THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES The CELLAR BOOK SHOP Box 6, College Park Sta. Detroit 21, Mich. - U.S. A. A GRAMMAR OF THE HAUSA LANGUAGE BY THE SAME AUTHOR THE LANGUAGES OF WEST AFRICA. 2 vols. Demy 8vo. Each 125. 6d. net. A linguistic survey of about three hundred languages and dialects, with Classification and inquiry into their origin. THE MENDE LANGUAGE, including Gram- mar, Vocabularies, Useful Phrases, and Reading Exercises. Crown 8vo. 75. 6d. net. A MENDE NATURAL HISTORY VOCABU- LARY. A description of the Fauna and Flora of the District, with Notes. Crown 8vo. 43. 6d. net. KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD. A GRAMMAR OF THE HAUSA LANGUAGE BY FREDERICK WILLIAM HUGH jMIGEOD AUTHOR OF "THE LANGUAGES OF WEST AFRICA," " THE MENDE LANGUAGE," AND " MENDE NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY." LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD. BROADWAY HOUSE, 68-74 CARTER LANE, E.G. 1914 Library ft- PREFACE x\ THIS Grammar is primarily for students who have already acquired some knowledge of the Hausa language. In its compilation the Author has been at pains to make the vocabulary as diversified as possible, so that there are few words in common use that have not been made use of. All rules, too, have been fully illustrated, and, as re- gards such as have only been slightly noticed by other writers, the Author has for preference selected sentences from texts to which all students of the language have access. In this way the existence of the rules themselves is more readily recognised. The origin of the Hausa language is not inquired into here, and etymologies are only occasionally examined. Both of these subjects were discussed by the Author in his recently-published work, "The Languages of West Africa," and a repetition seemed somewhat unnecessary. The same observation applies to the native script, which is Arabic slightly modified. It would have been viii PREFACE of little use to give here the alphabet alone, unless ac- companied by instructions for its use and by literary specimens with transliterations, translations, and critical notes; and to treat this subject adequately a great deal of space would be required : hence its entire omission. The proof-sheets of this work have been read by the Author's brother, Mr Charles Migeod, 2nd class Resident in Northern Nigeria. F. W. H. MIGEOD. GOLD COAST COLONY, March 1914 CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE . vii CHAPTER I PHONETIC NOTES Part I. ACCENT Penultimate Ultimate Antepenultimate Movement of . 1 Part II. INTERCHANGEABILITY OF LETTERS Consonants Vowels Omission of Syllables .... 3 CHAPTER II NOUN Nature of 9 Part I. DERIVATION OF NOUNS Simple Derived Description of Classes of Derived . . 9 Part II. GENDER Remarks on Exceptions for Gender in Neighbouring Languages Common Gender List of Nouns ending in "a" which are Masculine . .16 x CONTENTS PAGE Part III. NUMBER Methods for forming Plural Terminations Plurals of Simple Nouns of Verbal Nouns of Compound Nouns Nouns without Plural Nouns without Singular Use of Singular for Plural Plural Forms with Singular Meaning . . . . . . . . .. . * . 20 Part IF". CASE Remarks on Nominative and Accusative Vocative Genitive Dative Ablative Locative . 44 CHAPTER III ADJECTIVE General Remarks Simple Adjectives Compound Adjectives Present Participle Past Participle Nouns used as Adjectives Reduplication Syntax Predicative Use Circumlocution to avoid Use of Adjectives Comparison Numerals 49 CHAPTER IV PRONOUN Personal Relative Demonstrative Final "n" with Nouns Interrogative Indefinite Reflexive Emphatic Reciprocal . . . . . . . ... 72 CHAPTER V VERB Part I. DERIVATION Description of Classes of Derived Verbs ..... 101 CONTENTS xi PAGE Part II. DIVISION OF VERBS Transitive Intransitive 116 Part III. AUXILIARY VERBS 119 Part IV. CONJUGATION OF THE VERB Remarks on Conjugation Uses of the Tenses Passive Voice Infinitive Present Participle Past Participle Verbal Adverbs Use of Inverted Personal Pronoun Impersonal Verbs . . . . . . . .125 CHAPTER VI ADVERBS Remarks on Adverbs of Place Time Manner Affirmation and Negation Interrogation . . . . . .158 CHAPTER VII PREPOSITIONS Simple Compound Examples of Uses Omission of .183 CHAPTER VIII CONJUNCTIONS Co-ordinating Subordinating Nouns (with Particles) used in Sense of Conjunctions Examples of Uses . . . 201 CHAPTER IX INTERJECTIONS 208 CONTENTS CHAPTER X SYNTAX THE SUBJECT PAGE Nature of Examples Simple Compound .... 210 THE PREDICATE Simple, Nature of and Examples Compound Special Notes on 211 THE OBJECT Direct, Nature of, and Examples Double Indirect . .214 NATURE OF SENTENCES Affirmative Negative Interrogative Compound . . . 216 CHAPTER XI COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS, ETC. Salutations Seasons, Months, Days, Hours Che Chika Chi Da Dama Damre Dau Kai Kara Maida Sha Sa Samu Saura Yi Examples of Circum- locution 219 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 229 A GRAMMAR OF THE HAUSA LANGUAGE CHAPTER I PHONETIC NOTES PART I ACCENT, POSITION OF PENULTIMATE The stress accent is as a general rule 011 the penultimate syllable. ULTIMATE 1. It is on the last syllable in some few words, as " kadan," little. 2. In nouns taking the plural termination "ai." 3. In verb forms ending in "a" or "o" as vowels of direction. 4. When final " s " is added to a verb for " voice " purposes, as " zubas," from " zuba," to pour. ANTEPENULTIMATE There are similarly a few words that take the accent on the antepenultimate, as Magani medicine Takalmi shoe Taberma mat A THE HAUSA LANGUAGE MOVEMENT OF ACCENT 1. When an objective pronoun follows the verb, joined by " n," as in Present tense No. I., it takes the nature of a suffix to the verb, and the accent is shifted to the new penultimate syllable Jna dubansa I am looking at him 2. When a word is reduplicated the accent usually moves to the last syllable Chiye-chiye plural of infinitive form of " chi " to eat Maza-maza quickly ; but if not emphasised it remains " maza-maza " In reduplicated colour adjectives, however, the accent does not move. 3. In some derived nouns the accent moves towards the suffix ; in not a few, however, it remains unaltered Sayowa selling from saye to sell Jefawa throwing jefa to throw In the latter the final vowel is long, and so rather attracts the stress accent. 4. In some plural forms the accent remains on the same syllable as in the singular form, though the rule is that it should move towards the suffix Watani months from wata Hanaye hands ,, hanu Hanua hands hanu 5. If "mai-" is prefixed to a noun or verb, it still remains an accented syllable, and so the word it is prefixed to does not change its accentuation Maimagani doctor from magani Maimagana a person speaking ,, magana Maidoki horseman doki Maigaskia man of truth gaskia PHONETIC NOTES 3 PART II 1NTERCHANGEABILITY OF LETTERS CONSONANTS (1) Variation of Consonants Some variations are merely local peculiarities. L, R, T These letters are interchangeable in Hausa, for phonetic reasons, the same as they are in other negro languages. The word in most common use subject to this variation is the preposition "na," of. In the feminine gender it is " ta," which is commonly shortened to " t," and " t " in its turn may become " 1 " or " r." For instance Ya-t-malam, Ya-1-malam, Ya-r-malam, the mallam's daughter," are all equally correct. Biar, bial, and biat, five, are all heard. Halbi, harbi, to shoot ; and in Maiharabi for Maihalbi, shooter, an exaggeration of the " r " sound is shown. This emphasis of the " r " sound is also found in con- nection with the preposition " of." chiefly if not entirely in the Hausa spoken in the more northerly parts. It is especially found after a long "a." For instance Mine kamcriki ? What caught you 9 Kameriki = kamarki = kamaki R, S Saycr saycs sell .Saycruwa saycsuwa selling Arna asna heathen Ycr yea throw away llasso uk a bar so-uku up to three /////> Zuchias?u znohia-1-su 'heir heart 4 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE N or another letter for S Benne bisne burial Muka tarad da yaki for Muka taras da yaki We joined in battle P and F Fashe pashe break Tafshi tapshi (also tabshi, taushi) soft F and H (H is Katsina dialect). Fudu hudu four Funtu huntu naked person Tali tahi go Bafellanchi bahillachi Fula T, K, R Tutut, tutuk, tutur, tutu for ever N and M, the latter before a labial. Kulun kulum always Em bika ? for En bika ? Shall I folloiv you ? T, Ch, S Wotika, wochika wosika letter Tasubi chasubi bead It is often doubtful whether "ts" or "ch" should be written, though any doubt that there may be vanishes when the word is seen written in Arabic character. In this connection it should be noted that the Arabic "ta" or "tsa" is often written in Hausa for ' dal," and " shin " for " cha." Gb for B A very few words admit "gb " for " b," some speakers sounding the "g" where others do not. The "gb" is a sound of pure negro origin Gbache bache destroy Gboye boye hide PHONETIC NOTES (2) Vocalisation of Consonants In some parts of the Hausa country two consonants coming together are readily admitted. Elsewhere, especially nearer other negro influences, such combinations are not much found. Two alternatives exist either to insert an intermediate vowel harmonising with the other vowels in the word, or to vocalise the first consonant of the two. Nearer Arabic or Berber influences the harder forms are always found, but a negro of another tribe learning Hausa invariably uses one of the softer forms. It might possibly be supposed that it is the original form of the word which has the intermediate vowelj and that this vowel is eliminated to make the harder form. That the reverse is the case is made clear by the position of the accent, which is on the penultimate in the shorter form of the word, and remains on the same syllable, which becomes the antepenultimate, in the longer form of the word. The following are examples of the two processes Sarki Ber sariki beri chief leave Duk duka all Girma Damre girima darime, daure, dore big bind Amre Samri, samli aure sauri marry hasten Samri Kamna Takalma sauri kauna, kona takoma young man love shoe Zamna zona sit It may here be noted that syllables ending in a consonant occur more commonly in the middle of a word than at the end, the tendency being, as here seen, to eliminate or soften them Mafelfeohi fans Sarki (sariki) chief Tutuk (tutu) for ever 6 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE (3) Insertion of Semi-vowels after Consonants " W " is commonly inserted after " k " and " g " when followed by " o " Akwoi for akoi there is Gwonda gonda pawpaw Kwoi koi egg Kwomi (rare) komi everything Kwoiya koiya teach The semi- vowel "y" may be introduced after "k" and "g" before "i" and " e." This usage seems due to the influence of other negro languages. It is comparatively rare in the purest forms of Hausa, if the more northerly be taken as such, but it is found to be almost invariably made use of in the speech of negroes of tribes to the south- west when they speak Hausa. This is especially so in the Gold Coast Colony. Chauta, kyauta for keauta (written kauta) a present Kyetu ,, ketu flint Kyanwa kenwa cat Gyero ,, gero corn Nevertheless this introduction of a semi-vowel plays a very considerable part in the formation of nouns derived . from verbs in Hausa, indicating that this same influence existed long ago, even if there has been an interval in which it has ceased to operate. For example, when the root of a word ends in " t," the final vowel being " a " or " o," and for some grammatical reason this vowel is changed to " e " or " i," a " y " sound creeps in, with the effect of adding a sibilation Sata sache = satye steal Bata bache = batye destroy Kotanta kotanche = kotantyi compare This is very clearly seen in the participles Batache = batatye destroyed Batachia (f.) = batatyia But Batatu (plu.) PHONETIC NOTES 7 For the same reason are Tarsa tarshe=tarsye help llaii.su bahaushe = bahausye Hausa Contraction of W and Y These semi-vowels are often elided either in a derived word or even when two words come together, the latter applying to " y." It is often doubtful whether it is more correct to write them or to omit them. It must, however, be observed that their insertion seems preferable in some words, and it is better to omit them in others Tafowa = tafoa coming Tafiy a = tafia going Zanowa = zanoa cloths Gaisuwa=gaisua salutation Sunkai = sunka yi they did The appearance of " w " or " y." in the verbal nouns depends on the associated vowels; "a," " o," "u" requiring " w " ; " i " requiring " y " ; and " e " either. This interchangeability is seen in " na wuni " = " na yini," / spend the day. VOWELS (1) Variation of Vowels There is a great tendency in Hausa to use short vowels, and many words are pronounced indifferently with long and short sounds. This practice may be possibly due to the former existence of closed syllables now no longer recognisable. That they have existed, however, may be seen from such words as " tutuk," or " tutu," for ever. A " A " is in many words so short as to seem also " e " or " u." Teffi fc r tafi g Serki sarki chief Dere .Seyesua Mini dare saycsua in. mi night netting to me Fudda t'.nl.i tell 8 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE The prefix " mai- " is usually pronounced as " may " in English, and not as the sound in the word " might." A and Waje=woje side Wani = woni another Wannan = wonan this A and U Mamu = mumu to us Maku = muku to you I and U Filani (Hillani) = Fulani, Fulas Fukaf uke = fikafike feather Rufe = riffe call Mutane = mittane men (2) Omission of Vowels Final " i " is the one most commonly elided. This usually takes place when an objective pronoun is joined to the verb Ban san'shi ba Ba na sani shi ba I do not know him Na gan'sbi Na gani shi I saw him Ber'sbi Beri shi Let him The first personal pronoun " ni " is shortened to " n " in " zani" Zan' for Zani / will go Other elisions Gareshi = garesa = garuss towards him Masa = muss to him Akasa = akass on the ground Ya manche tagia tass He forgot his hat Omission of Syllables There are found both long and short forms of words. The short forms are usually poetical Dau, do, for dauka take up* CHAPTER II NOUN NOUNS are simple and derived. They have gender and number, but are not inflected for case. PART I DERIVATION OF NOUNS Simple nouns are those of which the origin cannot be traced beyond the present form Gona farm karifi strength Derivatives are such nouns as can be traced to their primary parts Mai-gona farmer Mai-karifi strong man All infinitives may be used substantively without change of form Kcdaya-n-sa da wuya To count it is difficult (lit., count- ing of him with difficulty) Chi-n-sa da dadi ft is nice to eat Fade-fade ba yi ba (proverb) Talking is no good Do-n-so, ya rasulu, domi-n-so- Because of love, Prophet, because n-fiyaye of love of God (lit., Excellence) (For further examples see under the Verb (Infinitive).) Derivation of nouns takes place by means of prefixes and suffixes, and sometimes by means of both together. 9 10 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Derived nouns are formed in the following ways : Concrete nouns 1. Noun with personal particle prefixed. 2. Noun with material particle prefixed. 3. Verb with personal particle prefixed. 4. Verb with material particle prefixed. Abstract nouns 5. Verb with prefix. 6. Noun with suffix. 7. Verb or adjective with suffix. Verbal nouns 8. With suffix or unchanged. Concrete nouns 9. Feminine nouns derived from masculine form. 10. Nouns ending in " ya." 11. Compound nouns. 12. Adjective used as noun. 13. Noun phrases. Description of Classes of Derived Nouns 1 . Concrete nouns formed from other nouns with personal particle prefixed. There are four particles relating to persons : " ba," " da," " mai," " ma." Ba " Ba " means inhabitant of a country, and is compounded with place names for the most part Ba-haushe Hausa man Ba-hausa Hausa woman Ba-kano Kano man Bature white man (Further examples are given in the tables of plurals.) Da (" ya " feminine) " Da," meaning child, is compounded with place names when it means native of. With other nouns it acts as NOUN 11 a diminutive. Unlike ' ; ba," the preposition " n," of, is inserted Da-n-Kano native of Kano Da-n-birni native of the city Da-n-akwia kid Da-n-zunzua a little bird Feminine. Ya-l-Kano femal': native of Kano, daughter of Kano Also in some idiomatic cases. Da-n-zane a fragment of cloth Da-n-bindiga soldier Mai " Mai " means ovmer of or doer, and expresses the agent, Mai-gona owner of a farm Mai-gaskia a man of truth, or one speaking the truth Mai-wayo a cunning person Mai-shi the owner of it (shi is the 3rd personal pronoun) NOTE. " Mai " also forms adjectives and the present participle, which see. Ma " Ma " is a personal particle as well as a material particle. It has a similar sense to " mai," as a personal particle, but it is not compounded with nouns in their simple form Mafauta, butcher, from fauta, slaughter, itself derived from fawa, to slaughter Mafauchi, butcher, from fawa (fauchi is not found) Makaranchi, scholar, from karanta, to read (karanchi is not found) 2. Concrete nouns with material particle prefixed. There is only one prefix, " ma-." As in the preceding class, it is prefixed, not to the pure noun form, but to a derived form Matsorachi, cowardice, from tsorachi, which is a derivation of tsoro, to fear, but is not found alone Mafauta, place of slaughter, from fauta, slaughter. 