko, power, fankama, a rich or powerful man ; fankamolu, rich people. To say, " that man is rich," we must use a circuitous expression; wo mo fanko V ala, viz., "as to that man, power is to him;" or else the form in 24. wo mo be fankamaring. NOUN OF OFFICE AND AGENCY. 21. A verbial noun similar to the form of the infi- nitive mood is employed to denote office or agency, both in a good and bad sense ; as, from kanta, keep, comes kantala or kantarla, a keeper, and thence, sa- kantarla, a shepherd. So also sunyarla, a thief, &c. Lonna, learned, or a learned man, is a contraction of long la. (See 4.) 22. Another verbial noun terminates in ro. Thus domo, eat, domoro, eating, or the act of eating. sunya, steal, sunyaro, theft. mansa, reign, mansaro, kingdom. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. ATTRIBUTIVES OR ADJECTIVES. Proper Adjectives can scarcely be said to exist in the Mandingo language. Their place is supplied partly by substantives, and partly by verbial nouns, and other verbial expressions ; so that we prefer call- ing them Attributives, 23. Simple nouns are used attributively, as sanna muro, a gold knife. (See 12.) These usually denote the material of which a thing is composed. 24. The state of an object at the time of its being spoken of, is expressed by the addition of ring ; as keo be konkoring, the man is hungry ; so also muso mindoring, a thirsty woman. This may be termed a participial noun, and is to be distinguished from verbial action, as it simply de- notes present condition or quality. Hence the same form may be used in neuter and passive expressions, as, keo be taring, the man is lying, or is lain down. bungo fittaring, a house swept. But from such forms as tenkung, be quiet, comes tenkunding, calm, placid ; so from tiling, straighten, comes Minding, just, &c. 25. A certain class of attributives relating to bodily defects &c. assume a different termination ; thus, namato, olu, maimed, from namata. finkerito, olu, blind, from ftnke. kuranto, olu, sick, from kurang. 26. Bale denotes want, as mansa hakilobale, a king without wisdom, or a foolish king ; jaubale, wanting fault, or innocent. Balm is used in the same sense in a substantive form : as, hakilobalia, want of wisdom, viz., folly. These are privative forms, expressive of simple destitution. 27. When nouns substantive are joined with attri- butives, the final o of the former is generally omitted or changed into e : as, 8 GRAMMAR OF ke(o) bette, a good man. ding(o) bette, a good child. mure jau, a bad knife. It will be easily perceived, that most Mandingo nouns terminate in o (though it be sometimes confused with a). This o is frequently emphatic, and in some cases is equivalent to a definite article, especially where it might otherwise be omitted. In familiar conversation, the omission frequently occurs. DIMINUTIVES. 28. A diminutive form is made by the addition of nding to the noun. This is no doubt an abbreviation of domanding, little : as muso, a woman ; musonding, a little woman. Diminutives are pretty much used, both with things animate and inanimate. But ding is sometimes changed into ring : as, nin- sering, a calf. COMPARISON. 29. There are no regular degrees of comparison in the Mandingo language. But if one thing be re- presented as superior to another, the last noun (or pronoun) has ti affixed to its termination : thus, sanno lefisse Jcoddoti, gold is better than silver. keo le jinta musoti, the man is blacker than the woman. nge sanno le kannu Jcoddoti, I love gold more than silver. As Ho signifies a master or possessor, hence pro- bably the origin of this particle ti denoting superiority or preference. The want of such familiar compara- tives as more, less, larger, smaller, &c, is much felt in the Mandingo. NUMERALS. 30. The Mandingo adjectives of number are simple. Kiting, one. Woro, six. Fula, two. Worongwula, seven. Sabba, three. Sey, eight. Nani, four Konanta, nine. Lulu, five. Tang, ten. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 9 Tang ning kiling, eleven. Tang ning fula> twelve, and so on. Tangfula, or moang, twenty. Tang sabba, thirty, &c. Kemi, one hundred. Kemifula, two hundred, &c. Kemi tang, or wuli, one thousand. 31. Ordinals are formed by adding njang to the nu- merals, omitting final letters where necessary for the euphony of the combination. But we except folo, first, and labango, last, from this rule : thus, fulanjango, the second. sabbanjango, third. naninjango, fourth. tanjango, tenth. Some use kilinjango, first. 32. Distributives merely repeat the numerals : as, kilingokiling, one by one, fulafula, two by two, &c. PRONOUNS. 33. Pronouns in Mandingo are as destitute of case as nouns substantive or adjective. We have seen that la is the only distinction of a possessive case ; and it is this particle which affects pronouns also. But instead of calling it a case here, we prefer leav- ing it entirely to the possessive pronouns, to which it properly belongs, being also their only distinguish- ing characteristic. PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 34. A general view of the personal pronouns is as follows : — 1 Per. sing, nte cont. form n, m, (see 4, 5.) I, me. 2 tie i Thou, thee. 3 ate a He, she, it. 1 Per. plu. ntolu or ntelu (sometimes n) We, us. 2 altolu or altelu Cont. form al> Ye, you. 3 itolu or itelu y, They, them. c 10 GRAMMAR OF The contracted forms are generally used, except- ing in cases where emphasis is intended : as in the following examples : — nkuranta, I am sick. a m busa He struck me. ibe mindoring Thou art thirsty. afo iye He told you. als a busa You will strike him y a busa They struck him. yho They say. As the object of the verb always precedes it in the order of Mandingo construction, unless when affected by some conjoined particle, (see 111,) two personal pronouns will frequently be found together, the first in a nominative, and the second in an objective case, as in some of the above examples. They therefore become one syllable in pronunciation. 35. Y, ye is used as an indefinite personal pronoun in the same manner as the French particle on, they, &c. thus ynata ya muta, they came and took him ; ye jankaritolu samba akang, they brought the sick to him, instead of, molu ye jankaritolu samba akang, people brought the sick to him. This particle is constantly employed in lieu of a passive voice. (86.) 36. On account of the frequent use of the abbreviated pronouns, which mostly consist of single letters, many contractions frequently occur, even in writing : Thus, am, a ke no, for ame a ke no, he cannot do it. amam bute, for amam m bute, he did not strike me. as i muta, for asi i muta, he will hold you. a bulo tilindi, for a abulo tilindi, he stretched forth his arm, (properly) a y abulo tilindi. Contractions after the verbs ko, fo, to say and tell, are constantly used : So, akaye, for ako aye, he said to him. of aye, for afo aye, he told him. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 11 It may be here observed, that a peculiar word is employed to express " saying,"or " he said to him," viz., akayenko, which literally means "he said to him," "I say." The simple akaye is seldom employed. Ko never governs any word excepting the personal pronouns following it ; hwifo is always joined with an objective case. (107.) POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 37. These are formed from the personal, by the addition of la, being virtually a possessive case. SINGULAR. CONTRACTED FORM. First person ntela na my, mine. Second person itela ila thy, thine. Third person atela ala his, her, its. CONTRACTED FORM. First person ntelula or ntolula our. Second person altelula or altolula al your. Third person itelula or itolula yla their. nat is used for mine in the sense of " my part;" ita, thy part, &c. As, nta dinna, give me my part. Before nouns of relationship, powers of the mind, parts of the body, &c, (18,) a personal pronoun is used instead of a possessive : Thus, mfa, my father. idingo, thy child. amuso, his wife. REFLECTIVE PRONOUNS. 38. Self is expressed by fang, and also by dung ; more generally by the former. mfang, I myself. ifang, thou thyself. afang, he himself. ntolufang, we ourselves. altolufang or alfang, you yourselves. itolufang or yfang, they themselves, c 2 12 GRAMMAR OF So, ifang a ta, take it thyself. a ta ifang dumma, take it by thyself. RELATIVE PRONOUNS. 39. The relative pronoun is men, meng, or mem, (see 5,) who, which, what ; in the plural menu or menolu. It is of all genders and cases. 40. The relative does not admit of an interposing nominative when it is the object of the verb, but immediately precedes it in the order of construction. Thus we say, zoo dingo nge men Jcannu, literally, that child I whom loved : So again, nge molu dye, ng a di menolula, literally, I the people saw, I it gave to whom. 41. An indefinite relative pronoun is much in use, mengomeng, whosoever or whatsoever ; as, mengomen hare salle Allay e, whosoever prays to God : So also, a mengomen dani, whatever he asks. We also find the expression mo-omen salle, whoever he be that prays, &c. 42. The relative pronouns interrogative are juma, who or what person ? and mun or mung, what ? The former takes jumalu in the plural : Thus, juma lemu nyinti, who is this ? abe mun kela, what does he do ? a mun do he, what work has he done ? wo mo mu munneti, what is that man ? or what sort of a being is that ? The particle di is used interrogatively in such ex- pressions as these, ako di, what does he say ? iko di le, what did you say ? atondi, what is his name ? and in combination with nya, a manner or method, we find nyadi, how, or in what way? As, aketa nyadi ? how did it happen, or, how was it done ? literally, it was done in what way ? 