12 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 3. Concrete nouns formed from a verb with a personal particle prefixed. These particles are " mai " and " ma" Maihalbi Maikoiyo Mai-aski Mai-giri-baba marksmen, hunter learner one that shaves she of the big eyebrows Ma from halbi to shoot koiyo to learn aski to shave The final vowel is " i " generally Makami one that catches Makiyi hater Makoiyi teacher Makeri blacksmith Maso one that loves Makiayi herdsman Makiaji one who refuses to hear from kama to catch ki koiya kira so kiwo ki to hate to teach to forge to love, to want to tend cattle to refuse, ji to hear 4. Concrete nouns formed from verb wiih material particle prefixed. These are the particle " ma," and also the nouns " abu," thing, and " wuri," place. Ma The final vowel of the verb changes to " i " Madafi Madubi Makami Mashidi Mazamni kitchen looking-glass trap halting-place seat from dafa duba kama shida zamna to cook to look at to catch alight, to encamp to sit down Abu, Thing The preposition " n," of, enters into the composition of the word, and " abu " usually takes the form " obi," which is never found alone Abi-n-chi Abi-n-sha Abin-mamaki or Abu-n-mamaki Abin-sara Abin-tsoro Abin-worigi food drink a wonder, miracle accusation a thing to fear plaything from chi sha raamaki sara tsoro worigi to eat to drink a marvel (is a noun) to accuse to fear play (a noun) NOUN 13 Wuri, Place. This prefix also requires the preposition " of Wuri-n-kwana Wuri-n-kiwo Wuri-n-rubutu Wuri-n-sabka Wuri-n-shida sleeping-place pasture writing-place halting-place halting-place from kwana kiwo rubutu shida to sleep to feed cattle to write to alight to alight, (i.e., from horse or camel) 5. Abstract nouns formed from verbs with prefix " ma-." The final vowel becomes " i " Makari Mabani Mafari end hindrance beginning from kare hana fara to finish to hinder to begin 6. Abstract nouns can be formed from concrete simple nouns with the suffixes -chi (m.) and -ta (f.) -n-chi (m.) -n-taka (f.) " n " being the preposition of " -N-chi origin Bauchi is of Kano origin and " -n-taka " of Sokoto bauta kauta kariata makafta wauta sarauta -chi (m.) and -ta (f.) slavery from bawa present beauty , keao lying blindness folly kingdom karia makafo wawa sariki slave beauty lie blind man fool king -n-chi (m.) -n-taka (f.) Bakunchi bakuntaka strangeness bnko stranger Baranchi barantaka service bara servant Daianchi daiantaka singleness daia one Diyanchi or diyantaka freedom diya free person, diyauchi offspring Gadonchi gadontaka inheritance gado inheritance (abstract) (concrete) Malanchi raalantaka priestcraft malam priest Raganchi ragantaka laziness rago idler Sarkanchi sarkantaka kingship sariki king Tsiranchi tsirantaka safety, salvation tsira save Ubanchi ubantaka fatherhood uba father 14 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Yaranchi Yawanchi Zarumchi Fulanchi Hausanchi Turanchi yarantaka yawantaka zarumtaka youth (abstract) multiplicity bravery what belongs to the Fula what belongs to the Hausa what belongs to the white man yaro yawa zarumi boy many brave man, or zarmi body-guard Fula Fula Hausa Hausa ture the white man's country 7. Abstract nouns formed from a verb or adjective with suffix. The suffixes are " -chi " and " -ta." -chi (m.) This is never added to a verb alone. The prefix " ma- ' is added as well. Some of these words have a concrete as well as an abstract meaning Maaikachi Mafauchi Marokachi Marowachi Matsorachi labour and labourer aiki slaughtering and butcher fawa begging and beggar roko greediness rowa cowardice -ta (f.) Chiwuta sickness chiwo Gajerta shortness gajere Kasamta uncleanness kasami Kuturta leprosy kuturu Mugunta evil mugu work (n. and v.) to slaughter to beg to be greedy and covetousness fear (n. and v.) sick (n. and v.) short unclean to be leprous bad 8. Verbal nouns are formed with the suffix " -wa." a Many verbs do not take this suffix, but the infinitive is used with the same sense. Verb forms ending in " -da ; " for instance, do not admit of it. A few nouns in this list have practically a concrete sense. Their gender is feminine Baiwa giving, gift ba to give Chewa saying che to say Dubawa looking duba to look at Fitowa coming out fito to come out 1 See also under Derived Verbs, class 8, and Present Participle. NOUN 15 Gamuwa meeting Gaisua saluting, salutation Kaiwa bringing (a present to a chief) Kamuwa catching Karewa ending Koiyawa 1 Koiyasuwaj \ teaching Lalachewa idling, idleness Mutuwa dying, death Rabuwa separating Rantsuwa swearing, oath Tafia travelling Tareya assembling Tsirawa saving Tadowa raising gamu to meet gaishe to salute kai to bring kamu to catch kare to finish koiya to teach lalache to be idle mutu to die rabo to separate rantse to swear tafi to go tara to assemble tsira to scwe tada to raise (For other examples, see under plural.) It will be noticed that for translation into English the present participial construction is used. The verb form in " -as " also admits of this suffix Tayesuwa Fitasuwa helping taycs (taya) coming out fitas (fita) to help to come out 9. A few nouns with a feminine meaning are derived from the masculine by some slight modification of the word, together with the addition of " a " as the terminal vowel. Kane younger brother kanua younger sister Da son dia daughter Sariki king saraunia king's wife Yaro boy yarinia girl (For other examples, see under gender.) 10. " -Ya " is suffixed to a few verbs to make concrete nouns Kaya (m.) load kai to bring Mashaya drinking -place sha to drink 11. There are no real compound nouns in the Hausa language, but two nouns may be joined by the preposition "of" Kada-n-gari lizard (lit., crocodile of the town) Ka-n-duki upper room (lit., head of room) Rua-n-sha drinking-water 16 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 12. An adjective may be used as a noun. Ko gida-n-sariki ko na talaka Whether the house of a chief or of a poor man 13. Noun phrases or noun sentences, These are mostly found in proverbs Hauka-1-ba-ni magani-n-ta: (For) the madness of "give me," Ungo the remedy is : " take it " Yao da gobe ke sa gini- " To-day and to-morrow " is likt n-rijia da alura having a well dug with a needle Magani-n-kada aji, kada The remedy for " let it not be ayi heard " is " don't do it " Also Ya tafo wurina do-n-gaishe-ni He came to salute me PART II GENDER Gender is grammatical. It is divided into masculine and feminine, and there is no neuter. The names of males are all masculine, and of females all feminine. The names of things and abstractions are either masculine or feminine according to their termination, the same applying to verbs when used in a noun form. A noun cannot be feminine except it ends in "a." Nouns ending in " e," " i," " o," " u," and consonants are with the few exceptions of nouns representing the female sex, masculine. Those ending in " a " are feminine, excepting those which represent the male sex and a few others. The gender of each noun is given later under the plural. Gender could be ignored as having a separate existence in a language if there were not other words, such as adjec- tives and pronouns, modified to agree with the noun according to the idea it represents. This is strictly so as regards plural, for, as will be seen in the chapter on the adjective, no distinction of gender is made in a noun when in the plural number. For instance Mutum nagari good man mache tagari good woman Mutane nagargaru good men mata nagargaru good women NOUN 17 Exceptions for Gender Although there is a gender to every noun, and nouns ending in " a " are assigned to the feminine gender, there is a great tendency to classify as masculine many nouns ending in " a " which are not the names of human beings or animals. This is especially common with those nouns which are used for prepositions, and is usually put down to carelessness in speaking. It is, however, a debatable point whether carelessness is possible to any appreciable extent with the mother tongue. It certainly exists with the written language, but the written form of a language always differs from the spoken form. The latter is the mother tongue, and it is learnt naturally much the same as the other functions of life, and accordingly varies but little from century to century unless subjected to some strong foreign influence. It may therefore be taken that the apparent mistakes in gender are in reality idioms of the language which admit of perfect explanation, and their existence may be in accordance with a more influential rule of the language. Seeing that it is by the adjuncts alone that the gender of a noun can be ascertained, the use of the masculine form for the feminine naturally requires some explanation, and it is in connection with the preposition " of " (" na," "n" for masculine, and " ta," " t," "1," " r," "t" for feminine) that the greatest uncertainties are found. This preposition as a copula, it may here be stated, plays a very important part in the structure of sentences. The reason for the apparent exceptions that are found can only be ascribed to the more exigent rules of euphony. It is a common feature in some languages for words in a series to be made to agree with each other either in an initial syllable or in some other way. In Hausa itself this is found in the pronouns, in which " mini " is found for " mani," " mumu " for " mamu," etc. ; and grammatical gender is probably largely assignable to the same reason. 1 When, therefore, apparent mistakes in gender are made, they must be put down to a rule of euphony over-riding a rule of grammatical gender, the latter being but the offspring of the former. 1 #ee Languages of West Africa chapter on Gender B 18 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Gentler in Neighbouring Language.* Hausa together with a few languages to the south and east of it are the only ones in West Africa which indicate masculine and feminine gender. In Hausa gender is further developed than in Angas and Bolanchi to mention only two of these languages and so far as is at present known the latter only distinguish it in the pronouns, and not in the adjective as in Hausa. To such an extent is the gender idea developed in Hausa that adjectives, pro- nouns, verbs, and prepositions are all under its influence. A great many other languages in West Africa have a neuter gender, Avhich distinguishes things from persons effected by means of the 3rd personal pronoun singular, but they do not in any way recognise masculine and feminine gender. Hausa with its neighbouring languages form, therefore, a little group by themselves as regards gender. The sex of living things is distinguished in three ways : 1. By different words for male and female Uba father uwa mother Uba-n-gi ji master uwa-1-gida or mistress of the house uworigida Miji husband mata wife Mutum man mache woman Namiji male tamata female Ango bridegroom amaria bride Sarmayi youth budurua virgin Wa elder brother ya or iya elder sister Bunsuru he-goat akwia she-goat Rago ram tumkia ewe ToroJ male elephant giwa female elephant Doki horse godia mare Rakumi camel tagua female camel Zakara cock kaza hen (Other examples will be seen in the tables of plurals.) 2. By adding words representing male or female Da-n-gari townsman ya-1-gari townswoman Da-n-uwa brother ya-l-uwa sister Zakara-zabi male guinea-fowl zabua female guinea-fowl NOTE. " Zabi " is apparently the plural form of the word " zabua." As the common form of many animals, birds, etc., NOUN 19 is the feminine form, it is to this that the word " male " (" na-miji ") is added when it is necessary to indicate the sex. For birds " zakara," cock, is more generally used, 3. The feminine may be formed from the masculine by a different termination to the same root. The masculine may end in any vowel, but the characteristic termination of the feminine is " a " in the syllable " ia," " ania," " nia," or " unia," as Anabi Ba-fulache prophet Fula man anabia ba-fulata prophetess Fula woman Ba-haushe Hausa man ba-hausa Hausa woman Ba-ture white man ba-turia white woman Bara Barao Bawa Da servant thief slave son or free- barania baraunia bauya or baiwa diya female servant female thief female slave daughter or free- man woman Gobro Jariri Kane Mayi bachelor infant boy younger brother wizard gobrua jariria kanua mayia spinster infant girl younger sister witch Mafauchi butcher mafauchia female butcher (See further under derived nouns, supra.) Sariki Tsofo Yaro Alfadari Babe Gado Rare Maraki \ Marcki / Sa San Safe chief, king old man saraunia tsofua boy yarinia mule alfadara locust babania hog dog gadonia kariya calf maraka butt sania young horse safia morning safia king's wife old woman girl female mule female locust sow bitch female calf cow young mare morning To these may be added a number of abstract nouns, which, if formed with the termination " -n-chi " (K) are masculine, but if with the termination " n-taka " (S) are feminine Yaranchi yarantaka youth (See list of derived nouns in Part I.) 20 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Common Gender Some nouns relating to persons are of both genders. These include most nouns formed with the prefix " mai-," as Mai-aiki worker Mai-karia liar Mai-gaskia speaker of the truth Others with the prefix " mai- " so exclusively represent the duties of men that they can only be of the masculine gender, as Mai-yaki warrior mai-gona farmer mai-doki horseman It is to be noted that nouns with the prefix " mai- " are unchanged for gender, but those with the equivalent prefix " ma- " take a gender termination. List of Some Nouns ending in" a" which are Masculine (Names of human beings and animals of the male sex are not included). Baba 1 Baka Baya 2 Bisa 2 Gaba 2 Gida Guga Igia Kama 2 Kasa Kaya Kusa Kwaya greatness Magana 2 speech bow Nama flesh back Rana day (m. and f.) 3 top Rijia * well front Rua water house Suna name bucket Taberma mat rope Tsaka 2 middle likeness Tsofa old age ground Wata moon and month load Yawa crowd nearness Zuma honey ear of grain (See further under plural forms.) PART III NUMBER There are two numbers in Hausa the singular and plural. The plural is formed in a great variety of ways, 1 Commonly used as an adjective. 2 These nouns, though commonly masculine, are also met with in the feminine gender. When used as prepositions the masculine gender is commonly preferred. 8 Rana=ttw is fern. NOUN 21 and is extraordinarily rich in forms. Many nouns have as many as four plural forms. Most of these forms were originally, no doubt, of dialectic origin, but with the spread of the Hausa language as a lingua franca they have come to be used indiscriminately or so as to suit the harmony of the sentence. Some are more commonly used than others, and it is possible that there are slight distinctions of meaning, which are now quite disregarded, or, at all events, rarely paid any attention to. Among such possible distinctions are the definite as against the indefinite state, a collective sense as against one that preserves the dis- tinctions of the individuals, or duality as against plurality. In the present state of knowledge no etymology offers itself for any of these plural suffixes. The plural in any language has probably originated in one of the following three methods l which, however, often become greatly corrupted, and when adopted into another language cease to be recognisable 1. Reduplication. 2. Addition of an adjective meaning " many " or " all." 3. Addition of the word " they " or " them." 1 . The first method is found in Hausa both in its purity and also modified. When modified the last syllable of the word is duplicated, and some change is also made in the final vowel, as Iri-iri from iri kind, sort Hainyaiyai hainya road Dakunkuna Hakukua Takardodi Kofofi Yasosi daki hut, room haki grass takarda paper kofa door yasa finger The reduplication of the last syllable takes the forms "(b)obi," "(d)odi," (f)ofi," "(g)ogi," (k)oki" (s)osi," "(t)oti" or "(t)oshi," " (w)owi," " (y)oyi," etc. All these terminations must in reality be regarded as one alone, for the last consonant in the word that is, the one in the appended termination is made to agree with the last consonant in the stem. This adaptation rather recalls what is not dissimilar in Wolof and Temne, the 1 See the languages of West Africa chapter on Plural. 22 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE article in those languages being made to agree consonantly with the radical consonant in the noun ; and a similar har- monisation also exists in the Ba-Ntu languages. 2. As regards the second method, there is not a single one of the many terminations that can be connected with such words as " many " or "all." 3. As regards the third, the same may be said, though this method is found in Angas. On the other hand, in Bolanchi, a language similarly related to Hausa, the plural forms are as varied almost as they are in Hausa. The Terminations The commonest plural termination is " ai," which is substituted for the last vowel of the noun, as " haske," " haskai," light. Almost all, if not entirely all, nouns taking this ter- mination can take also the termination " (-)o(-)i," the last consonant' of the noun which stands before " o " standing also between " o " and '' i," as " haske," " haskoki." Further, these same nouns can probably all take the ter- mination " una," the last vowel of the noun being changed to " u." Other terminations are " ni " and " ki," usually added to nouns ending in "a," as wata watani month rana ranaki day kwana kwanaki day of twenty-four hours Nouns ending in " a " will often change " a " into " u," as takarda takardu paper fitila fitilu lamp Some nouns add " aye " or " aje," changing the final vowel to " a " if necessary, as Sana sunaye name Gida gidaje house Hanu nanaye hand Kifi kifaye fish The foregoing are the commonest ways of forming the plural number, but, as can be seen in the following lists, NOUN 23 there are a great many other methods, and some nouns may have several different forms. Use of Plural Terminations. TERMINATION TO UNBROKEN STEM ai una (-)o(-)i ki wa u J c ye INANIMATE THINGS AND ABSTRACT NOUNS common used used not used used used very rare common common common not used not used common rare found more frequently than ' je" but not so commonly used as other terminations ni used used used Other plural terminations occasionally met with are a," and " i," and other variations. Accent ai the accent falls on ai last syllable una u as a rule, but sometimes on the ante- penultimate syllable SIMPLE NOUNS PLURAL (The form in common use is marked with an asterisk.) Persons Common Formation MASC. Aboki Alkali Almajiri Ango Barao Dogari Fasiki FEM. AI O-I abukia aimajira abokai abokai alkalai almajirai abukiyoyi baraunia fasika barai and barayi dogarai fasikai anguna friend friend judge disciple bridegroom thief soldier 2>rojligale 24 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE MASC. FEM. AI -O-I UNA ENGLISH Jagaba jagabai guide Jariri jarirai baby Galadima galadimai minister Hakimi hakimai governor, ruler Jika jikata jikoki grandchild Kafira kafirai and heathen kafirawa Kane kanua kanai kanoni and young kanena brother, young 4 sister kwuyanga kuyangai female slave. kwiyanga In plural applied to both sexes Kisbia kishiyoyi rival wife Kuruma kurumai deaf person Munafiki munafikai hypocrite Musulmi musulmai Moslem Shagiri shagirai beardless person Sbaida shaidai shaidodi shaiduna witness and shaidu Turdi turdodi and snake turdawa charmer Zabiya zabiyoyi musician Zabiya zabiyoyi albino, species of date Zarumi zarumai bodyguard, brave man Zuma or zumuna friend zumu Ki Not used Wa Anabi anabawa prophet Kafiri kafirai kafirawa heathen Majusi majusawa magician Madugu Turdi raadugawa turdodi turdawa chief of a caravan snake charmer Mafada mafadawa counsellor See also nouns with prefix " ba- ' NOUN 25 U MASCi FEM. PLUEALS ENGLISH Aljan aljanu demon Balagaga balagagu young man (adult) Dakara dakaru bodyguard Marare or marania (f.) marayoyi, marayu orphan maraya (m.) Hadaka hadaku stranger who refuses to account for himself saraunia sarauniyoyi sar- wife or sister of a auniyu king Shaida shaidu, etc., see witness previous list Je and ye Barao baraunia barayi and barai thief Bebe bebaye dumb person Boka bokaye wizard Buzu buzaye a person half Hausa half Tawarek Dengi, denga, dengoyi family relations deggi Gabro (gobro) gabrua gabraye, and bachelor and spinster, (goburo) gaguare wifeless man, and so either widower or bachelor Gata gataye spy Gimba gimbaye younger son of a chief, also a large white seed used as a bead mata mataye, mataitai, wife matataki Rago ragua ragaye,* ragaje idler raguaye, raguna uwa uwaye and iyaye mother and parent* Yaro yaraye and yara* boy yarinia yaraye, yara, and girl yamata Ni Baba babani eunuch Kaka kakani* kakoka grandfather, ancestors Manzo manzani messenger Wada wadania wadani dwarf 26 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Nouns that admit of a broken stem or change of word MASC. FEM. PLURALS ENGLISH Baba mainya great man Bardi baradine horse soldier Bawa bayi,* bai. bawoyi slave bauya (S) bayi, bai female slave baiwa (K) bayi, bai female slave Da diya. dia, ya yaya,* diya (S), son, child, free yayaya Malam malamai, maluma mallam Miji namiji rnaza,' mazaje, husband, male mazai maehe mata woman Mutum mutane * (S) mut- man, person (mutume) antani (K) Falke fatake trader Kuturu kutare leper Sariki sarakai. saraki, king sarakuna * sarkania sarakai, saraki, reigning queen sarakuna * Sarmayi samari youth under twenty (samrai) or samri (gaure) Uba ubane (K), ubanai father (S) Wa yeyu elder brother Plurals unclassified Bara Bako Dodo Kafo Manomi (monomi) Makeri