43. Men is much used in composition to form THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 13 adverbs of time, place, and circumstance. In these cases, la is affixed to it, and it becomes menna. (4.) Thus, tumamenna, when,, at which time. jamanemenna, when, whilst, in which time. dulamenna, where, in which place. nyamenna, thus, in which way. jamenna, there, in that place. So with mun, as, muntuma, when, at what time ? (See Adverbs 101, i. ii.) INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 44. Some of these have been mentioned. (41, 42.) Agreeably to the same form, is mo-omo, any man, whoever. fing ojing, whatever, any thing, every thing. siosi, every, any. Also, mo, somebody, a person ; plural, molu ? people, or some persons ; as molu be je, people are there. 45. Mu is a particle used when any definition or explanation is given or required : As, Alia mu nio leti, God is a spirit. murine mu, what is it ? 46. A similar particle, ti, always terminates a clause or sentence, as in the first of the above examples ; also, Issa lemu (or mu) Alla-dingoti, Jesus is the Son of God. DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS. 47. The demonstrative pronouns are nying, this; nyingolu, these. wo, that ; wolu, those. 48. As there is no proper definite article in Man- dingo, nying sometimes takes its place. So also wolu is frequently used in the sense of itolu they, them, when it refers to a noun that has preceded. It is vulgarly confounded with this personal pronoun, and some use either indis- criminatelv. 14 GRAMMAR OF VERBS. 49. The Mandingo verb is rather indefinite in its structure, resembling that of Eastern languages, by being destitute of those nice distinctions in mood and tense which are found in Western tongues. The whole conjugation is carried on by means of the personal pronouns, and the use of certain particles which are prefixed or adjoined to the Root or sim- plest form of the verb ; in order to mark the time, order, or condition of an event taking place. By throwing the various verbal forms into some sort of a classical arrangement, they may be stated as follows : — I. INDICATIVE MOOD. 50. By this mood we intend those forms of the verb which point out the state of a thing or action as it has existed, or does exist, or shall exist, uncondi- tionally ; viz., without any condition, volition, or contingency being expressed. AORIST TENSE. 51. This tense has no equivalent in English ; and therefore we borrow the name from the Greek verb. It properly describes an action with respect to both the past and the present, or the state of an object as it formerly existed and still exists. It is therefore usually employed in an indefinite sense, and answers well in describing the state of the feelings, or ex- pressing the qualities of persons or things. The component parts of this tense are the per- sonal pronouns and the root of the verb. It has two forms. 52. The first form is adopted when it governs an object ; in which case, particles are inserted to mark the objective case by distinguishing or separating it from the nominative. The following is an example ; in which the con- THE MANDTNGO LANGUAGE. 15 tracted form is always used, except in cases of emphasis and distinction : — SINGULAR. 1 Per. nge dindingo kannu, I love or loved the child. 2 ite ye or ie dindingo thou lovest or lovedst kannu, the child. 3 a dindingo kannu, he, she, or it loves or loved the child. PLURAL. 1 Per. ntolu nge dindingo we love or loved the kannu, child. 2 altolu ye or alye you love or loved the dindingo kannu, child. 3 itolu ye or ye they love or loved the dindingo kannu, child. When a noun occupies the place of a nominative, the third person singular and plural have this form : — muso ye dindingo kannu, the woman loves, &c, the child. musolu ye dindingo kannu* the women love, &c., the child. The third person singular is sometimes varied into muso a dindingo kannu, f or, muso le dindingo kannu. But this last is not so proper ; neither is le in the first plural, as ntolu le dindingo kannu. The ye or y thus also ministers to the euphony of the sentence, as, muso y abulo tilindi, the woman stretched forth her arm. It would be awkward to say, muso a a bulo tilindi. * See Notes B and D. f See Note C. 16 GRAMMAR OF Some also would use nga instead of nge ; but this appears to be a confusion of governing words. (See 107.) 53. The second aorist form occurs chiefly in neuter verbs, which generally require the addition of ta to the root. The following is an example from the verb laji, wish, or want : — SINGULAR. nte lafita or nlajita, I wish. ite lafita or ilafita, thou wishest. ate lafita or alafiia, he, she, or it wishes. PLURAL. ntolu lafita, we wish. altolu lafita or allafita, you wish. itolu lafita or ylafita, they wish. After the same manner are the following : — mmeta I continue. nkonkota I am hungry (for some time). alota He stood. &c., &c, &c. PERFECT OR PAST TENSE. 54. To mark an action as being past or finished, the aorist tense is frequently employed with the addi- tion of le, as, nge dindingo kannu le, I loved the child. nge wulo busa le, I have beaten the dog. But the precise time of an aorist tense is often left to be defined by the concomitant expressions : Thus, nge dindingo kannu le wo tilolula, I loved the child in those days, can never be mistaken in its meaning. PLUPERFECT OR DEFINITE PAST TENSE. 55. This expresses either the usual pluperfect meaning, or a definite past : As, nge dindingo kannu le nung, I had loved the child, or I once loved the child. It is distinguished from the former tense by the simple addition of nung, viz., before. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 17 FIRST FUTURE. 56. This tense expresses future time definitively, and is the most regular part of the Mandingo verb. SINGULAR. nsi kannu, I shall or will love. isi kannu, thou wilt or shalt love. nsi kannu, he will or shall love. PLURAL. ntolu si kannu, we shall or will love. altolu si, or alsi, kannu, you will or shall love. itolu si, or ysi, kannu, they will or shall love. If an objective case intervene, (according to the usual Mandingo arrangement,) beginning with a vowel, a contraction in many cases takes place, and the i of the si is cut off: As, nsa kannu, I shall love him. as ifa dye, he will see your father. But where this elision would render the pronun- ciation harsh, it had better not take place : As, nsi altolu kannu, for ns' altolu kannu, I shall love you. SECOND FUTURE, OR FUTURE PROXIMATE. 57. This tense properly signifies " about to do'' any thing ; and it denotes the going to perform, the intention of performing, or the action itself of per- forming. It is, therefore, sometimes a present tense, as well as immediate future : Thus, mbe diamola, I am going to speak, I wish now to speak, or I am now speaking. The original meaning is, I am to speak. The whole form is as follows : — SINGULAR. mbe kannula, I am to love. ibe kannula, thou art to love, abe kannula, he is to love* 18 GRAMMAR OF PLURAL. ntolu be /cannula, we are to love. altolu be, or albe, kannula, you are to love. itolu be, or ybe, kannula, they are to love. When an object to the verb is expressed, a more energetic meaning is conveyed by the insertion of the particle le : As, mbe dindingo le kannula, I am to love the child, or, It is the child I am about to love. This particle is movable at pleasure ; but its use is more elegant. PRESENT TENSE. 58. The only tense which fully expresses a present action, is that which answers to the English " do" or i does ; " but this properly denotes habit or attribute. It adopts the word kare, together with the root of the verb : As, nkare bette ke, I do good, viz., I am in the habit of doing good, or I have the disposition to do good. SINGULAR. nkare kannu, I do love. ikare kannu, thou dost love. akare kannu, he does love. PLURAL. ntolu kare kannu, we do love. altolu kare, or alkare, kannu, you do love. itolu kare, or ykare, kannu, they do love. A contraction takes place before an objective case commencing with a vowel : As, nkar a kannu, I do love him. ykar altolu kannu, they do love you. In hasty or familiar conversation, kare becomes ka : As, nka wo mira tumo-otuma, I do think of it always. 59. Bikare is the negative form, signifying " does not:" As, abikare, or abika, kujou ke, he does no evil. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 19 II. CONDITIONAL MOOD. 60. Certain particles expressive of condition or contingency require to be followed by certain tenses ; in other respects, the tenses of the condi- tional mood do not differ from the aorist and future already described. 61. Ni, n, ox ning, if, is generally followed by the aorist : As, SINGULAR. ni nga kannu, if I love or loved him. ni ia kannu, if thou lovest or lovedst him. ni a, or n'a, kannu, if he love, &c. ni ntolu nga kannu, if we love, &c. ni altolu, or naltolu, ya kannu, if you love, &c. ni itolu, or nitolu, or ni, ya, if they love, &c. kannu ning may be used instead of ni, but it is apt to be confounded with the conjunction aning or ning, and ; but we usually hear ning mo ye wo ke, If any body has done it ; so also, ning keo &c. This for the sake of euphony. Ni is sometimes used with the future proximate ; as, ni abe wo kela, If he is going to do so ; but it is never employed with the first future or the present. 