Tsofo Talaka barania barua, barori, servant barurua budurua badurai bakua baki, bakuna, bakokuna dodonai kafi monoma raakira tsofafi, tsofi talakawa virgin stranger sprite blind man cultivator blacksmith old man poor NOUN LIVING THINGS Common formation 27 MASC. FEM. AI -O-I UNA ENGLISH. Bika bikoki baboon Biri birai birori, biruna, monkey birari, biraye Bunsuru bunsurai he-goat and bun- suraye Dabbo dabbobi live-stock (dabba) and dab- bo ni dila diloli jackal Dukushi dukusa dukusai young horse dorina dorinai hippo- potamus fara farori faruna locust fara-n-dere farori - n - black locust dere gafia gafiyoyi rat goda gododi small dark- coloured antelope Gunzu gunzuna pig Jaki jakania jakai * jakuna ass and jaka Kada kadodi crocodile (kado) Kankeso kankesai cockroach kenwa kenwai kenwuna cat kunama kunamai scorpion Kurege kuragai jerboa Kurtumi kurtumai ox Kusu kusai mouse Machi ji l machijia machizai snake Rago ragai ragogi raguna * ram Rakumi rakumai rakumomi rakuma * camel shirua shiruyoyi hawk tagua taguai taguyoyi female camel Takarikari takarikarai bullock Taki takoki locust of sorts Zaka zakania zakoki lion, lioness Zomo or zomai hare zomu " j " is soft here, and " z " is almost " sh." 28 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Ki Not used with living things Wa Not used with living things, persons only U MASC. FEM. PLUBALS ENGLISH Alfadari alfadara alfadaru mule gada gadu small reddish antelope hankaka hankaku and crow hankaki Maraki maraka maraku calf (mareki) tantabera tantaberu dove Zakara zakaru cock Je and Ye bera beraye rat Berdo Gadu (gyadu) gadonia berdaye gadaye, gadoji, pigeon pig gadania gaduna Kifi giwa giwaye kifaye female elephant fish Kudi (kuji) k iul a kudaje fly kura kuraye hycena mujia mujiye owl Meke mekia mekiye a species of eagle Zunzu zunzaye, zunzuaye bird Ni gara garani white ant Broken stem akuya (akwia) akuyai, akuyoyi, she-goat awakai, awaki * Doki bauna bakani, baunaye dawakai,* dawaki buffalo horse Kare karia dokuna (dowakai) karnai, karnuka dog Sa sania shanu bull, cow kaza kaji hen tumkia tumaki sheep NOUN 29 Unclassified MASC. Kwado Kwaro Kwikuyo or kurkwiyo (Zakara zabi) Tabri Toro FEM. PLURALS ENGLISH barewa bareyi antelope bisa bisaisai, bisoshi, animal bisashe * gamraka gamraki crested crane godia godi mare hankaka hankaki, hankaku crow kagua kagunai crab kwadia, kwaduna frog, toad kwari black moth kurichia kurichecheki, dove kurichiyoyi kwikuye young of animals zabua (sabua) sabi guinea fowl tabra castrated goat torone bull INANIMATE THINGS Common formation -O-I UNA adodi albasosi Ado (m.) Albasa albasai (m. or f.) Akurike(m.) akurikai Alama (f.) alamomi Alfuta alfutai (m. or f.) Aljifa (m.) aljifai * aljifofi or aljifi (m.) Alura alurai * alurori (m. or f.) Awoza (f.) awozai or awaza Baki (m.) Banto (m.) Bata (f.) batochi Bindiga (f.) bindigogi Buka (f). bukogi Bulala (f.) bulalai Bunu (in.) bunai aljifuna (aljifu) ENGLISH splendour onion fowl coop sign head kerchief pocket needle rib, side (bakakuna) mouth and bakuna bantuna towel small box made of skin gun tent whip of hippo- potamus hide grass for thatch, dark blue striped cloth 30 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE AI -O-I UNA ENGLISH Chibia (f.) chibiyoyi navel Chinia (f.) chiniyoyi thigh Daki (m.) (dakunkima) room, hut and dakuna* Danga (m. or f.) dangogi garden, fence Doiya (f.) doiyai doiyoyi doiyuna * yam Duggo (m.) dugogi drop or digga (f.) Dukia~(f.) dukoki and riches dukiyoyi Dundu (m.) dundai dundodi dunduna * yam Dunia (f.) duniyoyi world Fada (f.) fadodi blow Fada (f.) fadodi chief's court Fata (f.) fatuna skin Fikafike (m.) fikifikai wing Fukafuki fukafukai wing (m.) Filafile (m.) fulafulai paddle or fulafule Fitila (f.) fitilai fitiloli lamp (fitilu*) Fure (m.) furai furori flower (furaye) Fuska (f.) (fuskaikai) fuskoki fuskuna face Gaba (m.) gabobi front, breast Gamba (m.) gambobi a grass, a kind of hoe Gado (m.) gadai gadodi gaduna * inheritance Gado (m.) gadodi and bed (gadaje) Ganga (f.) ganguna drum Garike (m.) (garka) garikuna, enclosure or gerke (m. ) gerkuna Garwashi garwashoshi burning char- (m.) coal Gembo (m.) gembuna ulcer on body Geza (m.) gezuna ear of corn, mane Gilmi (m.) gilmomi cross Gora (f.) goruna calabash, cup Goriba (f.) goribai goribobi a palm and the mats made of it Guga (m.) gugogi guguna bucket Gungume gungumai tree stump (m.) Gwaza (m.) (gwazoyi) gwazuna a kind of sweet or Goza potato NOUN 31 Al -O-I UNA ENGLISH Haba (m.) habobi chin Hako (m.) hakoki pitfall Hanchi (m.) hanchochi nose or hanshi Harufi (m.) harufai letter of or harifi alphabet Hainya (f.) hainyai also hainyoyi* hainyuna road hainyaiyai Harshi harshuna tongue (halshi) (m.) and halshina Hatsi (m.) hatsai and hatsoshi hatsuna corn, wheat hatsaisai Haskc (m.) haskai (S) haskoki (K) haskuna (K) light and hask- aikai (S) Hatiya (f.) hauyoyi (and hauyuna hoe hauyi) Hiska (m. or f.) hiskoki wind Jgia (m.) igiyoyi (and rope Iko (m.) ikoki power Iri (m.) irai irori (irare) kind, sort and (iri-iri) lyaka (m. orf.) iyakoki boundary Jika (m.) jikoki jikuna sack Jiki (m.) jikuna body Jigo (m.) jiguna post, beam Kango (m.) kangogi ruin (kangaye) Karufa (f.) karufai riding boots Kataruka (f.) katarukuna bridge or kaderko Kasua (f.) kasuai * kasuwoyi market Kilago (m.) kilagai hide Kiriji (m.) kirijai breast Kofa (f ) kofofi and door (kofanu) Kogi (m.) kogai koguna and lake, river kogina Kosfa kosfofi peel, dregs (kwosfa) (f.) Kufita (m.) kufitai riding boots or kufta with spurs Kugiya (f.) kugiyoyi hook, clasp kogia and kogua Kumbu (m.) kumbai kumbnna scale, finge nail 32- THE HAUSA LANGUAGE AI -O-I UNA ENGLISH Kurada (m.) kuradai small round hatchet Kurafu kurfuna hide whip (kurfu) (m.) Launi (m.) launai launoni also colour (launuka) and (launi- launi) Lebo (m.) lebuna lip Leferu (m.) leferai pad for donkey's back Lotu (m.) lotai lotochi lotuna season Lufudi lufudai quilted coat (m.) Madafa (f.) madafai cannon Malafa (f.) malafai malafuna large straw hat Marede (m.) maredai millstone Molo (m.) moluna music (banjo) Muddu (m.) mudduna a measure Muria (m. or f.) muriyoyi voice Raga (f.) ragoyi net bag Kami (m.) ramuna hole Randa (f.) randuna large earthen pot Rega (f.) reguna rags Riga (f.) rigogi also riguna * clothes (rigaigai) and (rigunoni) Rumbu (m.) rumbuna storehouse Saiyi (m.) saiyoyi shelter shed Saiga (f.) salgagi cesspit Sanda (m. orf.) sanduna stick Sanduki(m.) sandukai box Sanfo (m.) sanfuna basket Sarauta (f.) sarautai sarautochi sarautuna * kingdom Sarika(m.) sarikoki chain Sefa (f.) and sefofi spleen saifa Shekara (f.) shekarai shekarori and year (shekaru *) Shantali sbantalai kettle (santali) Sheria (f.) sheriai judgment Shia (f.) or shiyoyi quarter of a him shirori town Surdi (m.) sur(a)dai surdodi surduna saddle Sufadu (m.) sufadai inner shoe Tabo, (m.) tabuna dirt spot NOUN 33 AT O-I UNA ENGLISH Takalmi (m.) takalraai takalmomi, shoe also (takalma) and (takaluma) Takarda (f.) takardai takardodi, takarduna book, paper also takardu * Tanfasiia (f.) tanfasuai * (S) tanfasuwoyi needle Tafarnua (f.) tafarnai garlic Tago (m.) taguna shirt Tada (f.) tadodi custom Tafariki (m.) tafarkoki way, method Tagula (f.) tagulai bracelet Taiki (m.) (taiku) taikuna bag, bundle Tamraro (m.) tamrarai, star (tauraro) also (tam- r ai and (tamraru) Taru (m.) taruna net Tasunia (f.) tasunai tasuniyoyi story Taro (m.) tarori crowd, heap Tasa (f.) tasoshi cup Taska (f.) taskoki store-room Tasubi (m.) tasubai bead (chasubi) Toka (f.) tokuna ash Tofo (m.) tofuna leaf Tsafi (m.) tsafuna idol Tufa (f.) tufofi and shirt, clothes (tufua) (tufafi) Tudu (m.) tudodi hitt Tumbi (m ) tumbuna stomach Turuba (f.) turobobi path Tuta tutoshi flag Wakati (m.) wakatai time Wake (m.) (wakeke) wakuna bean Wando (m.) wanduna trousers Wuri (m.) wurai, also wurori wuruna place (wurarc) Yatsa (yasa) yatsochi* yatsuna finger (f.) yasosi* (yatsaitsai) Zargi (ra.) zarguna loop Zobi (ra.) zobuna ring Zunubi (m.) zunubai sin (zunaba) THE HAUSA LANGUAGE U This list includes words of foreign origin SINGULAR PLURALS ENGLISH Albada (f.) albadu albadodi strip of cloth Alkaria (f.) alkariyu village Alkeba (f,) alkebu cloak Gargasa (f.) gargasu large fish with red tail Hamata (f.) hamatu arm-pit Kafada (f.) kafadu kafadodi shoulder Kagara (kagarua) kagaru barricade (f.) Kwarmi (m.) kwarmu socket, joint Labari (m.) labaru news Mashi (m.) masu spear Ragaita (f.) ragaitu idleness Ragaya (f.) ragayu supporting rope Rai (m.) raiu, raiuka life Refi (m.) (refo) refu, refuna branch Shegifa (f.) shegifu shegifofi mud house Silia (m. or f.) siliyu siliyoyi silk Takarda (f.) takardu and paper other forms (see previous list Tamraro (m.) tamraru and star other forms (see previous list) Zamani (m.) zamanu time, season Fili (m.) Gainya (f.) Gado (m.) Gauta (m. or f.) Gawoi (m. Gida (m. Gimba (f.) Guiwa (m.) Gujia (f.) Gwaza (f.) Hanu (m.) Kango (m.) Kulu (m.) Kusurua (m.) Je and ye filaye gainyaye, gainye gadaje, gadodi gautaye gawaye gidaje, gidadaje gimbaye guiwaye gujeye, gujiyoyi gwazoyi, gwazuna hanaye, haniia* (K) kangaye, kangogi kulaye kusuroyi cultivated plain leaf bed egg-plant charcoal house seed used as a bead knee ground nut (also geda) sweet potato hand ruin whip mark corner NOUN 35 iiua (m.) Suna (m.) Soro (tsoro) (m.) Wuya (wiya) (m. or f.) Waje (woje) (m.) ruaye, ruwaiwai sunaye,* sunanaki soraye wiyayi wosashe (wojaje) water name porch, etc. neck side, place Ka, Ke, Ki Gona (f.) gonaki farm Kauye (m.) kauyuka hamlet Kwabri (m.) or Kauri kwabruka f kaurori ( dead tree Kwana (m.) kwanaki,* kwanuka day of twenty-four hours Rai (m.) raiuka, raiu life Rana (f.) ranaki,* ranuka, day ranakai Suna (m.) sunanaki, sunaye, name Banna Tsuma (f.) tsumoki rags Wake (m.) wakeke, wakuna bean Wuka (f.) wukake knife Zaure (m.) zauruka porch Nouns that admit of a broken stem SINGULAR BROKEN STEM FORM OTHER FORMS ENGLISH Aiki, (m.) ayuka, ayuyuka, aikuna work aikoki Akoshi (m.) akusa wooden dish Aska (f.) asaki askoki razor Bashi (m.) basusuka debt Chiawa (f.) cbiayi grass Damcbi (m.) damasa upper arm Duchi (m.) duatsu rock Faifai (m.) fiyafai woven fan or dish- cover Farichi (m.) faruta (S) finger-nail Galma (f.) galemi galemun a j a a v s e o g r f ff*' oe Gulbi (m.) gulabo river, lake Gumki (m.) gumakai idol Itachi (m.) itatua (K) itshuna (S) tree (itchi) Jijia (f.) jiwoyi vein Jirigi (m.) jirage boat Kabaki (m.) kaboka heap Kai (m.) kawuna, kauna, head kawana, kanua 36 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE SINGULAR BROKEN STEM FORM OTHER FORMS ENGLISH Kaimi (m.) kayami spur Karifi (m.) karafa karifuna strength, iron Kasko (m.) kasaki kasku pot, cup Litafi (m.) litatafi book Mafuchi (m.) mafelfechi fan Rijia (m.) rijoyi well Rotsi (m.) ratsa blow Takobi (m.) takuba sword Tukunia (f.) tukuane (tukwani) pot Wuri (m.) kurdi, kudi cowry Zuchia (f.) zukata zutochi heart Plurals unclassified SINGULAR PLURALS EKGLISH Abu (m.) abubua thing Algarib (m.) algaribi red and black seeds of a certain plant. Alhari (m.) alharini silk Birni (m.) birane and birnua city Bobawa (f.) bobaiyi foreign speech (in a bad sense) Chiawa (m.) chiayi grass Gare (m.) garuruka white tobe Gari (m.) garurua, garu- garigaru town ruka Garkua (f.) gariki shield Gashi (m.) gasusuka hair, u-ool Gatari (m.) gatara, gatura gatarua hatchet Geme (m.) gema beard Gera (gira) (f.), gerare, gerori eyebrow Giginia (f.) gigangani, gigin- giginai fan palm yoyi ( 1. gourd used as Gora (f.) gororo water-bottle I 2. walking-cane Goro (m.) gworra kola nut Habaichi (m.) habaitai abuse, secret signs Habaki (m.) habaka cloud of smoke Haki (m.) hakukua grass Hakori (m.) hakora tooth Ido (m.) idanu (K) idanduna eye Ijia (f.) ido (S) pupil of eye Kafa (f.) kafafua, kafufu foot Kafo (m.) kafoni kafuna horn Kama (m. and karaanu likeness f. (rare)) Kashi (m.) kasusua, kassa bone NOUN 37 STNOTTLAE PLURALS Kasa (m. and kasashc,* kasaisai Kasko (m.) kasku Karkara (f.) Kaya (m.) kayayeki Kaya (f.) kayayua Kibia (f.) kibao Kufai (m.) kufaifai Kune (m.) kunua Kurji (m.) kuraji Kushewa (ku- kusheyi sheya) (f.) Kwoi (m.) kwoinyaye Magana (m. maganganu and f.) Magani (m.) maganguna, magunguna Rafi (m.) rafufuka Rafonia (f.) rafoni Rufogo (m.) rufogi Tafia (f.) tafifia Tulu (m.) tuluna Tumfafi (m.) tumfafia Turumi (m.) turami Wada (f.) wadata Wata (m.) watani,* wdtanai Zane (m.) zaniiwa, zanoa kasaki kakarori kiboyi kurareji rafuna watasbi ENGLISH land, country cup, pot plain load thorn arrow ruins ear scab grave egg word, language medicine stream storeroom storehouse going, travel pot a tree producing fibre for rope a mortar riches month cloth VERBAL NOUNS PLURAL Infinitives The infinitive when used as a noun forms the plural by reduplication with a change of form Chi Sha Gudu Koyo Rubutu Karat u chiy6-chiy6 eating 8haye-8hay6 drinking fuje-guj6 running oyd-koy6 learning rubuche-rubuch6 writing karanch6-karanche reading Verbal Nouns in " -ia " This form takes the plural termination " -o-i." Tafia tafiyoyi travelling 38 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE KANO Baiwa baiwoyi Batawa batawoyi Chirawa chirawoyi Chidawa chidawoyi Fitaswa fitaswoyi Jefawa jefuwoyi Sayowa sayowoyi Sayaswa sayaswoyi Tarawa tarawoyi Yasuwa yasuwoyi Ziibawa ziibuwoyi SOKOTO basuwa basuwoyi bataswa bataswoyi chersuwa chersuwoyi chisuwa chisuwoyi fisuwa jefaswa sayoya fisuwoyi jefaswoyi sayawoyi saysuwa saysuwoyi tarsuwa yazwa tarsuwoyi yazuwoyi ziibsuwa ziibsuwoyi giving losing saving feeding pulling out throwing buying setting assembling throwing away pouring out PLURALS or COMPOUND NOUNS FORMED WITH PARTICLES Ba MASC. FEM. PLURAL ENGLISH OF MASC. SINGULAR Ba-haushe ba-hausa hausawa Hausa Ba-larabe ba-laraba larabawa Arab Ba-fulache ba-fulata fulani (fulbe is Fula (Ba-filache) the Fula plural) Ba-ture baturia turawa European Ba-tone batonia, ba-tona tonawa Ashanti Ba-gobiri ba-gobiria gobirawa Gobir man (Gobir is part of Hausa) Ba-sudani ba-sudania sudanawa Sudanese Ba-kano kanawa, kanowa Kano man Ba-zabarimi zabarimawa Songhay man (Zabarimi is the eastern part of Songhay) Ba-askare J askarawa soldier Ba-fadi l (or fadawa counsellor bafada) Da Da-n-kano ya-1-kano yaya-n-kano Kano man Da-n-alaro ya-1-alaro yaya-n-alaro carrier Da-n-alkaria ya-1-alkaria yaya-n-alkaria villager Da-m-banza ya-1-banza yaya-n-banza worthless person 1 The association of " ba-" with any other than a place name is rare. NOUN 39 MASC. Da-m-birni Da-n-daki Da-n-doki Da-n-gari Da-n-rago Da-n-su Da-n-uwa ya-1-birni ya-1-daki ya-1-doki ya-1-gari ya-1-tumkia ya-l-su PLURAL yaya-n-birni yaya-n-daki yaya-n-doki yaya-n-gari yaya-n-rago yaya-n-su ENGLISH OF MASC. SINGULAR citizen servant colt townsman lamb fisherman with hand net ya-n-uwa (short brother for yaya-n-uwa) Mai All are common gender in singular, and masculine in plural, as are all nouns Mai-aiki masu-aiki Mai-chi masu-chi Mai-daki masu-daki Mai-doki masu-doki (masu- dawaki) Mai-gaskia masu-gaskia Mai gona masu-gona Mai-karia masu-karia Mai-magani masu-magani Mai-yaki masu-yaki Mai-hankali masu-hankali Ma Persons MASC. FEM. PLURAL Madumki madumkai Makiyi makiya Mahaife mahaifa Mafada mafadawa Makafo makafi Suffix -chi (m.), -chia (f ). (The " ma- Machiuchi machiuchia mdchiuta Mafauchi mafauchia mafauta Mahaukacbi mahaukachia mahaukata Makofchi makofchia makofta (makubchi) Makaranchi makaranchia makaranta Marubuchi marubuchia marubuta Masallachi masallachia masallata Masunchi masunchia masunta worker eater or big eater house-owner horseman speaker of truth cultivator or owner of farm liar doctor fighter wise man ENGLISH tailor personal enemy parent counsellor blind man is accented.) sick person butcher madman neighbour schoolboy writer praying person fisher 40 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE MASC. and FEM. Madafa (f.) Madaffa (f.) Machidi (m.) Mafari (m.) Mafuti (m.) Magani (m.) Makari (m.) Mahayi (m.) Mariki Masallachi (m.) Mashayi (m.) Mazamni (m.) Mafauta (f.) Machiuta (f.) Mahaukata (f.) Makaranta (f.) Masunta (f.) Things PLURAL madafai madaffai machidai mafarai mafutai maganai makarai mahayai, mahayoyi marika masalatai mashayai mazamnai cannon kitchen feeding-place beginning resting-place outlook end step handle mosque drinking -place seat Suffix -ta (singular), -tai (plural) mafautai slaughter -place place of sickness machiutai mahaukatai makarantai masuntai place for mad people school fishing-place No prefix Suffix -ta (singular), -tochi (plural) (ch is in lieu of " t " before " i ") Chiuta (f.) chiutochi sickness Fauta (f.) fautochi slaughter Haukata (f.) haukatochi madness Karanta (f ) karantochi schooling Sallata (f.) sallatochi worship Sunta (f.) suntochi fishery The foregoing are examples of three meanings derived from the same stem the person, the place, the action, the latter, however, being without a prefix. The plurals of abstract nouns are rarely used in practice. PLURALS OF OTHER ABSTRACT NOUNS WITHOUT PREFIX Suffix -ncM (m.), -ntaka (/.) The first is of Kano origin and the other of Sokoto origin. Abstract nouns with these terminations can from their nature be but rarely put in the plural Sarkanchi sarkantochi sarkantaka sarkantakoki kingship NOUN 41 A list of some of these nouns is given under the deriva- tion of the noun. It is to be noted that both forms take the plural termination "-o-i" adapted with the proper consonant. PLUBALS or COMPOUND NOUNS Prefix Abi-n- Compound nouns formed with this prefix do not usually take a plural. The plural of " abi-n-tsoro " could be rendered " abubua-n-tsoro " that is, things to fear ; but this rather directs the emphasis to the word " thing," and the compound practically becomes dissolved. The words " abinchi," food, and " abinsha," drink, are in such common use, however, that they have ceased to be regarded as having component parts, and so the plurals are formed on lines as if they were simple nouns, as Abinchi abinchai, abintochi Abinsha abinshai Prefix Wuri-n- If nouns compounded with this word are put in the plural, " wuri- " takes its ordinary plural form, and, as with " abi-n-, the compound noun becomes dissolved. Wuri-n-kwana wurare-n-kwana sleeping-place OTHER COMPOUND NOUNS Other compound nouns which do not take a plural to the first part of the word are rare Kandaki (kai-n-daki) kandakuna upper storey NOUNS WITHOUT PLURAL There are a great many nouns which do not admit of a plural. 1. Nouns denoting mass cannot form a plural Zinaria (f.) gold Hazi corn Kura (f.) dust Azurufa (f.) silver Alkama (f.) wheat Zumua (m.) or Shinkafa (f.) rice Rua-n-zumua honey 42 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 2. Parts of the body Jini (m.) blood Nama (m.) flesh Nono (m.) milk 3. Abstract nouns expressing faculties of the mind Yirda (f.) belief, etc. Murna (f.) joy Tsoro (m.) fear Tamaha (m.) hope 4. Most abstract nouns cannot form a plural (and others only rarely) Mugunta (f.) badness Keau (m.) beauty Tsarki (m.) holiness Bauta (f.) slavery Gaskia truth 5. Nouns of position Bisa (m. and f.) top Tsaka (m. and f.) middle 6. Designations of time Safe (m.) or safia (f.) morning Mareche (m.) evening 7. Sundry Kama (f.) cubit Zaka (f.) land tax NOUNS WITHOUT A SINGULAR Nouns without a singular are rare. The following are some of which no singular form can be traced Dasashi (K), dasori (S) gums of the mouth Kekarai swelling in the hand.t Tuguai, tuguaye, taguaye twins USE OF SINGULAR FOR PLURAL There is a strong tendency among the Hausa people to use the singular for the plural. In this tendency they are only following the common practice of other West African languages, in which the plural suffix is an independent word or particle, and is movable to the last word in a sequence of words, it being incorrect, and indeed impossible, to affix it to more than one word. In such languages the phrase "ten big things" becomes "thing big ten," or " thing bigs " for " big things." The numeral or some NOUN 43 similar word takes the place of the plural suffix, but cannot accompany it. In the chapter on the adjective it will, however, be seen that Hausa does not fall in with these languages beyond having the preference for the singular form over the plural form, and in this respect it lies closer to European languages in its construction. It is only in very correct Hausa, indeed it might be called pedantic, for the noun to be put into the plural form when there are qualifying words. When the noun stands alone it must of course be put in the plural number to complete the sense. Otherwise it is correct to use the singular. Examples Mutum biu sun zo Two men have come Sarakuna sun zo The chiefs have come Hainya-r-nan da duchi (or da This road is rocky duatsu). Ya yi shekara biu ban ganka ba It is two years since I saw you Kwana-mu goma muna tafia We have been ten days travelling Ku dauki kaya Take up your loads Andamre kaya duka ? Are all the loads tied up ? Muka beri kaya-mu a wanigari We have left our loads in another town (i.e., all together) (If the plural were used here, it would refer to each one's individual load separately. ) Shi ne ya fadi ku mutane dan He it is he tells (you) you sons of Adam Adam Shekaru - n - ka nawa ? Saura How old are you ? In three months wata uku en yi (or chika) / shall be twenty years old shekara ashirin Saura kwana uku ku gamma In three days more you will have aikinku finished your work Mugunta da suka yi ta komo The evil that they did came back bisa kainsu upon their own heads PLURAL FORMS WITH A SINGULAR MEANING There are few plural forms of nouns in Hausa which are used with a singular meaning in a slightly different sense, as 1. Mache woman mata women 44 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE but " mata " is commonly used as a term of respect in addressing any woman Sanu, mata ? How do you do, madam ? " Mache " is never used in such a way. " Mata " also means wife, as which it takes a plural, "mataye," etc. Enna matanka ? Where is your wife ? certainly not " Where are your women ? " But Mata nan suna noma ; bayi ne These women are ploughing ; they are slaves 2. Wuri cowry shell kurdi cowries but " kurdi " is commonly used meaning money or price. PART IV CASE There is no inflection of the noun for case. As in English, the position of the substantive with regard to the verb decides whether it is nominative or accusative ; and what would be the genitive, dative, ablative, or locative cases are indicated by prepositions. It is under prepositions, therefore, that this subject is in reality treated. The following, however, is a brief outline of the declension of the noun with appropriate prepositions : SINGULAR Nom. mutum man Voc. kai mutum you man ke yarinia you girl Ace. mutum man Oen. -n-mutum ( = na mutum) of a (or the) man Dot. ga mutum to a (or the) man Abl. da mutum with a (or the) man Loc. a bainya on the road PLURAL Nom. mutane men Voc. ku mutane you men kai mutane you men NOUN 45 Ace. mutane men Gen. -n-mutane (na mutane) of men Dat. ga mutane to the men Abl. da mutane with men or with the men Loc. SYNTAX OF THE CASES The nominative and accusative are used in the same position in a sentence as they are in English. Mutum ya chi nama The man ate the meat Mutane sun chi nama The men ate the meat Vocative In the vocative the pronoun " you " precedes an unqualified noun, and is distinguished for gender. In the plural the singular pronoun masculine may be used as well as the plural pronoun. This usage points to the supposition that the pronoun has degenerated into an interjection pure and simple Kai yaro I ka zo 1 You boy I come ! Ke yarinia ! ki zo ! You girl t come I Miji na 1 Mi ya sameka ? My husband ! What has happened to you ? In formal address the Arabic interjection " ya " may precede the pronoun or noun, as Ya sidi ! sir ! Ya ku Israilawa ! you Israelites I Genitive i This case is formed by two substantives connected by the preposition " na," of, the possessed object standing first, the possessor last, or it may be formed by two nouns in apposition in the same order but with no copulative. The latter construction is perhaps less common on the whole. "Na" in the masculine becomes "ta" in the feminine. These long forms are not very frequently met with, 1 See particularly under Preposition " na." 46 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE however, but are shortened and vary for euphony as follows : Masc. " Na " = " n," " m," " d," or omitted if the last vowel of the noun preceding is "a." Fern. " Ta" = " t," " r," " 1," according to dialect as well as euphony. In Kano " r " and " t " are preferred, but in Sokoto " 1." In Kano " n " is also used. Fre- quently the " r " is scarcely heard, and so it seems as if there were two nouns in juxtaposition, as is common in other West African languages e.g., Yoruba, Igara, Nupe, etc. Also the masculine form <; n " is commonly heard where the feminine would be technically accurate. Plural. In the plural " n " alone is used, in accordance with the rule of the language that gender is not recognised in the plural number. Examples Yaro-n-sariki the boy of the king Yara-n-saraki the boys of the kings Da-n-uwana The son of my mother i.e., brother, cousin, etc. Ya-t-malam ~\ J ihe P riest ' 8 Ya-n-malam J Yaya-n-malam the priest's daughters Yaya-n-malamai the daughters of the priests Akwia-r-bako the stranger's she-goat Awaki-n-bako the stranger's she-goats Mutume-n-sariki the chief's man It is to be noted that the accent on the word represent- ing the object possessed is changed, as Yarinia the girl Yarinia-t-sariki the chief's girl Another way of expressing the genitive is the use of a possessive pronoun. Sariki matansa the chief his wife Example of Nouns in apposition Bako gari ba ka zo dadai ba A strange city to which you have never before come NOUN 47 Dative To express the dative the usual prepositions are " ga " and " ma." Ya fadi ga bature or Ya fadi ma bature He said to the white man Ya bayes rua ga dokinsa He gave water to his horse If a place name is mentioned the preposition is omitted Ya tafia Kano He went to Kano Otherwise it is inserted Sun tafi ga wani gari They went to another town After the verb " to give," the preposition is often omitted and the position of accusative and dative inter- changeable Ba yaro keauta Qive the boy a present Ba da uwalsa Give the child to its mother If for a simple noun in the dative case there is sub- stituted a series of nouns in apposition, the preposition may still be dropped Shi ne ya fadi ku mutane dan Adam He it is who speaks to you, you sons of Adam Ablative It is not always possible to express this case directly in Hausa. In other West African languages the difficulty is even greater, and from the English point of view a circum- locution has to be made use of, as : " He took-it-out his hand " f or " He took it from him " ; " He got up at Kano he went Sokoto " for " He went from Kano to Sokoto " Na fi to daga Bornu / come from Bornu Yaushe ka samu wotsika gare-sa ? When did you receive the letter from him ? lit., towards him (the idea of motion being represented by " samu ") Compare the contrary idea Yaushe ka aike wotsika gare-sa ? When did you send the letter to him ? Anema dayawa gare-sa There will be required much from (lit., towards) him 48 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Locative case The equivalent of the locative is effected by many pre- positions of place, but especially by "a" Doki shina tsaye a huinya The horse stands in the road Baya-n-gida behind the house A baya-n-gida behind the house (but more emphati- cally in one locality behind the house) CHAPTER III ADJECTIVE APART from numeral adjectives, which will be treated separately, the adjective is of two kinds simple and compound. Simple adjectives show gender and number, but not case. Compound adjectives do so also, except those com- pounded with " da," which show neither. GENDER The feminine gender is formed from the masculine of simple adjectives by the addition of " a," " ia " (" iya "), or " ua " (" uwa ") to the stem, the final vowel of the masculine form, whatever it may be, being dropped. In compound adjectives either the same rule may be followed or there may be no change, but in the single case of " nagari," good, there is an initial change. PLURAL In the plural there is no indication of gender at all. The plural is formed in the same way as with nouns, but there is a preference for the vowel " u " as a termination. DERIVATION Simple adjectives are those which cannot be derived from other parts of speech. 49 P 50 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Compound adjectives are formed from nouns with the prefixes " na-," of, " mai- " = owner, " mai-ras" or "ma-ras," the contrary of "mai-," " da- " = with, and " babu-," without. In addition to the foregoing the present and past participles are treated as adjectives. The present participle is formed by "mai-" or "ma-" being prefixed to the verb stem. The past participle is formed by an amplification of the stem. MASO. Algashi Baki Baba Banza Dainye Dogo Fan Gajere Gurgu Ja Karami Kankane Kadan Kakabra Kekashe Kore Mugu Rama, ramame Rawaya Sabo Shudi Tsofa Wofi Yofi Yarani Duka FEM. baka baba SIMPLE ADJECTIVES algasai, algasu babaku (S), babaki (K) babuna, mainya green black ("baba" is in reality a noun meaning greatness) banza banzaizai (S), banzayi (S) worthless dainya dainyu, dainyoyi fresh dogua dogaye (S), doguna (K) tall fara farfaru or farfaru (S), farfare white (K), faraye, farare gajera (S), gajeru, gajerai short gajeria (K) gurgua guragu lame ja jajaye red karama, karama, karamai small karamia kankanwa kanana, kankana (K) small kadan kadan little, few kakabra kabrara fat kekasa, kekasu dry, dried kekasashia koria kworre green mugunia miyagu bad ramamia thin rawaya rawayu (S), rawayai (S) yellow sabua sababi. sabui new shudia shudodi, shuduna light blue tsofua tsofafi, tsofi old wofi wofuna (K) empty yofi yofaifai (Zanf) empty yarana yaranai, yaranoni (both S) ydlo w dayawa many duka duka every, all ADJECTIVE 51 COMPOUND ADJECTIVES 1. Formed with "na," o/, with a noun. These are very few, but see, also ordinal numerals, which are formed also by this method Na-gari Na-kwarai ta-gari ta-kwarai na-gargaru good correct 2. Formed with "mai"=owwer of, and a noun. The construction is obvious, and an unlimited number of adjectives can be made in this way FROM anfani = wse ar aha = cheapness fadi= breadth gaskia= truth hankali=care, etc. karifi = irow, strength keao = beauty r&i=life tsada = dearness zuchia= heart zurufi= depth 3. The contrary of the foregoing class of compound adjectives is formed by suffixing the particle " -rasa " to " mai," and an equally large number of adjectives can be formed in this way. For " mai-rasa " " maras " x is often used, the meaning being the same, but " mairasa " is not changed for gender, whereas " maras " becomes " marashia " in the feminine use. and FEM. PLURAL ENGLISH Mai-anfani masu-anfani useful Mai-araha masu-araha cheap Mai-fadi masu-fadi broad Mai-gaskia masu-gaskia true Mai-hankali masu-hankali prudent Mai-karifi masu-karifi strong Mai-keao masu-keao fine Mai-rai masu-rai living Mai-tsada raasu-tsada dear Mai-zuchia masu-zuchia brave Mai-zurufi masu-zurufi deep MASC. Mai-rasa-karifi Maras-kariii or marashi-n-karifi Maras-hankali Maras-kachia FEM. mai-rasa-karifi marashia-karifi marashia-bankali PLURAL masu - rasa- karifi marasa-karifi ENGLISH powerless powerless marasa-hankali foolish marasa-kachia uncircumcised 4. " Da," urith, compounded with nouns, makes adjectives. These adjectives can only be used predicatively and never attributively. They are without any idea of gender and 1 Often pronounced " mara." 52 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE number. An unlimited number of adjectives can be made in this way Da-keao fine Da-hankali careful Da-anfani useful Da-nauyi heavy Da-araha cheap Da-rai alive Da-bam different Da-yungwa hungry Da-yawa (shortened to diawa) many The opposite of these meanings is effected by the use of "babu," without (lit., " ba," not; "abu," a thing) Babu-keao no good Babu-anfani useless PRESENT PARTICIPLE The present participle (so - called) is formed by the prefixes " mai- " and " ma-," the former being of Sokoto origin, the latter of Kano. 1 With the former the verb stem remains unchanged, but with the latter the stem is changed for gender and number ENGLISH working fasting lending borrowing ,, lending loving This participle is further treated under the verb. PAST PARTICIPLE The past participle passive, as in all languages, can be used as an adjective. Its formation is examined under the verb MASC. FEM. PLURAL ENGLISH Arare araria ararit lent or borrowed Ramtache ramtachia ramtatu The formation of the feminine and plural is strictly regular. 1 According to Mischlich. MASO. FEM. PLURAL Mai-aiki mai-aiki masu-aiki Ma-aikachi ma-aikachia ma-aikata Mai-azumi mai-azumi masu-azumi Ma-azumchi ma-azumchia ma-azumta Mai-ara mai-ara masu-ara Mai-aro mai-aro masu-aro Ma-ari ma-aria ma-ara Mai-so mai-so masu-so Ma-soyi ma-soyia ma-soya, masowa ADJECTIVE 53 USE OF NOUNS AS ADJECTIVES Names of countries ending in " -chi " can be used as adjectives, but unchanged for gender or number Hausanchi Hausa Larabachi (K), Larabanchi (S) Arab Fulanchi Fula Turanchi European Sudanchi African As Magana larabachi Arab speech Daki-n-sudanchi Soudanese hut Dakuna-n-sudanchi Soudanese huts (houses) but Biga-1-hausa Hausa cloth Riguna-n-hausa Hausa cloths For living things these forms are not used. The personal forms are used in apposition, and show gender and number Doki ba-larabe Arab horse Dawaki larabawa Arab horses Rago ba-haushe Hausa ram Raguna hausawa Hausa rams Akwia hausa Hausa she-goat Awaki hausawa Hausa she-goats or awaki hausa REDUPLICATION Simple adjectives can be reduplicated. Their meaning may be in some cases emphasised thereby, but equally the idea to be conveyed is " somewhat " or " something like." This can be best seen from examples Kadan kadan very little or very small but Yaro mugu mugu shi ke = Shina He is like a bad boy kaman yaro mugu Dogo dogo shi ke = = Shina He is tallish kaman dogo Sabo sabo shi ke = Shina kaman sabo It is like a new one Baki-baki blackish or dark bluish Bakin kerrin very black Fari-fari whitish or grey Ja-ja reddish Shudi-shudi light bluish Kore-kore light green NOTE. The masculine singular form seems alone to be used. 54 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Compare also Kul kusa very near Ina da wata turuba keokeowa / have (know) another path, a very good one SYNTAX 1. When the adjective is used attributively it may either follow the noun it qualifies, agreeing with it in gender and number, or it may precede the noun with the copulative preposition " n " (" na "), of, agreeing in gender and number. With the latter method, however, the plural is less commonly found. Examples of adjective following MASCULINE SINGULAR. Ta gani gida maikeao She saw a fine house Kai mutum maigaskia ne You are a man of truth Ta sa zane maizinaria ? Does she put on garments of gold ? Minene dawa ? Wani iri-n-ja- What is guinea corn ? A small n-kwaya kankane (Note con- kind of grain struction with two adjectives) Ta zuba rua kadan She poured out a little water Suka sa ta chiki-n-wani daki They put her into an unpleasant babu keao room Mutum maras-kurdi kama- n- A poor man is like a king with- sariki maras-karifi shi ke out power FEMININE SINGULAR Mache tagari tana kula da A good woman takes care of her iyalinta family Ke dia takwarai che You are a good daughter Mache mai-azume tana zamne A fasting woman sits yonder chan Dia-n-itache ninanu anchiresu The ripe fruits are plucked Ki ba su dia-n-durumi ninanu Give them the ripe fruits of the " durumi " tree Dawaki masugudu suna chan Yonder are galloping horses Ga dawaki masugudu chan See the horses galloping there Bature dayawa ya mutu (Note Many white men died the construction) ADJECTIVE 55 Examples of adjectives preceding noun : MASCULINE SINGULAR Baba - n - mutum ba shi yi - n - A great man would not do so hakka Nauyi-n-kaya-n-nan ya fi kari- This heavy load is too much for me fina Ni karami-n-yaro gara ka bani I am a small boy ; you ought to give karami-n-kaya me a small load Bani tafasashe-n-rua Give me boiled water Ya kai su ga dogo-n-daji He led them to a large forest Ya kasshie baba-n-bunsuru He killed a large he-goat Karifi - n - mache sai yawa - n - The strength of a woman is much magana (proverb) talk Duka-n-mutane suka gan' shi All men saw him going yana tafia PLURAL Wani iri - n - abinchi babake - n- What kind of food do black men n i ut a in- su ke chi ? eat ? 