62. Ni sometimes also implies "when" in a con- ditional sense ; as, ni nnata, nsi wo ke, If I come, or when I am come, I will do it. 63. Fo, that, so that, precedes the first future ; as, fo nsi kannu, that I should love. nlajitafo as a ke, I wish that he would do it. nlajita fo as a ke nung, I wish that he had done it. 64. " May " or " can " is rendered into Mandingo by the addition of the verb no, to be able : As, d 2 20 GRAMMAR OF nge safero ke no, I can write, or I am able to write. But it is more frequently used with the future tense : As, nsi ta no, I can go. 65. " Cannot " inserts the verbal particle te, and puts no in the infinitive mood, as, ate tama nola, he cannot walk. But te is also abbreviated : As, at a muta nola, for ate a muta nola, he cannot take it. Te is always followed by la, which distinguishes it from the personal pronouns ate, ite, nte. Consider- able emphasis is also laid upon te or the vowel with which it coalesces, as in ate nola, he cannot, and at a nola, he cannot (do) it. 66. Should or ought is expressed by*nyang, nyan- ta : As, anyanta wo kela, he should do so, or he ought to do so. ntolu nyanta sallela, we ought to pray, viz., it is our duty to pray.* asi nyang tala, he must go, or it will be his duty to go. So also, aman nyang tambila, he ought not to pass. 67. " Would have," is expressed by adding nung the future : as, ns a ke nung, I would have done it. III. IMPERATIVE MOOD. 68. The imperative is properly used only in the second person singular and plural ; the first of which exhibits the root or simplest form of the verb : Thus, Tcannu, love thou ; alkannu, love ye. So, wo ke, do that ; al wo ke, do (ye) that. * Nyanta is one of those words in which a is pronounced in a close manner like u in under. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 21 69. But the imperative of command is generally rendered by the future definite. This applies to all the persons except the second singular, which also occasionally adopts the same form : As, as a ke, let him do it, viz., he must or shall do it. als a ke, you shall do it, or do ye it. ys a ke, they shall do it, or let them do it. 70. The particle fo may precede it, in which case it implies either command or volition ; as, fo as a ke, that he shall do it ; which may mean, either, I order him to do it, or, I wish him to do it. In the same manner we say, fo ila mansaro si na, let thy kingdom come. 71. Other modes of expressing our imperative are adopted, according to the particular meaning, which is wished to be conveyed by the English word "let : " Thus, let me do it, may be rendered in three ways : munya nga ke, let me do it, viz., stop till I do it. m hula nga ke, let me do it, viz., leave me to do it. a tu nga ke, let me do it, viz., give me leave to do it. The first person plural has also an imperative form of exhortation : As alinge ta, let us go. alinge salle, let us pray. This is no doubt a contraction of al (for altolu) you, n or ning and, and nge I ; viz , you and I let (us) go, &c. IV. INFINITIVE MOOD. 72. The infinitive is formed by affixing la : So, kannula, to love. nlafita kannula, I wish to love. 73. But after verbs of motion, the la is rejected ; 22 GRAMMAR OF as, atata suo wqfi, he went to sell a horse ; but we should say, alajita suo wajila, he wishes to sell a horse. 74. A few verbs may insert ro\ as domorola, or domola, to eat, V. PARTICIPLES. 75. The Mandingo has no regular participles, or gerunds, as we find them in Western languages. In the place of a present participle, the second future is sometimes used : As, instead of saying, I found him crying, we use this periphrasis, " I found him, he is crying," ng a dye abe kumbola. 76. But where the state of an object is expressed we can use the form mentioned in 24 : As, nga dye besiring, I found him sitting. 77. The Mandingo has no past participle, which is a great defect in the language, as it causes a peri- phrasis to be frequently employed. The only forms which approach to it are those mentioned 24 and 25. NEGATION. The negative particles belonging to Mandingo verbs are differently employed, according to the par- ticular part of the verb influenced by them. 79. Kana is used with imperatives, and in impera- tive expressions : As, Jcana n samba je, do not take me there. akumota ikan a ke, he ordered you not to do" it. 80. Man or mam (5) precedes aorist parts of the verb, and such like : As, amam bette Ice, he did not good. amam bettea, he or it is not good. 81. Me or m is used with the same tenses, and is preferable where a personal pronoun in the objective case intervenes : As, am a Icannu, he did not love him. ame altolu Icannu, he did not love you. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 23 But mam and me never have ta in the aorist ; for we say, anyanta, he ought; but aman nyang, he ought not. 82. The particle te is employed as a negative with the future tense, in which case it has the force of sha'nt or wo'nt ; as, nte tola, I wo'nt go. ate ta nola, he cannot go. (65.) 83. For bikare, does not, see 60. INTERROGATION. 84. Interrogation is frequently expressed by the use of interrogative pronouns or adverbs ; as, abe munne kela ? what is he doing ? asi na muntuma ? when will he come ? For these see adverbs. (99, 101). 85. Otherwise, interrogation, when not confined to the elevation of the voice, is marked by the addi- tion of the particle ha. abe tola ba ? is he going ? or, will he go ? When the sentence is short, ba is generally placed last ; but in other cases, it is put as near as possible to the verb to which it refers. PASSIVE VERBS. 86. The passive voice is wanting in the Mandingo language. Suffering, or the being acted upon by another agency, has no regular form of its own, but is ex- pressed by a circumlocution after the manner of the French on ; as, " for he was beaten," we say, " they beat him," viz., y a busa. The indefinite pronoun ye or y, is thus constantly employed. 87. When the agent by whom the action was per- formed is expressed, the phrase is turned into an active form : so that instead of saying, " he was beaten by the king," we must say, "the king beat him," viz., mansa ye wo busa. 24 GRAMMAR OF 88. There are some verbs, however, that do not admit of the particle ta in the aonst tense, (see 53), which take this ta in the form of an aorist passive ; a mem fei, which he threw ; mem feita, which was thrown. Custom alone can teach the use of these verbs. CAUSATIVE VERBS. 89. Almost any verb may be transferred from simple agency, to the causing of an action to be per- formed by another agent, by the addition of ndz. (final o being changed, except in the case of monosyl- lables). Thus : — hello, fight ; kellendi, make to fight. abetted, he is good ; abetteandi, he makes good. domoro, eat; domorindi, feed. 90. Many transitive verbs are in this way derived from radical neuters ; as, la, lie down ; a landi, lay it down. lo, stand ; londi> place, or make (it) stand. wuli, rise ; wulindi, make rise, lift up. COMPOUND VERBS. 91. There are many Mandingo verbs which are composed of two words, the latter alone assuming a conjugational form ; thus : — doke, work, — literally, do work. akare kujauke, he does wickedly. ke, to do, is very much used in this way. But if ro be affixed to the first verb (where they happen to be two verbs) the words will then be disjoined, and a more expressive and extensive signification is given to the passage ; thus : — kanafaro ke, thou shalt do no murder. 92. The word ba, great, is also used to form com- pound verbs, in which case ba is put last and receives a conjugational form ; so, THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 25 bette, good; abettebata, he is very good. akultata, it is heavy ; aJculiabata, it is very heavy. A few other words are occasionally employed in the same wav. SUBSTANTIVE VERBS. 93. " To be/' is expressed variously in Mandingo, according to the specific meaning implied, or the construction in which it is found. There may be said to be three substantive verbs. 94. The neuter substantive verb, denoting a simple state of being is rendered by be, to which the abbre- viated persona] pronouns are prefixed ; as, mbe (janne), I am (here;) ntolu be (je) we are (there.) ibe, thou art ; albe, you are. abe, he is ; ybe, they are. But if it be not used with a personal pronoun, le may be employed ; as, Jceo le janne, the man is here. Jceo le fing musoti, the man is blacker than the woman. In the first of these examples, be might be used ; but in the latter it would be improper. Le is also introduced to mark the emphasis of per- sonality ; as, atele nata, he came, or, it is he that came. 95. The impersonal substantive verb is lemu, or leti, sometimes contracted into lem or let, (See also 45 and 46.) as, nte lemu, it is I. na suo lemu, or leti, it is my horse. mo bettelem, mo bettelet, he is a good man. mansa lemu nung, there was a king. 96. Ke, to do or make, is used in the sense of " become " and " was," as, aketa mansati, he became a king, or, he was a king. It is used in all the persons singular and plural. 26 > 1 . GHAMMAft of nkeia, iketa, I waa, or, I became, thou wert, &c. &c. So also, nsi ke, isi ke, I will be, or become, thou shalfc be, &c. &c, And, mhe y-ela, ihe vela I am about to be, or bec< thou art, &e. &c. This form is used in the past and future as a sub- stitute for similar parts in the neuter substantive, verb, (94,) which is defective in these tenses. 97. The Auxiliary substantive verb has been already used in the conjugations given above. It is, be-rlfy fqr the present, or future immediate. si, future. Je, past le nung, perfect past, and pluperfect. la, infinitive As, mle karmn®, I am reading, or about to read. mbe kurang, I am sick, nsi karang, I shall read. nsi kurang, I shall be sick. ng # karame h I read it* nkurantale, I was sick, ng O: karame mmg 1 had read it, &c. nkurantale nung, I had been sick, &c, nlafita karanna, I wish to read, or am going to read. nlafita kuranna, I am going to he sick. IMPERSONAL VERB* 98. A forni of ke, become, &c, (see 96,) is used as an impersonal verb in the sense of " happen," as, aketa, it happened ; asi ke, it will happen ; aketa nye it happened to me, &c. So also, anata ke, it came to pass. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. • 27 ADVERBS. The Mandingoes have few proper adverbs ; and although many words are necessarily used in an adver- bial sense, yet they can scarcely be said to exist as a distinct and separate form of speech. It must be explained, however, in what manner the adverbs of foreign languages are rendered in Mandingo. 99. First. A few words of place, time, and quan- tity, are used as simple Adverbs. The principal of these are the following, jang,janne, here. abada, ever. (Prom the je f jelle, there. Arabic.) minto, mintole, where ? bi, to day. dumay down. kunii, yesterday. jama, many, much. somanda, in the morning* tung, again. sining, to-morrow. tus, nothing. yei, yes! jelu, how many ? a-hct, yes ! fana, also, together. a-a, no ! junct, early, long ago. saing, now, presently. 100. Secondly. Words in common construction, without being compounded, are used adverbially. Such are, (1.) Words in the aorist, and mperative of verbs ; as, betteata, good! yole, gently! slyly. kanianta, enough ! ide, silence f siata, plenty \ Jcatdba, quick ? kekuta, well done ! 2. Nouns in Construction by means of a governing Particle of Place or Time : above, up. outside, after, behind. foloto, first. santo, labangoto, last bantala, banta, nyato, before. kold, nyinto, herein. Icomala, E 2 28 GRAMMAR OF 3. Attributives of the form ring (see 24) used in Construction. These are numerous, as any such attributives may be put into the following shape : katabarinto, quickly. kuliarinto, heavily. kekurinto, rightly. 4. General Nouns of the form mentioned 44, as, always, time after time, day by day, every day. tree by tree, every tree, all trees. tumo-otuma, lung-olung, yiro-oyiro, Also, kilingo-kilingo, one by- one. fula-ofula, two by two, &c. And, nyangonyang, although, nevertheless, yet. 101. Thirdly. Compound words of time, place, and quantity, are used as Adverbs. 1. Simple Compound words. ADVERBIAL FORMS. COMPOUNDED OP bake, much. jamfajang, far away. muntuma, when ? munatina, muneatina, why? woleatina, therefore. wotumo, then. wojamana, then. wonyama, wonyalema, in like manner. bako, on the other side. kotenke, again, more. nyadi, how ? wokang, besides. ba, great, and, ke, do. jamfa, be distant, jang, long. mun, what, tumo, time. mun, mun le, what, atinna, he causes, &c. wo, that, le, atinna. wo, tumo. %oo, jamano, a time. wo, nya, manner, le, ma. ba, river, ko, back. ko, tung, again, ke. nya, di, particle interrog. wo, kang, upon. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 29 2. Compound words in construction. wokola. afterwards. wo, kola, after. tumamenna, when. tumo, men, relat. pron. la, at. jamanemenna, whilst. jamano, ditto. dulamenna, where. dula, a place, ditto. jamenna, whereabouts, je, there, a, it, ditto. 102. It will appear from the above, that few of the Mandingo Adverbs, (with the exception of those in 99,) are original adverbial forms ; and that they might as properly be construed as nouns or verbs. Indeed, the whole of the Mandingo language might be easily reduced to verbs, nouns, and pronouns, with affixed particles ; and even the verbs are mere compounds of these other forms of speech. PREPOSITIONS. 103. The deficiency in number and variety of the Prepositions causes no little difficulty in translating European phrases into Mandingo. The following are those in most common use; and they always (with the exception of bring) follow the noun which they govern. To, ye, fe, la, are affixed particles, signifying, to, by, in, at, &c. They are never used as separate words, but are always added to the noun in depend- ence upon the verb. See government, (111, &c.) Kono, in, is used separately, (signifying also the inside of any thing,) as, bungo kono, in the house. Tenia, between, is derived from temo, the mid- dle. Koto, under. Bring, since, from. It is not so generally used in the last of these meanings as is requisite. Kura, about. Kang, upon, in addition to, towards. Kamma, because of, for the sake of, is usually 30 GRAMMAR OF construed with la, when a person is referred to; as, mansala kamma, because of the king, &c. Kola, after. Koma, behind. CONJUNCTIONS. 104. In common conversation, Mandingo Con- junctions are not sufficiently employed ; clauses and sentences never being connected by conjunctions copulative, for their use is confined to the conjoining of words. They are as follows ;— Aning, ning, and. In some expressions an abbre- viation takes place ; as, an ala talibolu, he and his disciples. Arte, until, and. The latter is found in such sen- timents as, " he slumbered and slept." Anefo, until, if. Barri, but. Damantang, except* Fo, or, as. Kabring, since, from. KatulcOy because. Ko, as. Kofo, like as. Namana ye, before that ; as, namana tumo ye si, before the time be. Ni, ning, if, suppose that. Warante, or, or else. GOVERNMENT. We shall here endeavour to show the depend- encies of words according to their place in the sen- tence, in so far as these have not been already men- tioned. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 31 105. In treating of the verb, we have pointed out its connection with the objective case by means of the particles, ye, a, le, which precede the latter. (See 52.) 106. In examining the phrase, Charles ye dingo Jcannu, or, Charles a dingo le Jcannu, viz., Charles loves or loved the child; it would be difficult to state on what word these inserted particles depend. They seem, however, to be mere disjunctive particles, to separate between the nominative and the object, which might otherwise be confused; and they are probably contracted forms of the personal pronouns. The phrase might, therefore, be rendered thus, " as for Charles, he loves the child." This accords with the forms of Eastern languages ; but it gives a peculiar prominence to the pronouns, which is contrary to the imaginative schemes of some European philoso- phers relative to the ordinal origin of the various parts of speech. 107. A few familiar verbs are never used without an objective case, even when the introduction of a pronoun would be a redundancy in the English lan- guage. These are moi, think or remember ; long know, fo, tell, say. Thus, ng a long a wo Jce, I know it (that) he did it ; for, I know (that) he did it : ya faye asi na, they told him to come ; literally, they told it to him he shall come : ia moi nge mem fo, you remember (it) what I said. 108. In accordance with the explanation given 106, is the fact of those particles being omitted when any other word comes between the agent and the object Thus we say, ; Charles si dingo Jcannu, Charles shall love the child ; and not, Charles si ye dingo Jcannu. So also, isi dingo Jcannu, in the future ; but, in the aorist, ie dingo Jcannu, which is a contrac- tion for He ye dingo Jcannu. Again, ntolu nge dingolu soito, we have got children : but the intervention of man, not, would render it, ntolu man dingolu sotto, (not, man nge). 109. In case of a sentence being long, or otherwise 32 GRAMMAR OF of many words intervening between the nominative and the verb, the personal pronoun is sometimes repeated, in order to keep up the thread of the con- nection. 110. It has been said, that the objective case pre- cedes the verb in the order of construction. But when the verb is construed with two objects, one of them follows the verb : as, a kujau ke iye, he did you harm ; a munko nyinink; ala, he asked him for bread. 111. Some verbs require to be construed with fe, ye, or la; in which cases also, the object follows the verb. Thus, ate diamola mfe, he will not speak to me. This may be called the dative after the verb, as it is frequently used where " to " is employed in English. So again : — salle Allala, pray to God. wo di ala, give it to him. afo itoluye, tell it to them. Practice alone can teach the proper employment of these particles ; but as their use is limited, there is no difficulty connected with its acquisition. One or two verbs take ma (or la,) as, kana balang itoluma, do not forbid them ; literally, do not be unwill- ing for them. So, sila Allama, or Allala, fear God. 112. A few verbs vary their signification, accord- ing to the presence or absence of an objective case ; so, abota je, he went thence, or he went away : but, a Jing bota je, he took something thence, or, from it. 113. The imperative mood also causes an objec- tive pronoun to follow the verb, where confusion would otherwise follow. 114. After the verb, ntola or nla, to me, becomes nna (see 4) ; as a dinna, give it to me. 115. Motion to a place affixes the particle to; as, ta bungoto, go to the house. atata marseoto, he went to the market. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 33 Where absolute entrance into a thing is mentioned kono is used. So we say, a fez dimbato, throw it into the fire ; but, a fei jto kono, throw it into the water ; and, a wo ke kuneo kono, he put it into the box. 1 16. But where the name of a town or country is used, it is more common to omit to ; as, ta Jinjin- berre, go to Ginginberry, viz. M'Carthy's Island. 117. After verbs of motion, the infinitive mood drops la ; for though we say, dlajita suo sanna (sang laj, he wishes to buy a horse ; we must say atata suo mng, he has gone to buy a horse. So, ta doke, go to work, &c. 118. "On a place" is rendered by to, as dunyato, on the world, or, in the world ; bankoto, on the earth or ground. 119. But "upon" in its full meaning is denoted by kang; as, nying ke meso kang, put this upon the table. 