2. The possessive pronoun is appended to the noun, not to the adjective Ta tafi ga wuri-n-ta dafari enda She went to the first place she ta fito had come from Ya che ga dia-r-sa baba He said to his eldest daughter (lit., he said to his daughter the big one) 3. " Duka," which has no feminine nor plural form, can be attached to either a singular or plural noun Ya fi gida duka It surpasses every house Gari duka ya mutu The. whole town died Abu duka da ni ke da shi ya He has received everything I had karba See also example in par. 1. Rana duka All day Sun tafi duka They have all gone 56 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Predicative Use of the Adjective The verb " to be " is employed, the form " ne " being enclitic, as also is its feminine form " che " ; but the form " ke " is used with a pronoun Ni talaka ne Daki-n-nan kankane ne Karre da kurege ramamu su ke Masa - n - nan antoya su ? ii, toyayu ne Ba duka mutane su ke miagu ba / am poor This room is small The dog and the fox were lean Are these cakes baked ? Yes, they are baked Not all men are bad All adjectives formed with " da," being from their nature only predicative, the verb " to be " is usually implied. The form of pronoun that is used is that ending in "na" for the most part. It is to be noted that in the negative form the " na " is cast off Shina da keao Suna dabam Bisa tana da rai tukun Shina da araha (tsada) Doki maigudu shina da anfani kwarai Ba ni da yungwa Ba shi da nauyi kama-n-saura- n-kaya It is fine (lit., It is with fineness) They are different The animal is still alive It is cheap (dear) A horse which gallops well is of great use I am not hungry It is not heavy like the rest of the loads Circumlocution to avoid Use of Adjectives In most West African languages it is found that the number of adjectives is very small. They are numerous in Hausa, but, nevertheless, many compound words which are treated as adjectives are readily divisible into their component parts which are not adjectives, and any idea that an adjective is being made use of can be cast aside. Besides the use of " da," the two commonest methods in Hausa for expressing the equivalent of the adjective is the use of the preposition "gare," to, towards, with a noun, and to use the verb "yi " also with a noun. The ADJECTIVE 57 verb "ji," to hear, feel, is also so used, but to a more limited extent : Gare Abinchi-n-nan zafi gare shi for Abinchi-n-nan shina da zafi Zuma dadi gare ta Mutume-n-wofi ba ya taba fada- n-gaskia ba, reshi - n - kumia gare shi This food is hot Honey is sweet A worthless man never speaks the truth ; he is shameless Yi Na yi murna Ya yi mini kunche Ruanga shina da zafi, bai yi sanyi ba Na ji dadi / am glad (lit., I make joy) It is (too) narrow for me This water is hot, and not cold Ji I am happy (lit., I feel sweetness) COMPARISON The degrees of comparison are expressed by a circum- locution in Hausa the same as in other languages in West Africa. Comparative Degree 1. Use of "fi," surpass, with an abstract noun. Ya fi ni karifi Ya fi ni da karifi Doki ya fi rago girinia Ya fi shi karami or ya fi kankanta shi Ya fi kowa girima Daki-n-nan ya fi daki-n-chan girima Mi kuna so ya fi wannan ? Riga-1-nan ta fi wachan keao Dana ya fi naka tsawo, amma naka ya fi nawa kauri Mutum wand a ya bi ta gaskia ya fi wanda ke fari-n-zuchia ,-a fi wanda ke ratso hainya Shi maifadda ne, amma matasa ta fi shi yawa-n-magana hr He is stronger than I (lit., surpasses me (in) strength) (Not so good as the foregoing) A horse is bigger than a ram He is smaller than he (The latter is the more correct usage, " kan- kanta " being a noun, whereas " karami " is an adjective) He is greater than any one This room is bigger than that What do you want better than this ? This coat is better than that My son is taller than yours, but yours is stouter than mine The man who pursues truth is happier than he who follows error He is a quarrelsome man, but his wife can wrangle more than he 58 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Tafia da rana ta fi tafia da fari- Travelling by day is more tiring n-wata gajia than travelling by moonlight Minene ka ke so wanda ya fi What do you want better than this ? wannan ? In sentences where in English comparison is expressed by adverbs, " fi " with an abstract noun is used in Hausa Da-n-chiako-n-zabua ya fi da-n- The young guinea-fowl grows more chiako-n-kaza samli-n-girima quickly than the young chicken (sainli - n - girima =quickness of growth) Jiki ya fi kune ji (proverb) The body hears better than the ear Ka fi shi yi-n-chiniki, don You trade better than he, for this wannan na fi sonka da shi reason I prefer you to him Note also Allah akber da ku God is more powerful than you 2. To compare ideas, not things, the words " gara " and "guma" ("gwoma") are used; also "gwanda" in a similar sense in Kano principally Gara hakka It is better so Guma yao da jia Better to-day than yesterday Da na yi karia gara en mutu / would rather die than tell a lie Da na amre shi guma mugu-n- Rather than marry him may an evil chiwo ya kama ni sickness seize me Da babu wawa gwanda da wawa It is better to have a fool than no (proverb) one 3. " Better " as applied to health is expressed by the nouns "dama" and "rongomi" with "ji," to feel. Ka ji dama ya fi jia ? Do you feel better than yesterday ? Na ji rongomi yao / feel better to-day Na ji dama yanzu ; zazabi ya / feel better now ; the fever has left sake ni me Ka ji dama kadan ? Do you feel a little better ? Shi talaka ne, ni ma, ina da He is a poor man, but I have kurdi da dama money in moderation 4. To express the English "too" with an adjective several methods are adopted : (a) Combination of the material particle " ma " with the verb " fi," to surpass Mafi kunche Too narrow ADJECTIVE 59 (6) " Yi," to do, followed by the preposition " ma "- Ya yi mini (for ma ni) wuya It is too difficult for me Kurdi-n-sa ia yi mini yawa The price is too much for me The meaning of " very " is equally conveyed Tsia ta yi masa yawa He was very poor (c) By the use of "fi." Ya fi ni wuya It is too difficult for me Nauyi - n - kaya - n - nan ya fi This heavy load is too much for my karifina strength (d) By the verb " faskare," overcome, etc. Ya faskare ni dauka It is too heavy for me to lift (lit., It is beyond my strength (to) lift) Babu abinda ya faskare mutane Nothing is too difficult for the Engliz English 5. The verb "faye," exceed, is used as an equivalent for " fi." It may also be translated " very " or " too " Yara sun faye da worigi The boys were very fond of play Gidanga ya faye kankanta This house is too small Ka fayi barikonchi You jest too much 6. "Too" and "very" may also be expressed by the preposition "gare," towards Abinchi-n-nan zafi gareshi This food is hot (implying too hot to eat) It may here be observed that where in English words of a comparative force are used, in African languages exactly the same meaning is conveyed by merely making a positive statement, of which the foregoing is an example. 7. " More " used absolutely in English can be expressed by the noun " kari,' abundance. Ba na so kari ; ya issa / do not want more ; it is enough 8. "Yi,"do, may also be used in the sense of "equal to"- K m .1 ta fi (hum's. i karifi-n-jiki, The hyaena is stronger than the amma ba ta yi ita hanzeri ba leopard, but is not equal to her in activity 60 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Superlative Degree The superlative degree is expressed by : 1. " Fi," to surpass, followed by "duka," all Ya fi duka karifi He is the strongest (lit., He excels all (in) strength) Mutume - n - nan ya fi duka This man is the cleverest of all hankali Allah yi fi duka girima God is the greatest of all Wannan ya fi duka nauyi This is the heaviest 2. By " gaba-n-duka da," before all Yana (or shi ne) gaba-n-duka He is the strongest da karifi Shi ne gaba-n-su duka He is the greatest 3. By "gaba ga duka," before all Amma Tebib shina da bara, shi But Tebib had a servant who was ne baba gaba ga baruansa chief of all the servants duka 4. By " ga," to, only Yana (or shi ne) da karifi ga He is strongest duka 5. A reduplicated form of "fi" is sometimes used in forming either comparative degree or superlative Wannan mafifichi daga wadanan This (is) the best of these 6. The word "very" in English maybe expressed by " faye," and in other ways as seen under the comparative Makafi sun faye talauchi Blind men are very poor It may also be expressed by reduplication Kadan kadan Very little NUMERALS The Cardinals (Those given first are in commonest use) 1 Daia (pronounced generally " dea "), guda 2 Biu 3 Uku ADJECTIVE 61 4 Fudu (hudu in Katsina dialect) 5 Biar, bial, biat (in Sokoto) 6 Shidda 7 Bokoi. Written bakoi 8 Tokos. Written takos 9 Tara 10 Goma 11 Goma sha daia or, in continuous counting, " sha daia " for short 12 Goma sha biu or sha biu 13 Goma sha uku or sha uku 14 Goma sha fudu or sha fudu 15 Goma sha biar or sha biar 16 Goma sha shidda or sha shidda 17 Goma sha bokoi or sha bokoi 18 Ashirin biu babu or ashirin gaira biu 19 Ashirin daia babu or ashirin gaira daia or babu daia 20 Ashirin, ishirin ; hauya ; laso (S) ; gomia biu 21 Ashirin da daia 22 Ashirin da biu 28 Talatin biu babu 29 Talatin daia babu 30 Talatin; gomia uku; laso da goma ; hauya da goma 40 Arbain ; gomia fudu 50 Hamsin 60 Sittin 70 Sebbain 80 Tamanin 90 Tissain The foregoing decades can also be constructed with gomia, laso, and hauya 98 Dari gaira biu ; dari biu babu 99 Dari gaira daia or dari daia babu 100 Dari (deri) ; mia ; minya ; zangu 150 Mia wa hamsin or dari da hamsin 200 Metin; me tain (Not dari biu) 300 Dari uku 400 Arba mia ; arba minya 500 Hamsa mia ; hamsa minya ; dari biar 600 Dari shidda 700 Dari bokoi 800 Dari tokos 900 Alu gaira mia 1,000 Dubu ; alif ; zambar (rare) ; zangu goma 1,100 Alu wa minya 1,200 Alu wa metin 1,300 Dubu (or alif) da dari uku 1,400 Alu wa arba mia 1,500 Alu wa hamsa mia (or minya) 1,600 Dubu da dari shidda 1,700 Dubu da dari bokoi 62 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 1,800 Alfin gaira me tin 1,900 Alfin gaira minya (or mia) ; alfin gaira dari 2,000 Alfin; alfain ; zambar biu (Not dubu biu) 3,000 Talata ; zambar uku 4,000 Arba ; zambar f udu 5,000 Hamsa ; zambar biar 6,000 Sitta ; zambar shidda 7,000 Sebaa ; zambar bokoi 8,000 Tamania ; zambar tokos 9,000 Tessaa ; zambar tara 10,000 Zambar goma 100,000 Zambar dari 200,000 Zambar metin 1,000,000 Zambar dubu : zambar alif (1) Notes on the Cardinals Guda. The word "guda" means head or unit. It is often used together with the .other numerals below ten, as well as being used alone instead of "daia," as "guda daia" or "guda" simply, 1; "gudu uku," 3; ashirin da guda biar, 25. (See further under syntax of numerals.) Goma sha daia, etc. In counting the "goma" is com- monly omitted for brevity, a feature which is also found in most other West African languages where the expres- sion is too long or cumbersome. Ashirin biu babu. The two numbers next below the decades are expressed by using " babu," nothing or without, or "gaira," less, as "talatin daia babu," 29; "dari gaira biu," 98. This system is also applied to the two decades below the hundreds after the first hundred, as "metin gaira ashirin," 180. Hauya. The meaning is a score, and it is only used in counting cowries, as " hauya biu," 40 ; " hauya uku," 60. Laso, 20, is also used in counting cowries. Zangu, 100 Used in counting cowries. Gomia. The pure Hausa plural form of "goma." It was the form in use before the introduction and common acceptance of the Arabic forms for all numerals between 20 and 100. It is still preferred among parts of the population that have come less under the Arabic influence and are uneducated. The merchants, educated ADJECTIVE 63 persons, mallams, etc., naturally affect the Arabic forms for preference. Kororo. This word is used south and west of Zaria to denote a bag containing 20,000 cowries. Numerals of Arabic Origin. In some of the higher numerals the Arabic form has so far taken the place of the pure Hausa forms that it is quite incorrect to use the latter, which are obsolete. This applies, amongst others, to the numerals 200, 400, 900. Compound Numbers. The rule for forming compound numbers is to place the largest numbers first and connect each succeeding numeral by inserting " da," and, as " dubu da dari tokos da ashirin da daia," 1821. The only excep- tion is that " sha " takes the place of "da " from 11 to 17. Wa is the Arabic for " and." It is used when all the numerals are of Arabic origin. (2) Cardinal Numerals Gender and Number The cardinal numerals do not vary for gender, but those up to ten can take a plural form on rare occasions. The plurals are : Daia none Shidda shidodi Biu biunai Bokoi bakoa Uku ukoki Tokos takoshi Fudu fudodi Tara tarori Biar biani Goma gomia (3) Combination of Cardinal Numerals with Personal Pronouns Daia-n-mu or daia-mu one of us Biu-n-mu two of us Uku-n-mu three of us Fudu-n-mu four of us Biani-n-mu five of us Shidda-n-mu six of us Bakoa- n-mu seven of us Takoshi-n-mu eight of us Tara-n-mu nine of us Goma-n-mu ten of us Ashirini-n-mu twenty of us Hamsini-n-mu fifty of us 64 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Tissaini-n-mu ninety of us Dari-n-mu or darini-n-mu a hundred of us Alifi-n-mu a thousand of us " Ku " you, " su," them, may be substituted for " mu " as necessary, as Daia-n-ku one of you daia-n-su one of them Biu-n-su two of them For the numbers above " two," however, it would seem to be better, and certainly more usual, to use a more extended phrase, as Fudu daga chiki-n-ku four of you Biu daga chiki-n-mu two of us Daia-n-su shina chewa wannan One of them was saying this meat na ma da kiba is fat When the cardinal number represents the whole of the assemblage instead of a portion, as above, the suffix " -di " is added. Daiadi-n-nan this one Biudi-n-nan these two Duka ukudi-n-nan all three of these Fududi-n-su the four of them Biardi the five Shiddadi the six Bokoidi the seven Tokosdi the eight Taradi the nine Gomadi the ten Daridi the hundred Dubudi the thousand (4) Syntax of Cardinal Numerals The cardinal numerals usually follow the noun they qualify. The noun as a rule takes the plural form, though this is not invariably the practice, and the numeral " two " especially almost invariably follows the noun in the singular number. If the numeral precedes, it on>y does so in such cases as those given hi the previous paragraph, and " n " is used as a copulative. Mutum biu two men Shina da bindiga da baki biu He has a double-barrelled gun Ka ani awaki talatin Give me thirty goats ADJECTIVE 65 Ki kawo mini moda zinaria Bring me a million gold cups zambar dubu Ina tamaha mutane da suka / think the people who were caught kama tare da ni ba su fi ba with me were not more than two dari biu ko dari uku or three hundred Na gani taguaye biu anyashie / saw two twin children thrown on su bisa hainya suna kuka the road crying Rakuminmu daia One of our camels Su duka biu sun mutu The two of them died After such nouns as those compounded with "mai" a simple noun may be inserted before the numeral Masu-gaskia mutum ashirin da daia Twenty-one righteous men When the noun is qualified by both an adjective and a cardinal numeral, the numeral may be placed immediately after the noun with the adjective next, the latter being treated as in apposition to the noun Ido-n-sa daia, mai-girima, ga One of his eyes, a large one, was tsaka-n-hanchi on the middle of the nose Muka tafi da barua - n - Tebib We went with two of Tebib's servants, biu, da bara-n-sariki tare da and with the king's servant, lo- bawa-n-sa daia, kuruma gether with a slave who was deaf Guda. The following are examples of the uses of "guda," one Guda nawa ? How many ? Kwoi guda nawa na sayerua ne ? How many eggs are there for sale ? Guda . . . guda One , . . another Shi do guda, guda ta tsire (//) he takes one, the other escapes Guda guda = daia daia One at a time Daia. " Daia," when used correlatively, corresponds with the expression "the one . . . the other "- Mache daia tana da dukia da- One woman had much property, yawa, mache daia tana da the other woman had but little dukia kadan property " Daia " can also be translated " the same " Mu duka muka zamna ga wuri daia We all sat at the same place Su duka daia ne They are all the same 66 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE " Daia " can never be used independently as a noun as it may be in English. A concrete noun must always be added Mutum daia shina kora mutum One man is driving two before biu him The cardinals can be used as adverbs. Ya yi kuka daia. Ya yi kuka He cried out once. He cried out biu twice. This is literally He made one cry, etc. Na ji daia daia / understand a little The verb " to be " is used with numerals as follows Kurdinsa ba su dayawa ; zam Its price is not much ; it is bar dari da hamsin ne 150,000 cowries ( 100,050 =zambar dari da guda hamsin) 5. Etymology of Numerals Taking the languages of West Africa as a whole, the commonest system of numeration is on a base of five, more or less disguised or evident, with the higher numbers on the basis of twenties (scores). The Hausa numeration, on the other hand, is purely denary, like several languages to the southward of it and to the south-eastward. In Hausa, though the introduction of the Arabic has dispossessed many of the purely indigenous names, the older names are still used for counting cowries, which it is more convenient to deal with in twenties that is, the sum of all the fingers and toes, making " one man complete." The following are the etymologies of most of the numerals : Daia. Uncertain and difficult to trace, as is the word for "one" in very many languages. Guda. Compare "gudio" in Doai; "gade" in Bode; "gadsi" in Ngodsin. Biu. Compare " ful " in Ron ; " vul " in Sura ; " bolo " in Bolanchi ; " vuel " in Montol ; " vel " in Ankwe ; " flo " in Gurka ; " bab " in Angas. Uku. Compare "kun" (" kul ") in Sura "kun" in Montol, Ankwe, and Gurka ; " kunu " in Bolanchi, Tangale, ADJECTIVE 67 and Awok; "kwan" in Angas ; "koan" in Ngodsin; "akoan" in Bode; "ko" in Doai; "kuji " in Buta. Fudu. Compare "fudu" in Ngodsin, Doai, and Bode; "fudi" in Buta; "fodo" in Bolanchi ; "pu" in Ron; "feir" in Sura; "fer" in Ankwe and Montol; "fier" in Angas. Biar. Compare " beddi " (" badi ") in Bolanchi ; " pad " ("pat") in Sura; "pad" in Montol, Ankwe; "pfad"in Doai; "fad" in Ngodsin; "pate" in Angas; "puat" in Tangale and Awok. Shidda. Of Arabic origin. Bokoi (bakoi). If the numerals seven and eight, as well as sometimes six and nine, are examined in the languages mentioned in connection with the foregoing numerals, it is found that the following syllables represent " five " : Sura, "po"; Bolanchi, "bau," "bo"; Montol, "pa"; Ankwe, "po," "pu"; Angas, "po." There is in these syllables some similarity to "ba" in "bakoi," but this syllable is not found in Hausa in any other numeral. As to the second syllable in " bokoi," it seems to have no relationship anywhere. Tokos. No sure etymology seems to offer itself for this numeral either. "To" is the root for "five" in the BaNtu languages, and "kos" may be connected with "uku." It would require to be explained, though, how a BaNtu root should have come in. Tar a, . Nothing . Goma. Compare "guma" in Ngodsin; "goma" in Doai ; " guamo " in Tangale. The decades twenty to ninety are all of Arabic origin, but little changed. Dari is a pure Hausa word. Minya and mia. Both of Arabic origin. Zangu. Uncertain. Metin and metain. Arabic. Dubuis also found in Kanuri as "dubu"; "debu" in Teda, Bagirmi, Longone, Mandara ; and "thba" in Coptic. Alif. Arabic. Ziambar. Compare " diomber " in Songhay. A Ifin. Arabic. 68 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE OBDINAL NUMBERS The ordinal numbers are formed by prefixing the genitive particle to the cardinals, "na" for the masculine, "ta" for the feminine (there being no plural), with one exception. This exception is " the first," and, as is customary in most languages, West African included, it is not formed from the word " one." In Hausa the word " na-fari " is derived from the verb "fara," to begin MASC. FEM. ENGLISH na-fari ta-fari first na-biu ta-biu second na-uku ta-uku, etc. third As in other West African languages, after "ten," when the numerals become compound words, the ordinal form is commonly dropped, and the cardinals are reverted to. Connected with the ordinal numbers and formed in the same way are some adjectives MASC. FEM. ENGLISH Na-baya ta-baya last Na-gaba ta-gaba foremost Na-tsaka ta-tsaka middle Na-bisa ta-bisa upper Na-kasa ta-kasa lower Also Farko first Karshe last Examples of Syntax of Ordinals Na zamna ga wurina na-fari / sat down in my place first Mutum uku su tashi, biu daga Let three men get up, two of them chiki-n-su su dauko rua, na- to draw water, the third one to uku-n-su shi nemo itache fetch wood Farko-n-dawaki The first of the horses Karshe- n-dawaki The last of the horses Da sunka ketare daia, biu, a When they had crossed one, two, at na-uku sunka issa wuri-n-kasa the third they reached dry land Yaro ya yi sukua rakumi so- The boy galloped the camel three uku, a na-fudu ya tafo ya times, at the fourth he came, he dauki yarinia ya ajieta bisa took up the girl, he put her on rakuininsa his camel ADJECTIVE 69 ADVERBIAL NUMBERS OR MULTIPUCATIVES These are formed by prefixing to the cardinals "so," or, as it is sometimes pronounced, " sau " So-daia once So-biu twice So-uku three times So-goma ten times So-dari hundred times Derivation This seems to be the same word as " sau," foot-print or sole of the foot, and so in combination with the numerals it acquires the idea of a step. Compare the corresponding use in Twi of " peng," a stroke ; in Mende " heima," sitting down; in Angas " shi," a foot : all of which go to prove that " so " is a noun. Syntax So-daia kuma Once again So-nawa ka tafi Sokoto ? Na How often have you been to Sokoto ? tafi Sokoto so-uku / have been to Sokoto three times Uku-uku biu nawa ke nan ? Twice three are how many ? DISTRIBUTIVES The distributive numerals are formed by repeating the cardinals Ya kedaya shilling goma gotna He counted them out by ten shillings (Kedaya (S)=kirga (K)) Ya bada riguna biar biar ga He gave five cloths to each of the yara-n-sariki chief's sons Ya aikesu biu biu He sent them two by two Ya bada daia daia ga kowane- He gave one to each of them n-su Kada ka kirga kurdinka shidda Do not count your cowries in sixes shidda, kirgasu biar biar count them in fives I'.iasn dubu dubu Pay them a thousand each Examples akin Nawa nawa ? How many each f Guda nawa T How many f Kwoi guda nawa na saycrua How many eggs are there for sale ? ne ? Nawa nawa anasayerua T (or How much are they sold for each f akesayesda su) 70 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Nawa anasayesda su ? How much are they (as a whole) ? Ni kan ba ma-aikitana kurdi / give my servants two hundred and metin da hamsin hamsin fifty cowries each daily kwana daia daia Massara kurdinsa goma sha bial Indian corn is fifteen cowries a-piece sha bial ne kwanaki-n-damana in the wet season Doiya guda nawa ka sayo ? Ta How many yams did you buy ? dari uku a baki - n - hamsin Three hundred cowries' worth at hamsin fifty (cowries each) It will be noticed from the above sentences that in repeating the numeral to form the distributive idea, if it is compound only the latter part is repeated. FRACTIONAL NUMBERS These are, with the exception of " a half," borrowed from the Arabic, and are rarely used. " Half " is expressed by " shashi," of which the etymology is not known, or "rabi," from "raba," to divide. Each of these words may be translated by " a part " instead of an exact " half," and this is found to be also the case in many other West African languages. The fractions of Arabic origin are Sulusi a third Rubui a fourth, a quarter Humusi a fifth Sudusi a sixth Subui a seventh Sumuni or tumuni an eighth Tusui a ninth Ushuri a tenth The plurals are " sulusai," " rubuai," " ushurai," etc. All these numbers can be expressed by a circumlocution, which is always resorted to for fractional parts smaller than a tenth. One-eleventh = daia (or guda) chiki-n-goma sha daia One-twelfth = daia (or guda) chiki-n-goma sha biu One- thirteenth = daia (guda) chiki-n-goma sha uku Three-sevenths =subuai uku " A tenth " as applied to a tithe or land tax is called " zaka." ADJECTIVE 71 Syntax Ya bani sashi He gave me half Sun bani sashi- n-uku They gave me the third part Na raba shi uku, na ba kowa I divided it into three parts, I gave rabo-n-sa each his portion. (Note, in this the cardinal is used) Mun yi tafia shashi-n-rana We travelled half the day CHAPTER IV THE PRONOUN The pronoun is divided into the following classes : 1. Personal. 2. Relative. 3. Demonstrative. 4. Interrogative. 5. Indefinite. 6. Reflexive. 7. Emphatic. 8. Reciprocal. 1. THE PERSONAL PRONOUN The personal pronoun shows gender, number, and case. (1) Gender. This is distinguished in the 2nd and 3rd persons singular only. All the other persons, singular and plural, are of common gender. (2) Number. The plural pronouns are indicated by different words from the singular, and are not formed from the singular by the addition of regular plural terminations. The 2nd person is, however, possibly an exception. (3) Case. The vocative is distinguished in the 2nd person singular, as "kai!" masc., "ke!" fern., though these are in reality only the disjunctive forms of the personal pronoun. The objective case has different forms from the nominative in the singular, but not in the plural. The genitive case is formed in all persons except the 1st, by the use of the preposition "of" "n" ("na") masc., " t " (" ta ") fern., with phonetic variation, as a prefix 72 PRONOUN 73 to the objective form. The 1st person singular has a separate form, as will be seen. The dative is formed with the preposition "ma" to the objective form. Special Uses of the Personal Pronoun The 3rd personal pronoun is used in Hausa not only as a substitute for the noun, but also as a necessary complement to it when nominative. It thus assists to identify the gender of the noun. The tense of the verb is also dependent upon the pronoun, which takes different forms, either with or without the assistance of particles. Tabular Statement of the Various Forms of Personal Pronoun SING. 1 2(m.) 2(f.) 3(m. 3(f.) PLTT. 1 2 3 SING. 1 2(m.) 2 .) 3(m.) 3(f.) PLTT. 1 A ni, nia 1 kai ke shi ita mu ku su B ni ka ; kai ki shi ; sa ; i ta mu ku su C D na na ka ka ki kin ya; i (ye) ya, ta ta mu ku su F kana kina shina ; yana ; : yina, yena tana Minna kuna suna ka kika ya, yeka ta mun kun sun G naa, na; ni (Sokoto) kaa, ka kii, k! sli ii, shi yaa, yfi tail, tfl munka ; muka 3 muu, mu also lima, ML. kunka ; kuka kuu, ku also kua sunka ; suka suu, su also sua, sa 1 " Nia" is interrogative. See under interrogative pronouns. 2 " Yana " is commonly written, but rare in conversation. a " Munka" is of Sokoto origin ; " muka " of Kano origin. 74 SING. 1 2(m) 2(f.) 3(m.) 3(f.) PLTJ. 1 2 3 SING. 1 2(m.) 2(1.) 3(m.) 3(f.) PLIJ. 1 2 3 H I -na -ta -n-ka- -r-ka ; -1-ka or -t-ka -n-ki -r-ki; -1-ki, etc. -n-sa ; -n-shi -1-sa ; -1-shi -n-ta 1-ta -n-mu -1-mu -n-ku -1-ku -n-su -1-su K L tawa mani, mini, mana taka maka, ma taki maki, miki tasa ; tai. tashi masa; mashi; mis hi ; mai tata mata nawa naka naki nasa; nashi; nai nata nainu naku nasu M ni na kai ka ke ki shi ya ita ta tamu taku tasu m a m u ; muna : m u m u mana maku ; muku masu ; musu ku mu munka ku kunka su sunka I. "1," "t," "r," are interchangeable for euphony. H and I. The copulative may be omitted. 3rd person " sa " is of Kano origin ; " shi " of Bornu origin. Both are in general use, but " i " is more commonly heard in Sokoto and Katsina. In Kano "mass" is heard for "masa"; "tass" for "tasa," etc. Uses of Foregoing Forms Used in answer to question " who ? " Simple form. A. Disjunctive. B. Objective. C. Used with aorist tense. D. Used with past tense. E. Continuous tense, usually present. It special verb construction which is examined verb. P. Used with narrative perfect tense. G. Used with future (i.). entails a under the PRONOUN 75 H. Possessive inseparable, when thing possessed is masculine. I. Possessive inseparable, when thing possessed is feminine. J. Possessive separable when thing possessed is masculine. K. ,, ,. feminine. L. Dative. M. Reduplicated. Example of Possessive Pronoun in Combination with Noun Plu. ubanena ubanenka ubanenki ubanensa ubanenta ubanenmu ubanenku ubanensu uwayena uwayenka uwayenki uwayensa uwayenta uwayenmu uwayenku uwayensu Notes (1) In "uwalka," etc., for "1" with other nouns "r" or "t" may be used for euphony. In these forms "n" is often substituted for " t " or its variants if the possessor is a man. It seems as if there is an objection on the part of a man to apply a feminine form to himself, however correct gramatically. A similar disinclination is observ- able in other languages, as in French when after " son excellence" "elle" would be strictly correct, but the tendency is to revert to " il " at the first possible opportunity. (2) Forms without copulative. These are in common use, and are a reversion to the statement of the possessive phase by words in apposition only, as has been discussed My father ubana ubana Your (m.) father ubanka ubaka Your (.) father ubanki ubaki His father ubansa ubasa Her father ubanta ubata Our father ubanmu ubamu Your father ubanku ubaku Their father ubansu ubasu My mother uwata uwata Your (ra.) mother uwalka uwaka Your (t.) mother II W. tiki uwaki His mother uwalsa uwasa Her mother uwalta uwata Our mother uwalmu uwamu Your mother uwalku uwaku Their mother uwalsu uwasu 76 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE under the noun. Or it may be that both " n " and " t " have been modified for euphony into "r," which after long "a" is scarcely heard. (3) The possessive pronoun is incorporated in the word, and the accent is thus moved to the new penultimate' as, "ubanmu," "uwasa," "ubanensu." Syntax of Personal Pronouns Nominative 1. The pronoun agrees with the subject with which it is in apposition in person, gender, and number Yaro ya gani The boy sees Yara ba su gani mutum ba The boys do not see the man Mache ta tafo The woman comes Mata ba su tafo ba The women do not come 2. The same rule is observed when there are more than two predicates belonging to the same subject. Kura ta tafo, ta kawo nama, ta The hycena came, she brought meat, bayes ga dianta, da ita kua she gave it to her offspring, and ta taba kadan she too tasted a tittle Namiji ya kama babe, ya dar- The man caught a locust, he tied it ime shi, ya aje up, he laid (it) aside 3. Two or more nouns in apposition are followed by a pronoun in the plural Yaroda ubansasuna zuafarauta The boy and his father are going (lit., coming) hunting Yarinia du uwata, su duka biu, The girl and her mother, both of zuchiansu ta bache them, their heart was broken The omission of the 3rd personal pronoun is very rare except (1) in poetry or proverbs ; (2) before " na," i.e., "shina," etc., are shortened to "na"; (3) with the verb "to be," "ke" or "ne" Yaro-n-nanyache bawa-n-sariki The boy said the chief's slave had ke (or shi ke) da doki the horse Gama kafirawa kan yerda suabo Because the heathen believe in evil (poetic) (non-religion) Yarona na da mirda-n-chiki, ba My boy has gripes, he cannot ease shi iya baya-n-gida himself Wuyana na yi mini zogi My neck hurts me PRONOUN 77 Rashi-n-tuo kan chi wake ak Having no " tuo" one must eat beans wana before going to bed (" Tuo " is a sort of porridge of guinea corn a staple dish.) Wani machiji baki na nan A black snake was lying there kwanche Combination of pronouns Mu je da ni Let us go, you and I Examples of Syntax of Possessive Pronoun INSEPAEABLE Diarku Your (plu.) daughter Abi-na My thing (i.e., my property) Ya-r-uwamu Our sister Zuchiata ba ta so ba wari-n-rua (lit., my heart) did not like the smell of the water Mata-r-wanene ke nan ? Matata Whose wife is this ? She is mine che Enna abokinka ? Where is your friend ? Ka zamna ga hanu-n-damana Sit at my right hand Mugu-n-gatarinka ya fi sare ka A bad axe is better than an offer to bani (proverb) cut (lit., Your bad axe is better than the cutting you give me or will do for me) Garinsu ba da giritna ba Their town was not large Kada ku kafa gida - n - zane - Do not pitch my tent there na nan Enna matanka ? Where is your wife ? Although " mata " is feminine, "n" is commonly used. The more correct use is " mata-ka " or " mata-r-ka." If the meaning were " Where are your women ? " " mata," being the plural of " mache," " n " would be correctly used. As will, however, be seen under prepositions, there is a tendency to use the masculine form "na" and to ignore the feminine. SEPARABLE Ya tasa His sister Ka bani nawa Give me my own Ni baka naka / shall give you yours Suka che, na wani nc ? ta che They said Whose is it ? She said masu, naau duka to them, For all of you 78 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Mache ta che, yariniata tana da The woman said, my daughter is keao, taki ba ta da keao ba beautiful, (but) yours is not beautiful Akwia nan tawa che The goat is mine Gidanga naku ko nasu ne ? Ba 7s this house yours or theirs ? It namu ba ne is not ours Tamu che It is ours (i.e., a thing of feminine gender) Kowa ya chi shinkafa-r-ranche Whoever eats borrowed rice it is hit tasa ya chi (proverb) own he eats Suka tashi da ita da baiwa tata They arose both she and her slave Instead of the possessive or genitive case the dative may be found Chiawa da ka rena ita ta kan The grass you despise may pierce tsokane maka idanu (proverb) your eyes Plural Possessive Pronouns It has been seen that in the adjective there is no distinction of gender in the plural number. The same applies to the possessive pronouns. Nouns which are feminine in the singular are therefore without gender in the plural. The following examples illustrate this Mata tasa His wife Mata-n-sa His wife and also his wives Dokata My command Dokokina My commands Kafa tasa His leg Kafafu-n-sa His legs Mata tasa ta bata amre His wife spoilt her marriage, i.e., broke her marriage vows Mata-n-sa suka beri shi His wives left him Other examples of the possessive pronoun, and some of its idiomatic uses, are given under the preposition " na." The objective pronoun follows the verb Ya ba ni He gave it me Ka ba ni dana Give me my child Na ba ka / give (it) you Sai ya gani kai Until he saw you (with emphasis on " you ") Na son kai / like you Mu kama shi We caught him PRONOUN 79 Muna kama-n-sa We are catching him Kura ta bi shi The hycena followed him Kura tana bi-n-sa The hycena is following him Rana duka ina nema-n-sa, ban All day I am seeking him, I do not same sa ba find him The peculiar construction that follows the verbal pronoun ending in " na " is to be observed. It is more fully examined under the verb, but it may be here mentioned that a noun form of the verb is produced thereby, which requires for its full amplification that a possessive pronoun be added. The above sentences are therefore literally we (are) of-his-catching, or "on" for "of," etc. The objective pronoun 3rd person singular is often omitted where it can be readily understood from the context, and also in poetry Mache ta manche danta chiki-n- The woman forgets her child in the daji; kura ta gani, ta dauka, bush; the hycena saw (it), took ta kai, ta boye (it), carried (it), (and) hid (it) Giso ya dauka sanda-sa, ya aje The spider took his stick, he laid kiisa kansa (it) close to his head Kawo kori-n-ka, kawo baka-n- Bring your bows and arrows if such ka en ta wada ma (ma = maka) are your treasured possessions Indirect Object for Direct Object in English Ya bada mani = ya ba ni He gave me Su bayes garesa = su ba shi They gave him This is because these forms of the verb, as shown in the chapter on the verb, only admit of an indirect object. Combination of Personal Pronouns When two pronouns are combined the first is in the plural number, and they are connected with " da," and. With the exception of the connecting link, this idiom is found as far off as the Mende language Gobe mu tafi da kai en gani To-morrow you and I will go and see THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 2. RELATIVE PRONOUNS Simple form without copulative m., f., and plu. da ,, with copulative masc. and plu. -n-da, fern. -r-da Compound masculine wanda feminine wadda plural wadanda The short and the long forms are commonly inter- changeable to suit the euphony or emphasis of a sentence. In the short form the copulative preposition "n," of, may be inserted or omitted, euphony being here also the principal influence Mutum wanda shina zua or The man who is coming Mutume-n-da shina zua Mache wadda tana zua or The woman who is coming Mache da tana zua Mutane wadanda suna zua or The people who are coming Mutane-n-da suna zua Doki da ya gudu ya fadi or The horse that ran away fell Doki-n-da ya gudu ya fadi For " abu wanda," the thing which, the abbreviated form is the one in common use " abinda." Objective Case In the objective case a pronoun may or may not follow the verb Abinda na gani zani fadi or What I have seen I will relate Abinda na ganishi zani fadi Dakinda ankagina ya rushe jia or The house which was built collapsed Dakinda ankagina shi ya rushe yesterday jia Akwia da ka gani or Akwia-r-da The goat which you saw ka gani PRONOUN 81 Addition of Personal Pronoun When the relative pronoun is used with a noun in the nominative case it is followed by the personal pronoun the same as is the simple noun Yaro wanda ya gudu The boy that ran away Exceptions are found Ita che da ke yin hankali ga She it was who was kind to the bayi slaves Etymology A clue to the etymology of the relative pronouns is furnished by the optional use of the personal pronoun in the objective case in such a sentence as Mutum wanda ka nemeshi for The man whom you sought mutum wanda ka nema In most West African languages the relative pronoun is absolutely non-existent, or at least very poorly indicated, co-ordinate sentences being universally used. If, there- fore, from this analogy " da " be no more than the con- junction "and," Hausa furnishes an example of a language in which the primitive construction is in use side by side with the more advanced which has been developed from it. Accordingly, the above quoted sentence can be trans- lated in the form in which the objective pronoun is used Mutum da ka nemeshi The man and you seek him This is also shown in the following sentence Da kaya da mu ke da su And the loads which we have Mashi - n - nan da na soki The spear with which I pierced ubanki da shi your father What the " wa " in the longer forms may mean exactly is obscure, but it is the same word as is found in the lengthened forms of the demonstrative pronouns and in the indefinite pronouns. That it has an independent F 82 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE value is seen from studying the action of the genitive copulative embodied in the words. In "wa-n-da," the masculine form, "n," i.e., "na," remains unchanged as it must when following words having a masculine meaning. In "wa-d-da," "wa" seems to acquire a feminine meaning from the word in the feminine gender which it follows. The "n" therefore becomes a modification of "t," as "1" or "r," etc. "Wadda" is therefore derived from " wa-l-da," or " wa-t-da," etc., and the intervening additional consonant has the effect of ensuring that the vowel of " wa " shall be short as it is in " wadda." In the plural, which is of course the same for both genders, the same peculiar plural termination " da " is found which is also found in the demonstrative pronouns, "^adanda" is therefore composed of "wa-da (da=plu. suffix) -n-da." The plural form "wadanda" is contracted in Katsena and Sokoto to " wa'anda," and in Kano and Zaria to " wanda." Further Examples Nominative relative, long form, dependent Fada wanda ba ka iya ba amaisai The fight which you find too much wasa (prov.) for you turn into play Abubua chan wadanda na ga The things that I see moving yonder, motsinsu, ko birayi ne ko are they monkeys or dogs ? karnuka ? Abinda na gani, wanda ya fi In my opinion the best thing for us anfani sai niu tail to do is to go Objective relative, long form, dependent Abinchi wanda shi ke so The food he likes Matatai daia wadda ya ke so One of his wives whom he loved Ba su kashe mutume nan wanda They do not kill the man who stole ya sache doki the horse Dambaria ya chainye gutsiata The mouse has eaten my nuts which wadda ni ke so-n-chi gobe / wanted to eat to-morrow Short form nominative dependent Abinda ba naka ba ne, kaka The thing that is not yours how zaka bayes T can you give it away ? PRONOUN 83 Short form, objective, dependent Wani gari ne da uwaka zata Where is the town to which your kaika ? mother is going to take you ? Riga-n-da ka bani ta tsofa The. coat which you gave me is old Ya tafi gari-n-nan da ya soki He went to that town where he sariki ya mutu stabbed the chief so that he died Sun goda masa bayinda suka They showed him the slaves which kama they had caught Ba ni da rakuma da zan baka / have no camels to give you Independent form nominative Wanda kana yi masa alheri, shi He to whom you do kindness and ko, ya kan ki yi - n - godia, he refuses to be grateful is a boor butulu ne (prov.) Wanda ya sayemu daga Bornu He who bought us in Bornu Independent form objective Ta basu rua da faraufarau She gave them water which was very clear Ina so wanda uwaka ta ba ka / want that which your mother gave (Sokoto) you Ba ni da wanda uwaka ta baka, / have not that which your mother sai ina da wanda wana ya bani gave you, I have only that which my elder brother gave me Mata-m-Bornu aikinsu daia ko As to the women of Bornu there is nan wanda na sani one kind of work they do which I know Two co-ordinates sentences may be substituted for the use of the relative Ga jirigi, suanene