120. Instead of conjoining verbs by aning, and, the pronominal particle ye is frequently employed ; as, ytata ye keo dye, they went and saw the man ; literally, they went they saw the man. Ye is thus properly employed only after a noun or pronoun to which it refers, or else confusion would ensue. The reason of this want of conjunctions proceeds from the circumstance of the natives always employing short sentences and phrases, the connexion of which takes place only in the mind, and not by conjunctions copulative. (See 104.) This is a great defect in the language, which only time and converse with foreign- ers can remedy. At present, however, such conjunc- tions must be omitted in translations, since the use of them is perplexing to the natives. The conjunction barri, " but," may be pretty largely employed after the manner of the Greek fc. 121. A change frequently takes place in the signi- fication of the tenses of conjoined verbs. The second and following verbs, though dependent upon a preterite, adopt the form of the future proximate. Thus, " he came to hear the word," is not expressed F 34 GRAMMAR OF by anata a kumo moi, which means, "he came and heard the word." Again, anata, fo asi kumo moi; viz., . he came that he might hear the word," is rather vulgar ; but we use, anata abe kuma moila, which literally signifies, " he came, he is to hear the word." This latter refers to his intention in coming, which intention is expressed as present, because it was present at the time referred to in the foregoing verb. 122. Upon the same principle, we account for another conversion of the tense which takes place. Thus, in the phrase, " if you find it, pick it up and put it into the box," rii i a dye, is a tombong ya ke kuneo kono, the literal translation of which is, " if you find it, you shall pick it up, put into the box." 123. When two verbs are connected in English, and are followed by a noun dependent upon both of them, the Mandingoes construe it with the first only, as, " he saw and read the book," a buko dye, a karang, viz., " he saw the book, he read it." 124. Nouns of time are used with or without the particle la, but the former is generally to be prefer- red; as, tile kilinna, or tile kiling, in one day, somala, in the morning; sutola, at night. In the two latter examples, la is requisite to mark the point of time specified. But should the phrase be long, la had better be omitted except at the end ; as sanji- sabba ning kare woro or worola, for three years and six months. 125. Priority in time requires the introduction of the particle ye, when expressed in a verbal form; as, namana tumo ye si, before the time come. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 35 NOTES. Note A, page 5. Four methods of writing the form of the possessive case presented themselves. The first was that which is most agreeable to the pronun- ciation ; as, mfa labungo. But this form is objectionable for several rea- sons; the noun is here clogged with incipient letters la or a which might confound it with other words ; muso labungo would exhibit a dif- ferent appearance of construction, mf adinqo, mus adingo and all such combinations are very clumsy ; mo nyada, ,** the man's face," exhibits no form of construction whatever ; and the same might be said of many plurals; itolufula, might be rendered either "they two," or "two of them ;" this form is contrary to all analogy, &c. A second method of noting the possessive might be thus mfa4abungo,'mfa- dingo, &c. This is liable to many of those objections already stated against the previous form, whilst its chief value would consist in its being analogous to the Mandingo method of writing Arabic. A third plan of the possessive might be mfala bungo, mfa dingo, &c. This is the most simple and most agreeable to the declensions of other languages; but it is not quite consonant with the pronunciation; and as la occurs so frequently as an affix in various modes of syntax, the natives might have much trouble at first in catching the meaning. To this form, however, it may be eventually reduced. The fourth method is that adopted by the author, viz., mfala-bungo, mfa-dingo, itolu-fula, &c, combinations of words which can never be misunderstood, if the connecting hyphen be remembered to be a conco- mitant sign of the possessive case, The few other instances in which a hyphen is employed (such as mo-omo, &c.) are so obvious as to cause no difficulty. Note B, page 15. In the form muso ye dindingo Jcannu, ye is pronounced very short, the y scarcely being heard, as it appears to be a mere connecting liquid sound. The original form of the aorist tense seems to have been made up of the root of the verb and the personal pronouns with a separative particle e. This holds still good in the second and third persons in both numbers. n explanation of the nge of the first person singular, it may be remarked that final n before a vowel is generally converted to ng, which would therefore make ng ye, and by obliterating the short y } it becomes nge. This sound is thus also distinguished from that of nge ye, "I them," &c. The nge of the first person plural is, no doubt, borrowed from the singular ; (see note C;) but some natives use ntolu ye. Note C, page 15. The phrase muso a dindingo Jcannu literally means, " the woman she loves the child." This use of a personal pronoun between a nominative noun and the verb, is in considerable vogue. In some cases, the pro- noun is not proper; in others, it is redundant; in others, it is emphatic and highly agreeable to the spirit of the language. The above is an example where the pronoun had better be omitted, as it otherwise occa- F 2 I 36 GRAMMAR OF THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. sions an ambiguity in the sense ; for the phrase might be understood, " the woman loves her child/* namely, muso y adindingo kannu, with the omission of y. But according to usage, we say, muso aman ta, " the woman she is not gone," a redundancy which generally takes place in the use of man. Again, sate ato mu Katabar, " a town its name is Kata- bar," is more in vogue than " a town the name of which is Katabar," &c. Alkuntinyolu ybey kasahita, " your hairs they are all numbered," is more emphatic Mandingo, than if the y, " they," were omitted. Muso le dindingo kannu, properly seems to signify, " it is the woman loves the child ;" but little attention is paid to such niceties of distinc- tion by the natives* Note D, page 15. r The greatest difficulty which appears on first sight, is that connected with the use of ye or y, seeing that it is at once an indefinite personal pronoun, the contracted personal pronoun of third person plural, and also an expletive particle, frequently introduced into various forms of construction. We have endeavoured to obviate any confusion arising between this and the second personal pronoun singular, by writing the latter i, and the former y , and in verbs, ie, ye. It remains, however, to distinguish the various uses of ye, y. (See 52, 105, 106.) And it may be regarded as a general rule, First. Wherever ye or y is found without a nominative preceding, it is the indefinite personal pro- noun "they." (35.) Secondly. Where a noun plural, or a pronoun third person plural, has preceded in a former clause of the sentence, and ye or y begins a new clause, it is to be regarded as the contracted pronoun, third person plural. (34.) Thirdly. Where a nominative immediately precedes in the same clause, ye or y is a mere separative particle. Fourthly. Where ye is added to a word, it is a preposition. (111.) As in the following examples, ye dindingolu samba akang, they brought children to him. Here ye means " they," indefinitely, viz., " some persons." musolu ye dindingolu samba akang, ye wolu landi asingoluto, women brought children to him, they laid them at his feet. Here the first ye, is a mere separative particle ; but the second ye, is the contracted personal pronoun, third person plural, and refers to the women already mentioned. muso y abulo tilindi, the woman stretched forth her arm. Here also y is a particle separating between muso and abulo. (35.) But in asallet* aye, " he prayed to him," ye is evidently a preposition* and cannot be confounded with any^of the foregoing. A VOCABULARY OF WORDS. I.— THE UNIVERSE, &c. God, Alia heaven, aryena hell, yahaniba angel, maleika spirit, (soul,) nio a spirit, (demon,) jino devil, sentano prophet, kila good, bette evil, kujau sun, tilo moon, karo star, lolo •world, dunya earth, banko •water, jio rain, sanjio wind, fonio light, novo or nuro darkness, dibbo fire, dimba sea, baba creek, bolongo lake, &c, dalla thunder, sankulo, samfetting lightning, ngalingalo, ngalaso cloud, toualo damp, dew, montQ flood, warao smoke, sisio shadow, nika, nineuo shade, dibengo fog, mist, kombo stream, rivulet, woio spring of water, jinya well of water, kolongo II.— TIME, SEASONS, &c. Sun-rise, woleha, tilibo morning, soma, soilo sun-set, alansara, tiliboi evening, uraro night, suto e&rlyjuna mid-day, tilibula mid- night, dutalla, sutobula time, tumo an hour, wato, horo a day, longo, tile kiiing week, lukungo a month, (one moon,) kare kiiing a year, (one rains,) sanji kiiing sama kiiing flood -tide, bafata ebb-tide, bajata dry season, tilikando rainy season, samato after the rains, sanjiano fast month, simkaro fast day, sunlungo every day, lungolung to-day, bi to-morrow, sitting day after to-morrow, sinindingo 38 GRAMMAR OF yesterday, kunu day before yesterday, kununko harvest, nyomo (ripe corn,) nyote (cutting corn) harvest time, nyomo tumo, nyote tumo the north, mar a south, buloba east, tilibo west, tiliji Monday, Tenning Tuesday, Tellata Wednesday, Araba Thursday, Aramisa Friday, Arjuna Saturday, Sibiti Sunday, AUahaddo, dimaso first month, muskoto second do. kehuto third do. ngangabidong fourth do.JMmolawale fifth do. jumolahere sixth do. arajabakonong seventh do. arajaba eighth do. sunkarekonong ninth do. (fast month,) sunkare tenth do. minkare eleventh do. bannakonong twelfth do. (African Christmas,) banna III.