suna chiki ? See that boat, who are in it f for Who are in the boat which I see ? Use of " mai- " Mu masuaiki mugunta We who work iniquity 3. DEMONSTRATIVE 1*110 NOUN The demonstrative pronoun has two forms. One stands before the noun and the syllable " wa " enters into its 84 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE composition ; the other follows the noun and is the same word less the " wa." FORM STANDING BEFORE THE NOUN FORM FOLLOWING MASC. FEM. MASC. FEM. -n-nan, n-ga -1-nan, -1-j -r-ga This wannan wa-nan wa-ga, wanga wa-r-ga These wada-n-nan wada-n-nan -n-nan, -nga -n-nan, -nga wadanga wadanga That wa-n-chan wa-chan, -n-chan -1-chan, wa-r-chan r-chan Those wada-n-chan wada-n-chan -n-chan -n-chan INDEFINITE PLURAL wada wada Examples This horse wannan doki doki-n-nan wanga doki dokinga This mare wanan godia-1-nan godia godia-1-ga waga godia These horses wadannan dawaki dawaki-n-nan, wadanga dawaki dawaki-nga These mares wadannan godiyoyi-n- godiyoyi, nan, wadanga godiyoyi- godiyoyi nga That horse wanchan doki doki-n-chan doki chan Other Examples Litafi-n-nan, litafinga CHAN hainya-r-chan Mutane-n-nan yaro-n-chan Mache-nan Mutume-n-nan, mutumenga mutume-n-chan Kofalga Abi-n-nan abi-n-chan Kasanga PRONOUN 85 Etymology "Nan," "chan," and "ga" are the equivalents of the adverbs " here " and " there." That they are not adverbs at all in Hausa may be deduced from their employment. They are in fact nouns, and are treated as such. Hence the copulative " n " ; so that literally translated Litafi-n-nan, litafi-n-ga mean the book of this place Litafi-n-chan the book of that place Riga-1-chan ,, the coat of that place The same construction is in " wa-n-nan," and " wa-n-ga," though what "wa" may be precisely requires further examination. As has been explained under nouns, the copulative may be omitted, leaving the two nouns in apposition. Hence the following equivalents are equally correct Wanan for wannan Litafi nan for litafi-n-nan Riga chan for riga-1-chan When it sounds better the copulative is commonly omitted. The fact that " nan " and " chan " are nouns is further borne out by their uses with predicates. " Shina nan." He is at this place. Compare " shina gida." He is at home. It is to be noted that whenever a verb has to be placed after the pronoun ending in " na," the verb becomes a substantive. This is explained under the verb. That " nan " is not an adverb of place is still further borne out in the phrase "shi ke nan," so it is. These words " nan " and " chan " are probably in them- selves compound words. The parts "na" and "cha" represent present and distant position. " N " is a formative suffix of some kind. It may be connected with the locative suffix of Kanuri, also "n," or it may be the preposition " n," of, with a somewhat different usage. That the final "n" is variable and separable is borne out by one example " miji-nal-mata " in a poem called "Mutane zina " (footnote given in Charlton's "Hausa Reading Book"). 86 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE From the foregoing it can be seen that any change for gender depends on the copulative alone, but in the long forms "wanga," "wa-ga," or "wa-r-ga" it is not quite apparent why/ there should be any change, as the gender of the copulative depends upon the unchanged preceding syllable or word "wa." Remarks on Usages, etc. The longer are naturally more emphatic than the shorter. " Nga " is a dialectic variation of " nan." " Wanga," " waga" are Sokoto and Zanfara forms. "Wainen" (masc.) and "wai'en" (fern.) are Katsina forms of " Wannan," etc., to which place they are rather strictly confined. " Wankai " is a Zaria form for " wanchan," without inflection for gender used by the " talakawa Zaria." Examples of Syntax Wannan mutum talaka ne This man is poor Ki koiya mani waka nan Teach me that song Yaronga shina *yin fada That boy is fighting Whilst "chan" expresses strongly distance "nan" is commonly indefinite. Dokinga nika ba na iya sayinsa This horse of yours I cannot buy it Ba na so-n-chi-n-tuo-n-nan / cannot eat that food Masu-kaya biunga su sake ka- These two carriers have changed yansu their loads In the translation of the Lord's Prayer " nan " is given an emphatic use, as, " Ka ba niu rananga abinchi-n-yao da gobe." Give us this day our daily bread. Mu wadanan uku anhaifc mu ga We three were born at the same gari daia place Da ya tashi dawuri wadanan Had he started early the horsemen masudawaki dfi ba su tar- would not have overtaken him sheshi ba (In the last sentence " wadanan " is essentially weak.) PRONOUN 87 Abubua nan These things Yaranga suna yi-n-fada Those boys are fighting Ya rasulu allahi deddi fadi shi prophet! it wa/ God's saying of ke wada suka kada maulana old that those 'who despised the master Mu gani kaka aboki nan n?wa We see how this* my friend if he en ya zo ya ji tsoro comes will be afraid Kurdi kadan nan ne This money is not enough (is small) Na baka dia nan tawa / give you this my daughter In many of its usages the demonstrative "nan" has very little demonstrating power as regards place. It is more easily translated by the definite article in English. In this way some compensation is made for an apparent deficiency in the Hausa language. In Kanuri it is also found that a weakened demonstrative does duty for a definite article. Mutume-n-nan da ya manche The man who forgot his stick has sandansa ya dawoyo come back Ta dauki hazi nan She took the millet Labaringa ke nan (Sokoto) This is the news Labarin ke nan (Kano and Zaria) Abinnan yana wurina The thing is with me Amma Bitrus ya tashi tsaye But Peter stood up with the eleven tare da goma sha daia-n-nan Correlatives " Wannan . . . wannan " and " -nan . . . -nan " ; are equivalent to " this . . . that " Ka so wannan litafi ko wannan 1 Do you like this book or that ? ( Wannan and nan for wannan . . . wannan Wannan ba nan ba ni ke so This not that I want Wannan mutum ba nan ba ni / want this man, not that ke so Other Examples En wannan ba ya yi maka dadi // this does not please you, perhaps ba, halama wanchan ya yi that will Zabua nan ta yi kwoi goma sha This guinea fowl laid thirteen eggs uku bar ta dena, wachan ma and has ceased ; that one how- tana nema-n-guribi ever is seeking a place to lay in 88 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Wannan can be used independently as a noun Wannan ya kare This has finished Wannan ba na so shi ba This (man) I do not like him Wannan ne wayo da na baki This is the advice which I give you Wannan barao ne This is a thief Wannan namiji ba mache ne This is a male not a female Wanene wannan a kof a-r-dakina Who is that at the door of my house ? FINAL "N" It may here be noticed that a final "n" is sometimes added to nouns, especially at the end of a phrase or sentence. It is not a firmly expressed "n," and is somewhat nasal. It is possibly primarily euphonic, but it commonly has the effect of expressing emphasis, and so puts the noun into the definite state, or, in other words, it has the effect of the definite article. Its use is optional. This final "n"was not recognised by the older writers on Hausa, possibly because it is more commonly used in the centres of the Hausa country to which they had not access, and because it is more apparent in writing than in speaking. As it is a detail of the language that has received much discussion of late, it may be here stated that a not dissimilar use of "n" is found in at least one other West African language. In far distant Temne, for in- stance, "ng" occurs at the end of some pronouns and adverbs to make a convenient termination when they are used at the end of a preposition or absolutely. Also as an extension of this use it expresses emphasis. It is, however, quite distinct from the article which is a prefix in that language. If, therefore, this use of "n" exists in one other language besides Hausa, there will undoubtedly be found other languages which have a similar practice. This "n" in Hausa is not to be confused with the preposition "of." The latter is often written at the end of a noun when in reality it is connected with the noun that follows. Writing it attached to the first of two nouns is merely a convention. It must, however, PRONOUN 89 be added that in some instances it is hard to say whether the "n" is really the preposition or the special "n" here referred to Uban ya che da keao The father said, all right Ya che da uban He said to the (or his) father Ya fita a garin He left the town Daga bayan Musa ya yi yaki After this (or behind them) Musu made war Ban sami maganin ba / did not find the medicine Duka garin ba mache maikeao In the whole town there was no kama tata woman as beautiful as she Ya tafo ga wurin enda machiji He went to the place where the snake shi ke was Ya che da matan kun gama aiki- He said to the women, have you n-abinchin ? finished preparing the food ? Mutumen ya che da sariki The man said to the chief With Words other than Nouns Domin ta hanbare ka ga addini That it may kick you away from religion Ku yi abinchi " iri-iri " kamin Make ready every kind of food en zo before I come Examples of the absence of final " n " are numerous in this grammar. 4. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN The following pronouns are used in asking questions : Independent Forms SINGULAR PLURAL MASC FEM. MASC. FEM Who, which What wa, wane, wanene mi, wa, wache, wacheche suwa, suwane, suwanene mine. minene Attached Forms Which wane wache wadane Etymology. The longer forms are made up with the masculine and feminine forms of the verb " to be " suffixed 90 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE to "wa" and duplicated in the longest forms for emphasis. Plural. The plural of the independent forms is made by the personal pronoun " su," they, prefixed to the stem " wa." This use of "they" to form the plural of nouns, etc., is found in other languages in West Africa, and is dis- cussed in the chapters on the plural and the pronoun in " The Languages of West Africa." Independent Forms. When used independently before a verb they require the 3rd personal pronoun as if they were nouns. Where the latter is omitted the reasons are the same as those given for the nouns under personal pronouns. Examples of Syntax (MASCULINE FORMS) Wa ke chan ? or Wane ke chan ? Who is there ? Wa ka ke ? or Wane ka ke ? Who are you ? Kai wanene ? Who are you ? Wa ya yi wannan ? Who has done this ? Wane ya yi wannan ? Who has done this ? Mutume-n-nan, wanene ? Who is this man? En ji wa Let me hear who! i.e , who says so ? This is in answer to the summons, " wai ka zo," you are told to come Wanene wannan ? Who is this ? Wanene chiki-n-su ? Which of them ? Wanene (or wane) shina iya Who can buy it ? saiyensa ? Chiki-n-ku wa ke zua farauta da Which of you is coming hunting ni ? with me ? Wa ya fada maka labari nan ? Who has told you this news ? Wane maikiddi ? Who is the drummer ? Wa je shiga rijia ? Who will enter the water-hole ? Dan wanene 8onof"who-is-it"; son of so-and-so Wa ke da litafi-n-sariki ? Who has the chief's book? Wanene na ku duka ya chainye Which of you has eaten all the nama duka ? meat ? It will be noticed from the foregoing examples that the different forms " wa," " wane," and " wanene "are largely used to suit the euphony of the sentence. PRONOUN 91 The following are all equally correct Wa ya che maka haka ? \ Wane ya che maka haka ? I Who said so to you ? Wanene ya che maka haka ?J Of these the first and the third are said to be the commonest except in Zaria. The difference between them depends on no more than the pleonastic insertion of the verb " to be," which can also be done in English, as, Who said so to you, or, Who is it that said so to you ? Idiomatic Use of " wane " is it, may be used as a substantive in the sense of " so-and-so "; as Enna wane ? Where is so-and-so ? This is liter- ally Where is " who -is -it" ? the name not being known. The corresponding word to " wane " in respect to things is "kaza " Na bashi abu kaza / give him such-and-such a thing Muka yi kaza da kaza We did thus and thus Independent Forms, Feminine Wacho che chan ? Who is there ? Wache ta yi wannan ? Who has done this ? Wache chiki-n-su ? Which of them ? Mache nan, wache che ? Who is this woman ? Wacheche mache tafari ? Who was the first woman ? Independent Forms, Plural Suwa kc chan ? suwane ke Who are there ? The latter is the chan ? more harmonious. Suwanene ? Who are they ? Wadanan mutanc, suwancnc ? Who are these men ? The following is an irregular usage Wane mutane ku nan ? Who are these men (NOTE. Miller writes " woni.") 92 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Independent Form applied to Things NO RENDER AND NO PLURAL Mi ya fadi ? Mine ya fadi ? Minene ya fadi ? Kana yi-n-mine ? Minene wannan ? Mine ya sa ka zo ? Minene shina chi tumaki-na ? Mine da Engliz ? Fada mani minene su ? Mi ya faru ? Mi zani yi yao ? Minene wani abin-nan ? Gudu-n-mi ki ke yi ? Kuka-n-mi ku ke yi What did he say ? What is it he said ? What are you doing ? What is this ? What has made you come ? What is it that destroys my sheep ? What is it in English ? Tell me what they are ? What has happened ? What shall I do to-day ? What is that other thing ? What are you running away for ? What are you shouting for ? Forms coupled with the Noun Masculiue Singular Wane mutum ya gudu ? Wane yaro shi ke da hima ? Wane launi tsuntsu shi ke da shi? Wane lokachi ya zo ? Wane mutum ke nan wanda akakama jia ? Wane iri-n-hali garesa ? Wane lokachi ne yanzu ? Which man has run away ? Which is the diligent boy ? lit., Which boy he is with diligence What colour is the bird f What time did he come ? or When . . .? Who is the man that was caught yesterday ? What sort of character has he ? What is the time now ? Here " wane " is masculine to agree with " hali." If a feminine word is substituted for "hali," "wane" takes the feminine form. An exception as to agreement occurs with the word "iri," kind, in the phrase " what kind of." To all intents and purposes its existence is ignored as to gender, and it is treated as part of the interrogative pronoun itself Wane iri-n-mutum ? Wache iri-n-mache ? Wadane iri-n-mutane What kind of man ? What kind of woman ? What kind of men f PRONOUN 93 Forms coupled with the Noun Feminine Singular Wache yarinia ta ke da hima ? Which girl is diligent ? Wache hainya ya tafi ? Which road has he gone ? Wache mache che wanan What woman is this that comes ? wadda ta zo ? Wache iri-n-fitila ke nan ? What sort of lamp is this ? Mutum maidukia, wache iri-n- As regards a rich man, what kind riga shi kan sa ? of dress does he put on ? Form joined to the Noun, Plural Wadane mutane ke nan ? What men are these ? or Wadanan mutane, suanene ? What men are these ? Wadane mata suna kuka ? Which women are screaming ? Possessive Interrogative Pronoun This is formed by putting "na," of, before the inter- rogative pronoun. If standing alone the longer forms are used " na- wane ? " " na-wanene ? " " na -wache ? " etc. If accompanied by a noun the short form is commonly used, " n-wa " following the noun. If the object possessed is feminine the preposition " n " becomes " 1," etc., as with nouns. In the plural, " -n-wa " is found, of course, irrespective of gender Na-wanene ya bache ? Whose is lost ? Doki-n-wanene ke nan? or Whose horse is this? Doki-n-nan na wanene ? Doki-n-wa ke nan ? Dia-r-wacheche ki ko ? Whose daughter are you ? Dia-l-wa ki ke ? ,, Dia-t-wa ki ko ? Yaya-n-wa sunka yi worigi nan ? Whose children have played here ? Mata-n-wa ta kawa gishiri ? Whose wife was turned into salt ? 94 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Ban sani ba na wanene Tumaki-n-wa ke nan ? I do not know whose Whose sheep are these ? Interrogative 1st Personal Pronoun The 1st personal pronoun has a special interrogative form. It is chiefly used in answer to a question. Nia? Nia na fada maka ? Nia che ? Is it I ? Is it I who said so ? Is it I ! (fern.) 5. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS SINGULAR Someone, something, a wani wata certain person or thing. Used adjectivally and pronominally Another wani wata Any one, every one, each kowa, kowa, one. Used as a pronoun kowane, kowache : kowaneno kowachechc Any, every. Used as an kowane kowache adjective, and it pre- cedes the noun Anything, everything komi,. whatsoever it be, what- komine . soever kominene PLURAL BOTH GENDERS wadansu, wansu, wasu wadansu It will be noticed that the indefinite pronouns which are composed with the particle " ko " have the same forms as the interrogative pronouns So-and-so Such and such a thing The one . . . the other Some . . . others No one No one ivho Nothing wa ne kaza wani . . . wani wata . . wasu . . . wasu wadansu ba kowa, babu kowa ba wanda, babu wanda ba komi, babu komi wata . . wadansu PRONOUN 95 "Kowane " is combined with the plurals of the personal pronouns Kowane-n-mu Kowane-n-ku Kowane-n-su FEMININE Kowache-n-mu each of us Kowache-n-ku each of you Kowache-n-su each of them In the same way that the particle "ko" is prefixed to the interrogative pronouns to form the indefinite pronouns, it may further be prefixed to certain adverbs taking away their interrogative force and substituting an indefinite or distributive idea Enna ? where Koenna anywhere, everywhere, wherever Yaushe ? when Koyausho at any time, always, whenever Yanzu now Koyanzu even now, immediately Kaka ? how ? Kokaka anyhow however It is to be noted that attached to "yanzu" which has not an interrogative force, "ko " has a different force also. Gender and Number Gender and number are but secondary considerations in the indefinite pronouns, especially when used as substantives. Kowa, etc., pronominal Kowa ya sani sarki Every one knows the chief Akoi kowa chiki-n-daki ? Is there any one in the house ? Kowa ya gane shi Somebody has seen him Kowa ya zo nan gobe, en yi Any one who comes here to-morrow, masa keauta / will give him a present Kada ka fadi ga kowa, kadan na Do not tell any one, if I hear you ji ka fadi ga wani ina buganka have told any one I will beat you Kowa ba shi ganc shi ba No one has seen him Babu kowa chan There is no one there Ba kowansu (Sokoto) Not one of them Ba kowa achikinsu (Zaria) Kowane ya tafi hainya dabam Each one went a different road Kowane-n-mu Each of us Kowache ta tafi hainyanta Each woman went her way Kowane da zaya zo nan gobe en Whoever comes here to-morrow 1 yi masa keauta will give him a present 96 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Kowane, etc., adjectival Kowane yaro ya tafi hainya Each boy went a different, road dabam Kowache yarinia ta tafi hain- Each girl went her road yanta Kowache safia anadada muna Each morning blessings are added albarka to us Examples of Syntax Wani, etc., adjectivally Wani mutum ya yi karia Some man has lied Wata mache ta yi karia Some woman has lied Wasu mutane sun yi karia Some men have lied Mu rubuta magana - n - wani Let us write the story of a man, mutum da na ji daga Bornu which I heard in Bornu Ban tafi wani wuri ba / did not go anywhere Doki-n-wani mutum ya mutu Some one's horse is dead Nan garin dai, ba wani mai- Here in this town, indeed, there was saida zuma sai wane no one sold honey except so-and-so Wani, pronominally Masallachi nan, akwoi wani That mosque, is there any one in- achiki ? Aa, ba kowa side ? No, no one Ni koiya ga wadansu / shall teach others Wani ya tafo daga Hadija Some one has come from Hadija W a ni = another, others adjectivally Babu wani sarki dunia There is no other king in the world Wata rana Another day Wani, another, pronominally Naka ba ya fi na wani ba Yours is not heavier than any other's