— A COUNTRY, &c. A country, duo town, sateo tree, yiro root, sulo hill, konko stone, beri clay, potto grass, nyamo a market-place, marseo fort, (stockade,) tato bridge, salo farm, kunko road, silo school, karangbungo church, (large,) jamango mosque, misero language, kango a well, kolongo war, kello peace, barria village, satending forest, ulo IV.— A HOUSE, FURNITURE, &c. House, room, bungo premises, ya kitchen, koba window, janerango stairs, sellerango upper story, santofunko roof, kankarango joists, (runs,) sibolu plank, babara lime, lasso bed, larango curtains, sankeolu covering, bitterango blanket, blanketto pillow, kunglarang towel, tubajio table, meso chair, (seat,) sirango foot-stool, singsirang, singdula piazza, jebro THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 39 1. HOUSE UTENSILS. Knife, muro fork, subosirang mug*, moggo cup, koppo bottle, kabo cork, kake plate, pleto spoon, dosa calebash, (wooden bowl,) mirango basket, sinsingo drinking* vessel, mindango iron pot, kalero candle, kandio lamp, lampo bell, talango box, kuneo lock, karriyado key, kunedmgo bag, boto 2. GARDEN AND SHOP UTENSILS. Spade, pelo, sindango hoe, dabo rake, korango axe, terango saw, sera hammer, pemperlango, hammero nail, preA:o peg, (&c, to hang on,) muterqngo pestle, nyinkallo mortar, (to pound,) kulungo pressing machine, detterango wax press, kanyidetterango measure, sumango scales, sumandango weights, libaro a pound weight, poundo tool, (any,) lorango V.~ MAN, HIS A person, mo people, molu 3. FOR WRITING. A writing, safer o writer, saferla paper, kaito pen, (reed,) kallo book, buko the Book, (sacred,) Kitabo 4. FOR SAILING, &C. Canoe, kulungo paddle, j'ibo boat, bara oar, barajibo a sail, bassefano rope, bassejulo hook, dolingjulo fishing line, dolingo net, jalo 5. FOR RIDING. Saddle, kirkeo bit, (for mouth,) /a6o, karqfeo bridle, karafejulo stirrup, dilo spur, sebbero whip, owsa, fcomo 6. FOR WAR. Gun, Arictao gunpowder, kiddemunko cannon, peso pistol, pistoto sword, fango spear, tambo bow, kallo arrow, benyo sling, kutokato RELATIONS, &c. man, husband, keo woman, wife, vmso 40 GRAMMAR OF widow frigimuso child, dingo infant, dindingo youth, kambano boy, son, dinke maid, sunkuto girl, daughter, dingmuso parents, wulumolu father, fa,fama mother, ba, bamo brother, badinke elder brother, koto sister, badingmuso uncle, barring aunt, binki niece, barrinding marriage, fuluo bride, manyo bridegroom, manyotio neighbour, katanyo associate, kajfunyo friend, teri, terima master, mari mistress, marimuso servant, kunefa king's servant, batula disciple, talibo scholar, karandingo stranger, luntango citizen, satemo countrymen, dumolu name, to freeman, freio slave, captive, jongo VI.— THE The body, balo bone, kulo man-slave, jonke woman- slave, jongmuso OFFICIAL CONDITIONS* king, mansa queen, mansamuso prince, nobleman, nyantjo headman, chief, kuntio, ale/a alcaid, alkali chief of a town, ruler, keba chief priest, almame priest, (learned,) fode priest, (Mahomedan,) marrabu religious people, morolu prophet, kiia singing-man, (in a good sense,) donkilila TRADESMEN. carpenter, (native,) keserla carpenter, (European,) karpentero blacksmith,* numo trader, jirilo palm-wine maker, soarla singing man, (native buffoon,)t jallima labourer, dola labourers, dolalu butcher, riinsefarla writer, scribe, (writer of charms,) saferla charm, amulet, grigri cobbler, karankeo* BODY AND ITS PARTS, &c skin, balafato blood, yello * The blacksmith and cobbler are men of great importance amongst the Mandin- goes, and the king's blacksmith and cobbler take part in the royal councils. •f These are jesters precisely similar to those which formerly prevailed in the courts of Europe. They play antics, and have full liberty of speech ; but are not buried after death, their bodies being deposited in a hollow (monkey-bread) tree. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 4i head, kungo vein, fasso hair, kuntmyo forehead, fonge eye, nya eye- brow, nyakunkung eye-lash, nyatimpo face, nyada nose, nungo cheek, tamo, tamada ear, tulo mouth, da lip, daturo palate, dakonotosanto gum, timo tooth, nying tongue, nengo throat, kankruba chin, bombongo beard, bora neck, kango back, ko bosom, siso, sisio pit of stomach, sisikungo pap, sunjio belly, &ofto heart, sondimo liver, jmso side, kara rib, karakeso navel, batakungo loins, feo thigh, wu£o leg, singo knee, kumbalingo foot, singjambo heel, konkongo toe, sinkondingo large toe, sinkumba Cloth, (a pang,) /««o hat, shappeo nail, ngoringo arm, £w/o elbow, nonkongo wrist, bulokango hand, bulojinso palm of hand, bulotio finger, bulokonding thumb, bulokumba PECULIAR TO BRUTES. Wing, kampango tail, fenyo mane, jei&o horn, 6iwo hair, *io elephant's trunk, sammanumango claw, ngoringo APPURTENANCES, Voice, kumakang breath, mj'i spittle, do/io smell, sunkang taste, nenero touch, maro tears, nyajio ACCIDENTS. Lame, namataring, namatato deaf, tulukiring, tulukito dumb, mumuo blind, finkerlto, finkering cough, ero, copper, a penny, fatling-, sakentering, viz. fat sheep, fear, s. silango, der. sila, fear,, v. n. fearful, silaring. fold (sheep or cattle), koreo. forgive, kafferi, r. in a few in- stances tu. forgiveness, kaffirero, der. kafferi. fornicator, &c. (see adulterer, &c.) fox, meynjing, comp. meyn, grow, clear, cunning, smdjing, a thing" or beast, freely, jobale, der. jo, pay, viz. without payment, fulfil, timma, r. Ar. also ke, to do. Gentiles, Jentilolu, Lat. and Eng. gift, bunya, soro. glory, tento, nyimaro. Gospel, Anjilo, r. Ar. governor, kuntio ba 3 namely, the great chief, groan, v. nguntang. guide, silitarla, comp. silo, road, and ita, show hall, salo. high, santering, der. sang, above, or santo, up. high-priest, almameo, r. honeycomb, kanyolio, comp. kanyo, wax, and Jio, honey, honour, tento. hope, s. kikio, der. /ci/cj, v. hope, hour, wato. household, yamolu, comp. ya, pre- mises, and molu, people, humble, jusodoiaring , der. juso, heart, and doia, little, hypocrite, bunafeio. idle, kensinke, viz. nothing do. inherit, /ceo. inheritance, /ceo. innocence, jaubale, der. Jaw, evil, viz. without fault, joy, sewo,jusularo. judgment day, ulkiama, r. judgment hall, kiti-salo, viz. hall of judging, just, Minding, kekuyaring. justice, tilinkuo, kekuyaro. labourers, dolalu, der. do, work, lame (people), namatolu, der. na- mata, v. n. lame, leper, leprosering, der. leproso. leprosy, leproso, Gr. &c. lily, koiding, der. koita, v.n. white, viz. a son of whiteness, loaf, munkokung, comp. munko, bread, and kung, head, meek, sabatemo, or sabatering, der. sabate, a Jollof word for sabbath or rest. 62 GRAMMAR OF memorial, mirakuo, comp. mira, think, remember, and kuo, a thing", viz. a think thing, miracle, kawakuo, r. mourner, frigimo. murder, faro, der. fa, kill, murderer, farla. naked, balakensing, viz., body-no- thing", or body destitute, notable, tolaring, der. to, name, offer, v. di, kata. offering", (see gift), pardon, (see forgive), passover, laianlungo, r. patience, munyo, der. munya, wait, perfect, v. n. tilinta. persecute, batandi, causative of bata, afflict, persuade, sondi, causative of song, be willing, perverse, kumbambandering, comp. kang, head, and bambandering, strong, phylactery, safe, physician, jarrarla, der. jarra, heal, plague, limo, Gr. poor, s. pi. dobalu. power, fanko. praise, w.jamung, tentu. pride, fangwarandero, viz. the making oneself big. priest, fode, r. prisoner, julolama, comp. julo, bond, la, lie, mo, man. privately, nunderinto, der. nun, hide, promise, s. lahido, prophecy, folofo, comp. folo, first, before, and fo, tell, prophet, kila, r. Ar. proselyte, yellimaring, der. yellima, turn. punishment, jodiming, comp. jo, pay, and diming, painful. rebuke, sonka. reconcile, bendi, causative of beng, meet, agree. reconciliation, bender o. redeem, kamaku, a term applied to redeeming prisoners. redemption, kamakuo. regeneration, tungwulu, comp. tung, again, and wuluo, birth. renew, kuiayandi, causa, of kutaya. repetition, tunkumo, comp. tung, again, and kumo, word. rest, s. sabate (see meek). rich man, s.fankama, viz. a power- ful man. righteous, kekuyaring, der. kekuya. righteousness, kekuya, der, kekuta, v. n. it is right. rock, berriba, comp. berri, stone and ba, great. ruler, keba, marala, sacrifice, sakrafiso, Lat. and Eng. sacrifice, sakrafsa, do. scarlet, wulingo. schoolmaster, karamo. scribe, saferla. viz. a writer. seal, s. stampa, Eng. &c. seal, v. stampandi, secret, nunding, der. nun, hide, secretly, nunderinto, do. sepulchre, furunkame. show-bread, mesemunko, viz. table- bread . shore, ba da, comp. ba, river, and da, mouth, &c. silver- piece, koddoma, der. koddo, silver. sign, tamansero, r. sin, junubo, r. sinner, kujaukela, comp. kujau, evil, and kela, doer. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 63 snow, sanjikoi, comp. sanji, rain, and koi, white, sorcerer, lolofellerla, comp. lolo, star, fellerla, looker, sorrow, fitiro, kuio. sorrowful, kuiaring, der. kuiata, v. n. sorrow, sparrow, kununding, der. kuno, bird, viz. a little bird, stumblingblock, boindikuo, comp boindi, throw down, and kuo. suckling-, susuring, der. susu, suck, suffer, dunya. tempt, ning, viz. try. temptation, ningero, der. ning. tempter, ningerla, do. theft, sunyaro, der. sunya, steal, tithes, jakko, r. (tithes, or tenths, are known in Africa.) tradition, kotodiamo, comp. koto, old, ancient, &c., diamo, speak, saying*, treasury, koddibungo, comp. koddo, silver or money, and bungo, house or chamber, trespass, s. dimindero, der. diming, hurt, trespass, v. dimindero ke. tribes, simalu. tribute, kunkoddo, comp. kung, head, and koddo, money, unbelief, lannabalia, comp. lanno, faith, and bale, privative, unbelieving", lannabale. unjust, tilinbale, comp. tiling, just, and bale. unprofitable, tinebale, comp. tine, gain, and bale. unrighteous, kekubale, comp. keku, and bale. unrighteousness, kekubalia. vessel (of any kind), kerango, comp. ke, do, put, and rango, instrument, victory, bengo. vineyard, weinekunko, comp. weino, (Eng.) wine, and kunko, a farm, warn, lali. weak, bambambale, comp. k/»- bang, strong, and bale. wet, sinango. whiten, koindi, caus. of koita, v. n. white, whale, babasammo, comp. baba, great sea, and sammo, elephant, wicked one, jauma, der. jau, wicked, will, s. lafio, der. lafi, wish, wisdom, longo, der. long, know, wise man, lonna, do. witness, sedema, der. sede, v. wit- ness, woe ! subahana I word, command, kumo. worthy, nyang. yoke, sabbajulo, comp. sabba, draw^ SLti&julo, rope, &c. A FEW PROPER NAMES. Andrew, Andraus Bethany, Betania Bethlehem, Betlehem Caesar, Kaisar 64 GRAMMAR OF Christ, Messia Cyrenian, Kurenemo David, Daud Elias, Alia Farisees, Fariseolu Galilee, Galile Galilean, Galilemo Genessareth, Genesaret Gentiles, Jentilolu Herod, Herod Herodias, Herodia Herodian, Herodmo Holy Ghost, Alia Nio Isaiah, Ishia Israel, Israel Israelite, Israelmo Jeriko, Irika Jeremiah, Yeremia Jerusalem, Aurusalem Jesus, Issa Jew, Yahuda Jews, Yahudolu * John, Yohanna Jordan, Ardan Joseph, Yusef Judea, Yahudeya Kapernaum, Kafernahum Luke, Luka Mark, Markos Mary, Mariam Matthew, Matti Moses, Musa Nazareth, Nasaret Nazarene, Nasaremo Nathaniel, Nataniel Nicodemus, Nikodemos Olives, mount of, Tuloyire-konko Peter, Petros Sadducees, Saduseolu Samaria, Samaria Samaritan, Samariamo Sidon, Sida Simon, Siman Simeon, Simean Sodom, Sodom Tyre, Tiros Zaccheus, Sakeos Zacharias, Sakaria Zebedee, Sebede * Some of the Priests use, Hudiaiikolu. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 65 RELIGIOUS SENTENCES. May God do it ! May God make you g'ood ! Do you love God ? You must fear God Fear God, for God is great The Lord made the world, And every thing that is in it. God sees every thing The Lord is King of heaven and earth He spoke, and it was done, He commanded, and all stood fast. He is near to every man He is pleased with our prayer If God is your friend, Every thing will happen well. If a man does not pray to God, He will destroy his own soul. He sees us by night He keeps us by day May God forgive him A man cannot hide himself from God God alone knows the thought of the heart God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was all very good God is a Spirit, and whosoever worships him must worship him in spirit and in truth One man brought death into the world (literally, made death enter) The heart of man is wicked above every thing Do not deceive yourself; God is not mocked : whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap Alia m a kela Alia m i kela mo betteti le Alia kannu le ha ? Inyanta sila Allala Sila Allala, katuko Alia le warata Marl ye dunya deda, Aning fmgofing mem b akono. Alia kare kuolu bey felle Mart lemu Aryena ning dunya- mansoti Adiamota, wo keta, Akumata, obey lota bambamding. Abe kataring mo-omoye Ntolula sallo diat' aye Ni Alia mu alterioti, Fingqfing si nake betteke. Ning mo bikare salle Allaye, As qfang nio tiny a. Akare ntolu felle sutola Akare ntolu mabo tilolula Alia m a tuV aye ! Mo te qfang nun nola Allama Alia dorong le jusu-mira long Alia le fingofing felle, a men deda nung ; afelle, abey betteata Alia mu Nio leti ,■ mengomem be salleV aye, asi salle aye nioto ning tonyato Mo kiling ye saia dundi dunyato Mo-juso jauyata fingofinti Kana ifang ketu : yte Alia jelle nola ; mo ye mem fui, abe won- yong sot tola K 66 GRAMMAR OF God said, Let there be light ; and there was light God manifested his love towards us in this, that he sent his only Son into the world, that whoso- ever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting" life Jesus came to seek that which was lost, that he might save it He (whosoever) loves God, he will not fear to die Praise the Lord, for he is good : his mercy endureth for ever If a man have an hundred sheep, but one go astray (be lost) ; will he not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go and seek for that which is lost till he find it ? Jesus will come again in the clouds of heaven, to judge all men righteously : he will take the righteous with him to heaven; but he will send the wicked to hell-fire. Alia ko, Fo nuro si ke ,• nuro keta Alia y ala kanno ita ntolula nyin- to : katuko a y ading kiling ki dunyato; mensating mo-omo men lat' ala, ate tinyala, barri asi balu ahadaring sotto Issa nata wo nyinning mem filita 7iung,fo as a kisandi Mengomeng y Alia kannu, wo te silala sola Alsi Marl tentu, katuko abetteata ; ala hino be mela abada Ning mo ye saji kemi sotto, barri kilingo filita ; ate tang konanta ning konanta tula ulo kono, abe tala wo nyinning mem filita an a dye ? Issa si na kotenke Aryena-taualolu kono, abe molu bey kitila tonya- rinto ; asi tilindingmalu samba afe Aryenato ; barri asi kujau- kelalu ki Yahaniba-dimbato. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 67 SPECIMENS I. OF FAMILIAR TEACHING.* THE SHEPHERD : from Psalm xxiii. The man who watches his flock will care for them : so God will keep me, for I obey his commands. The shepherd leads his flock where there is good pasturage ; so God will instruct me in his righteous ways. The shepherd makes his flock to lie down where there is plenty of water ; so God will refresh me with his peace and love. The Lord will convert my soul, he will fill me with righteous- ness. Yea, though 1 walk through the dark path of death, I will not fear evil ; for God walks with me ; his power shall keep me, his love shall refresh me. Mo mem b ala sajiolu kantala asi simadung yto : wonyalema Alia si m mabo, katuko nkar ala kumo- lu moi. Sa-kantarla kar ala saji- olu samba je, nyame betto be dula- menna : wonyalema Alia si n nindi ala sila tilindingolula. Sa-kantar- la kar ala sajiolu landi ji siata dulamenna : wonyalema Alia si m foniondi ala hera ning kannola. Mari si njuso yellimandi, asi m fandi tilinkuola. Yei, ni mbe ta- mala saiala-sila dibboto, nte silala kujuuola : katuko Alia be tamala mfe ; ala fanko si m mabo, ala kanno si m foniondi. JESUS CHRIST. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is that Messiah who is to save the world. For all men have done wickedly, and therefore deserve to die. But Jesus pitied wicked man ; he left heaven, he came to the world, he suffered many things at the hand of sinners ; he died for us ; he was buried ; afterwards he rose from the dead, he ascended Issa Messia mu Alla-dingoti Ate lemu wo Messiati membe dunya kisandila. Katuko molu bey ye kujauolu ke, woto ynyanta sola. Barri Issa hinata mo jauolula ; a- bota Aryenato, anata dunyato, a kujama dunya kujaukelalu-bulola : asata ntoluye; ya bade, wokola awulitafurioluto, aselleta Aryenato, abesiring je Alla-bulobala. A y * The Mandingo of these is taken from the Second Reading book. K 2 68 GRAMMAR OF into heaven, he sits there at the right hand of God. He gave his words to his disciples ; he sent the Holy Spirit to teach the minds of men, that he might show them the right way. Jesus will come again in his glory, to judge all the world : he will send sinners to hell ; he will take good men to heaven, that they may dwell there with him, for ever and ever, Amen, ala Jcumolu di ala talibolula, a y Alia Nio hi fo asi mohi-jusolu nindi, fo asi sila tilindingo ita itolula. Issa sina kotenke ala nyinyaro kuno, fo asi dunya bey kiti ; asi kujaukelalu ki yahanibato : asi mo bettolu samba aryenato,fo ysi meje atefe abada abada, Amini. HEAVEN. Heaven is a place of happiness. God is king there; Jesus himself is there : there angels praise God : good men also shall be there for ever. Evil is not there ; pain is not there ; crying and grief cannot be seen there : hunger and thirst cannot seize men any more ; heat and cold are not there. But they shall rejoice, they shall obtain peace and love. For war is not there ; death has no being there ; there is nothing to afflict, in that happy place : but they shall live for ever and ever. In heaven the good shall shine like the stars, they shall be like the sun ; they shall have white rai- ment ; they shall dwell in the pre- senceof God. For, when their bodies rise from the grave, they shall be glorious as the body of Jesus Christ is glorious. Their spirits shall be perfected, they shall be filled with the bliss of God. Angels and men uniting shall rejoice to praise God and Jesus for ever and ever ! Amen. Aryena mu jusula-dula leti. Alia le mansaje : Issa fang beje ; maleikolu kare Alia jamung je ; mo bettolu fana si si je abada. Kujau te je ; diming te je ; kumbo ning Jitiro, mo te y dyelaje : konko ning mindo te mo mutala kotenke : kandio ning neno te je. Barri ysi jusula, ysi her a ning kanno sotto. Katuko kello teje-, saia te kela je ; Jinteje men si mo dimindi wo dula bettoto : barri ysi balu abada aba- da. Aryenato, bettimalu si mala ko lololu nyamenna, ysi molung ko tilo ; ysi fane koiringolu sotto • ysi me Alla-nyato. Katuko ni ybulolu wulita bade-dulato, ysi nyi- ma ko Issa Messia-balo nijimata nyamenna. Yniolu si tiling, ysija Allala-diakuola. Maleikolu aning molu kafj'uring ysi jusula y Alia ning Issa tentu abada abada, Amini, THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 69 II. OF PRAYERS. THE LORD'S PRAYER. Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven. Give us food this day. Forgive us our debts, for we forgive our debt- ors. Lead us not (make us not enter) into temptation : but save us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. Amen. Ntolu Fa membe aryenato. Fo ys ito miselmeyandi. Fo ila man- saro sina. Fo ila lafio si ke dunyato, ho aketa aryenato nyamenna. Do- mqfingolu di ntolula hi Lungola. Ntolula julolu tu ntoluye, katuko ntolu k are ntolula julomutalalu tu. Kana ntolu dundi ningeroto : barri ntolu kisandi kujauola. Katuko ite le tamu mansaroti, aning fanko- ti, aning tentoti. Amini, A CONFESSION. O God, thou art in heaven, thou art good, thou art perfect. But we have done wickedly : we have all left the right path. We are like lost sheep, who have no shep- herd. Our hearts are wicked ; there is nothing good in us. Therefore, O Lord God, have mercy upon us ! Forgive us all our sins. Renew our hearts, and make them clean : so that we may love and serve thee as we ought to do. Sanctify us now whilst we are in the world ; so that when we come to die we may enter heaven. We beg all this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. Ya Alia, ibe aryenato, ibetteata, itilinta. Barri ntolu nge hujauolu ke : ntolu bey bota sila kekurinto. Ntolu molunta ko saji filiringolu, yman kantarla sotto. Ntolu jusolu jauyata ; jing bette te ntolu kono. fVoto, Ya Mari Alia hina ntolula ! Isi ntolula junubolu bey kajferi nto- luye : isi ntolu jusolu kutayandi, ye y koindi : mensating ntolu s ite kannu ning batu, ko ntolu nyanta kela nyamenna. Isi ntolu miselme- yandi salng, ntolu be dunyato tuma- menna ■ fo ni ntolu bena sala nto- lu si dung aryenato. Ntolu ng i dani nying beyla, .Mari Issa Messia- tola, Amini. 70 GRAMMAR OF III. OF THE SCRIPTURES. (THE MANDING9 BEING INTERLINED WITH THE ENGLISH.) MATTHEW XX. 1—17. 1. Because of heaven the kingship is like as a house-possessor, 1. Katulco aryena- mansaro molunta ho buntio, who went out the morning- early, that he should labourers get his mem bota somanda juna, fo asi dolalu sotto ala wine-farm for. weinekunkoto. 2. He agreed with labourers (for) coppers eight,* he them sent his 2. Afeita dolalu fe hopper e sei, a wolu hi ala wine-farm into. weinehunhoto. 3. He went out of house likewise the hour the third in, he others 3. Abota bungoto wonyama wate sabbanjangoto, a dolu saw standing" nothing-do the market in. dye beloring hensinhe marseoto. 4. He said them to, You also go the wine-farm into, so that 4. Ako woluye, Alfana ta weinehunhoto, mensating whatever thing is right, I shall it give you to. They went. fingomen kehuta, ns a di altolula. Ytata. 5. Afterwards, he went out of house again hour the sixth, 5. Wohola, abota bungoto kotenhe wate woronjangoto, and ninth in, he likewise did. ning honantanjangoto, a wonyong he. 6. He went out of house hour ten and first in, he others 6. Abota bungoto wate tang ning kilinjangoto, a do also saw standing nothing-do. He said them to, Why is it kotengolu dye loring hensinhe. Aho woluye, Muneating you are standing here day all nothing-do ? „ albe loring Jang tile mumeo hensinhe ? 7. They said to him, Because man not work give us to. He said 7. Yhayenho, Katuko mo man do di ntolula. Aho them to, You also go the wine-farm to, that you shall thing get which woluye, Alfana ta weinehunhoto, fo alsi fng sotto men is right. hehuta, * Eight coppers or pence are a labourer's daily wages in the Gambia, thus inti- mately resembling the denarius. THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 71 8. The evening* came what time (or when,) of the wine-farm the mas- 8. Uraro nata tumamenna, weinekunkola-mari ter spoke his overseer to ; You shall the labourers call their pay kumata ala kantibaye ; Isi dolalu kill, ye yla jo give them to ; you beginning from the last one even the first to. di wolula ; ibe folola bring labangma ane foloto. 9. Then who came the hour ten and first in, every man 9. Wotumo menolu nata wate tang ning kilinjangoto, mo-omo they pence eight got. ye Jcoppere sei sotto. 10. The first ones came when, they hoped they shall more 10. Folomalu nata tumamenna, yhikita ysi lankang get ; but they also every man they pence eight got. sotto ; barri yfana mo-omo ye koppere sei sotto. 11. They it took when, they grumbled the householder 11. Ya muta tumamenna, yngungongunta band good at ; bettola ; 12. They said ; Those who came last they work done hour 12. Yko ; Wolu menolu nata labangolu ye do ke wate one only ; but thou them equalledst us to, who have day's kilinna dorong ; barri ie wolu kaniandi ntoluye, menolu nge tila- heat and distress borne. kandio fling bataro dunya. 13. But he of them one answered, he said to him ; My friend 13. Barri a wolu-kiling jabi, akayenko ; Nteri I not evil done you to ; you not agreed me with pence eight, eh ? mman kujau ke iye ; imam fei mfe kopperi sei ba ? 14. What is thy part that take go about your business ; I have 14, Mem mu itati wo muta, ta imuradola ; nge what given thee to, I will the like give the last ones to also. men di itela, nsi wonyong di labangmalula fana. 15. It is not right, eh, if I that do which pleases me my own 15. Aman keku le ba, ni nge wo ke men diata nye mfanna goods with ? Thy*eye is evil, because I am good, eh ? nafuloluto ? lnya jauyata, katuko mbetteata ba ? 16, Therefore last ones shall come first, but first ones shall 16. Woto labangmalu si na fololuti, barri folomalu si come last : because they many call, but they not many na labangoluti : katuko ye jamalu kill, barri yman jamalu choose. tombong. 72 GRAMMAR OF MATTHEW XXV. 31— END. 31. Of Man the Son comes his glory with when, and his 31. Adama-dingo bena ala tentofe tumamenna, aning ala angels holy all him with ; then he shall sit his maleika tilindingolu bey qfe ; wotumo asi si ala glory of throne upon. tentola-ganguneto. 32. They shall people all gather together him before, he shall them 32. Ysi molu bey kaffunyoma anyala, asi wolu separate, as a shepherd his sheep and goats separates in like tala nyoto, ko sa-kantarta y ala sajiolu ning balu tala nyoto nya- manner. menna. 33. He shall the sheep place his arm great at, the goats also his 33. Asi sajiolu londi abulo bala, balu fana ama- left at. rala. 34. Then the king shall say those to who are his arm 34. Wotumo mansa s a Jo woluye menolu b abulo great at ; Come ye my Father whom has blessed, Come ye the kingdom bala ; Alna mfa ye menu barakandi, Alna mansaro inherit which is prepared you for since the world was made. keo men lakurata altoluye kabring dunya dedata. 35. Because I was hungry before, you eat-things (or food) gave to 35. Katuko nkonkota nung, alye domofingolu dinna me ; I was thirsty before, you drink gave to me ; I was a stranger, mmindota nung, alye mingo dinna ; nketa luntangoti, ye were willing for me ; alsonta nye ; 36. I was naked (body destitute), before ye clothes gave to me; 36. Mbalakensingo, nung alye durifingolu dinna ■ I was sick, ye me visited, I be prison in before, ye came me nkurantale, alye n kumpabo, mbe bungjauoto nung, alnata Ti- to, kang. 37. Then the righteous also shall it answer, they saying ; Lord, 37. Wotumo tilindingmalu fana s a jabi, ybqfola • Mari, when we thee saw hungry, but we thee fed ; muntuma ntolu ng i dye konkoring t barri ntolu ng i domorindi ; and thirsty, but we thee made to drink ? aning mindoring, barri ntolu ng i mindi ? THE MANDINGO LANGUAGE. 73 38. When we thee saw a stranger, but we received thee ; 38. Muntuma ntolu ng i dye luntanding, barri ntolu sonta iye ; and naked, but we clothes gave to thee ? aning balakensing, barri ntolu nge dumjingolu di itela ? 39. When we thee saw sick or prison in, but we 39. Muntuma ntolu ng i dye kuranding fo bungjauoto, barri ntolu came thee to ? nata ikang ? 40. Then the king also shall answer, he saying them to, Truth 40. Wotumo mansa fana si jabi, abqfola woluye, Tonya I it say you to, because ye this like did one to who is little nga fo altoluye, katuko alye wonyong ke kilingmaye men doiata these my fellows among, ye it did me to. nying ndomalu tema, alya ke nteye. 41. Then he shall it say them to also who are his left at 41. Wotumo as a fo woluye fana menolu b amarala, Ye shall go far from me ye cursed, go fire eternal to, which Alsi jamfanna altolu nenditolu, alta dimba abadarinto, men was prepared Satan and his angels for before. lakurata Sentano ning ala maleikoluye nung. 42. Because I was hungry before, but ye not food gave to me ; 42. Katuko nkonkoto nung, barri alman domofi?ig dinna; I was thirsty before, but ye not drink gave to me ; mmindota nung, barri almam mingo dinna ; 43. I was stranging before, but ye not receive me, I was naked 43. Mbe luntanyala nung, barri alman song nye, mbe balaken™ before, but ye not clothes gave to me ; I was sick, I was prison singo nung, barri alman dunfing dinna ; nkurantale, mbe bung- in before, but ye not came me to visit. auoto nung, barri alman na nte kumpabo. 44. Then they also shall it answer, they saying ; Lord, when 44. Wotumo yfana s a jabi, ybafola ; Mart, muntuma we thee saw sick, or else thirsty, or else a stranger, ntolu ng i dye konkosring, warante mindoring, warante luntanding , or else naked, or else sick, or else prison in, but warante balakensing, warante kuranding, warante bungjauoto, barri we not you served, eh ? n tclu me i batu le ba ? 45. Then he shall them answer, he saying; Truth I it say you to, 45. Wotumo asi wolu jabi abafola ; Tonya nga fo altolu- because ye not it did of these little one to, ye it not ye. katuko alma ke nying domandingolu -kilingmaye, alma did me to. he nteye. L 74 GRAMMAR OF 46. Therefore, these shall go punishment eternal to, but 46. Woto, nyingolu si ta jorodiming abadarinto, barri the righteous ones shall enter life eternal into. tilinding-malu si dung balu abadarinto. THE END. London.— Printed by James Nichols, 46, Hoxton-Square. ;»M ^ ;?--■ /■ ^S^k^ [•,#: ■H m mm r i.^rv ^ •^ \ ■0 t fc Tfgw >^* 9BT« ii. *.>'*' -'-.* >-*=i-