Ni koiya ga wadansu I shall teach others Use of wani in singular for plural (Sokoto) Wani mutane ya tafi gari-n- Some people went to the country Bauchi tari tari of Bauchi in large numbers Komi, etc. Akoi komi chiki-n-rami I Is there anything in the hole ? Ya fadi komi am ma ban ji ba He said something but I did not hear Komine ta roko Allah, Allah Whatever it was she asked God, ya bata God gave her Komi da ka bani ni ke so Whatever you give me I like it Komi ka yi na BQ Whatever you do I like it PRONOUN 97 Abinda ka ke yi duka . . . Whatever you do . . . Babu komi chiki-n-rami Nothing in the hole Ba shi fadi komi ba He said nothing Ba shi yi maki komi He will do you no harm Sarikin Kano ya fada masu babu The chief of Kano said nothing to komi them Ba su che ba komi They did not say anything Ba ya beri komi sai gasusuka He left nothing but the feathers Wa-ne This is literally " Who is it ? " Enna wane ? Where is what's his name ? Ya che, daga gari sarakin wane He said (/ come from) the country of King Somebody. (" King " is in plural) Wani . . . wani, etc. Wani farke ya tafi Kano, wani One trader goes to Kano, one to ya tafi Sokoto Sokoto Wata mache ta yi daria, wata One woman laughed, the other cried ta yi kuka Wadansu suna chi-n-nama, wad- Some eat meat, others do not eat it ansu ba su clii ba Wadansu mutane suna kiwo Some mind camels, others work the rakuma, wadansu suna noma farms Sundry Negative Idioms (see also under Adverbs) Ba abinda babu There is nothing short Babu daiansu. Babu daia Not one of them chikinsu Ba wanda for ba kowa " Wanda," the relative pronoun, is made use of instead of "kowa" in negative sentences. Such short sentences as " Ba kowa chan," etc., are exceptions. With a dependent sentence " ba wanda " is used. Ba wanda zaya yi shi sai ni No one shall do it but me Here " ba kowa " would be quite incorrect. "Ba kowa" may be translated by "nobody," but "ba wanda ya " = " there is no one who." In the latter phrase in both English and Hausa there is a relative idea instead of two co-ordinate sentences Babu wanda ya san' shi There was no one knew him Abinda fadawa sun fadi ba What the king's council orders no wanda shi ke da iko shi sake one has the power to change Q 98 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 6. REFLEXIVE PRONOUN The reflexive pronoun is formed with the aid of the noun "kai," head. Kaina Kainka Kainki Kainsa Kainta Kainmu Kainku Kainsu or kanka or kanki or kansa or kanta or kanmu or kanku or kansu myself yourself (m.) yourself (f.) himself herself ourselves yourselves themselves Examples of Syntax So kainka, wani ya kika; ki kainka wani ya soka Ba ya kula da kainsa ba, ya sa kainsa (or ya maida hanka- linsa) garin cheton wadansu Ya bata kansa Ta gamu da kuda suna dafa kansu Love yourself, others will _hate you ; hate yourself, others will love you He cared not for himself but he set himself to save others He destroyed himself She met some flies who were cook- ing for themselves (story) 7. EMPHATIC PRONOUN These are, similarly to the reflexive pronouns, formed with "kai," head, with the addition of the preposition "da," with Ni dakaina / myself Kai dakainka or kai dakanka you yourself (m.) Ke dakainki or ke dakanki you yourself (f.) Shi dakainsa or shi dakansa he himself Ita dakainta or ita dakanta she herself Mu dakaimu or mu dakainmu or mu dakanmu we ourselves Ku dakainku or ku dakanku you yourselves Su dakainsu or su dakansu they themselves The objective forms of the foregoing only differ in the 2nd singular and 3rd feminine singular, which are "ka dakainka," "ki dakainki," "ta dakainta." PRONOUN 99 In syntax the personal pronoun follows the foregoing when it is the subject of the verb Ni dakaina na tali Ke dakainki ki ke da laifi Ko ni dakaina sai ina tafia ga kafata Su dakansu ba su so su sha- They themselves did not like to rua nan drink of that water "Kadai," only, alone, is also used with the personal pronoun. Possibly " kadai " is derived from " kai," head, and "daia," one Ni kadai / alone Kai kadai you alone, (in.) Ko kadai you alone (f.) Shi kadai he alone Ita kadai she alone Mu kadai we alone Ku kadai you alone Su kadai they alone 8. RECIPROCAL PRONOUN There is only one reciprocal pronoun, " juna." It is unchanged for gender or number. With the past tenses "juna" often stands alone at the end of the sentence, but with present and future tenses it is joined with the personal pronouns plural by "n" or by "da," sometimes also by "ga." " Juna " alone Sun fada juna They spoke together Sabada girimansu ba su iya They cannot pass each other on wucho juna account of their size With "n" Ba su so juna-n-su ba They do not love each other Muna yi-n-fada juna-n-inu We are fighting amongst ourselves Zaku yi-n-fada juna-n-su They will fight amongst themselves 100 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE With "da" Mun yi murna da juna Zaku yi-n-fada da juna Muna soyeya da juna-mu, gama kowa yana ba abokinsa gaskia We rejoiced with one another You will fight with one another We are at fellowship with each other because each trusts his friend With "ga Suna raba kurdi ga junansu They divide themselves the money among CHAPTER V THE VERB PART I DERIVATION There are in Hausa primitive and derived verbs. The origin of the former cannot be ascertained from the language itself. Amongst them are such verbs as " chi," eat; "sha," dnnk; "ji," hear. Derived verbs are formed in a variety of ways. It is always by the addition of a suffix, either with or without some modification of the stem, never by means of a prefix. Class 1 An indeterminate root receives a final vowel expressing rest, or motion to, or motion from, as Dauki, take up ; dauko, take up and give me ; dauka, lake up and take away. Kawo, carry to me ; kai, carry or carry away. Class 2 Suffix "ta " to form verbs from nouns, as Tsorata, to frighten one, from " taoro," fear. 101 102 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Class 3 Reduplication to form frequentative or intensitive verbs, as Buge-buge, from " buga," strike. Or by part reduplication, as Raraba, scatter, from "raba," divide. To an indeterminate root " che " or " ta " is added, the former having rather present and future meanings, and being frequently intransitive, and the latter having a past meaning and a transitive sense, as Manche and manta, to forget. Glass 5 Certain primitive verbs take a number of suffixes. There is practically little or no change of meaning attached, but they have special uses, and may change the verb from a transitive one to an intransitive one, and vice versa. As each form can be conjugated, they can be treated as separate verbs as much as are the verbs in Class 1. The suffixes in question are : " -da," " -shi," " -yes," " -s," " -sda," as Ba, bada, bashi, bayes, bayesda, to give. Zuba, zubas, zubasda, to pour. Class 6 "Nye" may be added together with some slight modification of the vowel of the root. It is an intensitive particle. Chi, to eat ; chainye, to devour. Class! A noun is seldom used as a verb, but many verbs in English can only be translated into Hausa VERB 103 by the use of a noun with "yi," make, or "ji," hear, feel. Yi girima, to grow, lit., make greatness. Ji dadi, to be pleased, lit., feel happiness or sweetness. Class 8 Some derived verbs are nouns without change of form, but it is always doubtful whether to assume that the verb is derived from a noun or that the noun is derived from a verb Man, a blow or to strike. Tashi, rising or to rise. So, love or to love. Class 9 To some verbs, but not all, the termination " -a " may be added, the stem being unchanged. A sort of present participial form is so produced, but though this form may be translated as a verb in English it is in reality a noun, and has, accordingly, been treated as such. See under derived nouns, Class 8. This termination may be written as " wa " after "a," "e," "o," "u," and "ya" after "i." Derived Verbs- Class 1 The terminal vowels are modified to indicate change of meaning. " A " = motion from the speaker. The accent is on the last syllable. "0"=motion to the speaker. The accent is on the last syllable. " I," "e," or " u " = indicate rest or uncertain direction, but they are also interchanged for euphony. Not by any means all verbs in the Hausa language admit of these change of vowels. A knowledge of those that do can only be acquired by practice. This use of the termination " u " must not be confused 104 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE with the passive form, which will be explained in its proper place. When the pronoun has the termination "na" it is generally found that the verb ends in "a" also. (See under this tense in chapter on verb.) The following are examples of the foregoing changes applied to a certain number of verbs Buga, strike Ya bugi yaro He struck the boy Bugi yaro ! Hit the boy ! Ya huge shi He beat him Na huge duchi / struck a stone Buga shi ! Beat him ! Na buga kafata ga duchi / struck my foot against a stone ina bugu-n-yaro I am beating the boy Ina bugu-n-sa (or bugu-n-shi) I am beating him Buga kofa 1 Knock at the door The termination " o " does not seem to occur with this verb. In all the examples of " buga " given above it is seen that the sense of direction scarcely applies. It must therefore be assumed that the variations are all for euphony, which will be apparent if an attempt be made to use the wrong vowel. Dauka, take Dauki I Take it ! Dauki riga ! Take the cloth Na dauke ta I took it Dauka ta ! Take it ! Ya dauka kaya He took up the load Zani dauka-1-riga / am going to take the cloth Dauko ! Take and bring it here Dauko shi ! Take it down Ya dauke shi He took it up Dauke su ! Take them away ! Ku dauki kaya Take up your loads Dauki sabuni mai-issa Take enough soap Same. Ya sami riga He received the cloth Sami riga Accept the cloth Na same shi I have received it VERB 105 Sama ta ! Na samu doki Na samu mutane Accept it ! I have received the horse I found the men (" Hainya ta samu," there is a road, or the road is found, or now exists. This is the passive verbal form, and has no connection with the scale of vowels indicating direction, etc.) Mi ya same ka Komi ya sama se Ba ya samu ya shiga Ya samu wata guda Na samu rongomi, na dama, na samu sanki What is the matter with you Whatever befalls him He could not enter He spent one month I feel better Kama Na kame doki Na kama yaro a bisa doki Kama ! Kamo ! Ya kama hainya Ba ni kama Ya kamu kifi Kifaye nawa munka kamo ? Daga gari nan kishirua ta kamo mutane Ku mayes mamu rakumamu da kuka kamu / caught the horse I caught the boy on the horse Catch it and go ! Catch it and come I He took his road I would not believe (it) He caught the fish How many fish have we caught ? In that land thirst seized the people Damre Na damre kaya Na damra fit ila a bisa kaya Adamra siliyu dama hauni (poetic) Andamre kaya duka ? / tie the load I tie the lamp on the load Chains shall be bound on their right and left hands Are all the loads tied up ? Komo Komo 1 Koma 1 Ya koma daki-n-sa Ya komo dakina Tun ba akoma ba En in 11 komo mu futa rana daia, kana mu tafi su Come back ! Oo back I He has returned to his house He has come back to my house Until there is no return When we come back we will rest one day, then we will go fishing " Komo," " koma," being radically verbs of motion, it is not possible for them to take the terminations "i," "e," 106 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE or " u " ; and the same applies to other verbs which cannot be dissociated from any idea of motion : Dawoyo Dawoyo ! Return here ! Dawoya ! Return there I Gudu! Gudo! Kadda ka gudu ! Gudu Fita Ya fita da shi He went off with it Bana ta fita The sun has risen Ya fita nagari He has turned out well Fito ! Come out I Enda rana ta ke fitowa Where the sun comes out from Nema, seek Bawana ya tafi nema-n-yaro, My slave has gone to look for the ba ya same shi ba, kai ka tafi boy. He has not found him. ka nemo shi Do you go and look for him Suka che ku nemo masa mache They said find a wife for him Aiki, send Na aiki wani Kano / have sent some one to Kano Na aiko wani nan / sent some one here Ya aikoni He sent me here Ya aikini He sent me there Sariki ya aiko agaishe ka The chief has sent to salute you Koiya, teach Koiyo, learn Allah shi koiya muna hainyansa May God teach us His way Fada, tell Ya fada mani He told me Ya fadi gaskia He spoke the truth Muna fadi, ba mu boiye ba We tell you, we do not hide it Kun ji fa, mun fadi ... Do you listen, we say . . . Fadi, fada, fall Ya fado daga bisa doki He fell off the horse Sayo VERB Sayt, to buy, sell, barter Sell to me 107 Wanke, wash Wanko Wash and bring it back Rubutu, write Ya che ya iya rubutu, ya rubuta He said he could write ; he wrote The following are some other verbs that admit of these changes Aje (azhe) azha put Beri bero leave fesa feso spit issa isso reach jefa jefo throw fa ma gamo meet Karbi arba karbo receive Rufe rufa cover sapka sapko alight shiga shigo enter Tafi tafo go, come Ture tura thrust Some verbs appear in longer forms owing to the final vowel not being changed Bi biyo follow ja jawo draw, towards Kai kawo carry, bring Kiraye kira kirawo call Je (zhe) za-(-pronoun) zo go, come Derived Verbs Class 2 Suffix " ta " to nouns. These verbs are few in number Tsorata to frighten one from tsoro fear Taurata to harden oneself tauri hardness Shaworata to hold a consultation ,, shawora consultation 108 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Derived Verbs, Class 3 Reduplication to form intensitive or frequentative verbs. Either the whole verb is repeated, or more commonly only the first syllable Buge-buge, bubuga, bubugi Chainye-chainye Chichika Fakake Gushe-gushe, gurgusa Sansanche Tsatsaga Tatara Zazaga to beat much to be gluttonous to fill up to grope for gush out frequently or abundantly explain much, under- stand much tear to pieces pick up or out to shake up, walk about from buga to strike chainye to devour chika to fill ? fake to hide to gush gusa Sosoke to pierce with many holes tara zaga soke to know tear to gather to shake, walk back- wards and forwards to pierce, prick Ya bubugi yara Mutane suka bubuge ta ta mutu Munka soso ubane-n-mu Zasu rurubuta takardu Ku kakashe raguna Ya kakashe su duka Kaddadai ajita yi sagara raai- kirkira (poetic) Ku dadauka abinchi Ina so-n-gagaida mainya Suna gagani-n-mutane Shashafesu da tsuma He beat the boys well The men beat her till she died We have loved our fathers They are going to write letters Kill sheep He exterminated them Let her not be heard calling fowls with a loud voice Each one of you take some food I wish to salute each of the elders They see men Wipe each of them with a rag It is to be noted that whenever there is a reduplicated form of the verb and the noun is in the plural, the noun usually has an indefinite sense. Derived Verbs. Class 4 In this class are verbs which may end either in "che " or " ta," these terminations being added to the root which has no separate existence as a word. The meaning in VERB 109 either case is the same in English, but their uses are slightly different. The following are some verbs of this nature Manche manta forget Bache bata destroy, lose Kwanche kwanta lie or lay down to sleep Jiche- jita turn upside down Jirkiche jirkita Lalache lalata (1) be idle ; (2) perish Rubuchi rubuta write Rikiche rikita (1) be confused ; (2) confuse The form ending in " che " is more commonly intransitive. This form is used for preference with present and future meanings. The form in "ta" has for preference a transitive and a past meaning. Because a verb ends in "che" it does not invariably follow that there is a form in " ta." It is further to be noted that the "ta " form can never be used as a substantive. The " che " form is commonly used as such, however, as " lalachi," idleness. Na jiche koria / turn the calabash upside down Na jita koria a bisa-n-ta / turned a calabash upside down over it Na rubuchi litafi / write a book Na rubuta suna-n-sa a bisa litafi / wrote his name upon the book Kada ka manta Do not forget Abi-n-nan ya bache mani / have lost this thing Su baohe tare They perish together Malika ya batansu The angel shall afflict them Ya bata hainya He lost the way Derived Verbs. Class 5 To the terminations, "-da," " -shi," " -s," "-yes," " -yesda "it is not possible to assign any precise meaning in English. The effect of their addition to the primitive verb is to make it transitive, intransitive, causative, or by making the word itself longer to supply suitable words to make a statement more formal or dignified. All forms can be conjugated. 110 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Their effect upon the primitive verb can be best seen from illustrations. Da. This may be the preposition "with." In any case that rendering will satisfy the majority of instances of its use quite clearly Ba give Bada give up Sayi barter Saida barter with = sell Tara collect Tarda come up with, overtake In monosyllabic verbs ending in " i," " da " is sharpened to "ta," as Ku yita aiki Get on with your work Bita hainya nan Go by this road See further examples under "yi" in chapter xii. Yes gives an intransitive force Bayes give up If " da " is added to " yes " a transitive force is resumed. Na bayes / give up Na bayesdashi / give it up S gives intransitive force. Shi gives a transitive force to an intransitive primitive verb, but is added to transitive verbs without change of meaning. It takes a pronoun only as direct object, not a noun. Examples Ba, give. Transitive Ya bani kurdi He gave me the money Ya bashi ita He gave her to him NOTE. " Ba " is only followed by the recipient as a second direct object if the latter is a pronoun. If a noun " bada " is used. The relative position of the two objects is changeable. " Bada " always requires a preposition before the indirect object. Ya bada kurdi ga mutane He gave money to the men Na bada kurdi ga kai / gave the money to you Na bada ita gare shi 7 gave her to him Na bada shi ga kai / gave him (or it) to you VERB 111 Other phrases : Bada daria Bada tsoro Bada laifi Also cause to laugh inspire fear condemn Hainya ta badamu zua gari Muka bada fuska ga garimu bada girima honour bada hainya make way bada gaskia justify The road led us to the town We turned our face to our country Examples of other forms of"ba" Na bashe shi ga kai Ya bayes (or bayas) Na bayesda shi Sariki ya che ka bashi abinsa. To, na bayes Ba ka bashi tufafinsa ba ? bayes or na bayesda su Ka bayes ga mutume chana Za-abashieni sabada bashi Na I give it to you He gave (it) up I gave it up The chief says you must give him his property. All right, I will give (it) Have you not given him his clothes ? I have given them Give it to the man there I shall be given on account of a debt Saiya, barter, etc. Various forms : " saida," " saishe," " sayes " (" sayas," "sayar," "sayer "), "sayesda" ("sayarda," "sayerda"). Before a pronoun "saiya" is usually found as "saiye." "Saiyo" is to buy and bring back. The forms " saida," " sayesda " (or " sayerda ") are always transitive. "Saiyes" ("saiyar") is intransitive. The other forms may be both. "Saishe" is only used before a personal pronoun. Ina so en saye rnkumi, enna akesamunsa ? Masu - i .ik ii in i euna chiki - n - kasua, suna saye da sayerua Na saida rago ga shi Na saida shi ga shi Ya saishe shi Ya saida ita / want to buy a camel. Where are they to be found The owners of the camels are in the market. They buy and sell I sold the ram to him I sold it to him He sold it He sold her 112 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Ya sayes (sayas) Ka sayes abinda ba ka iya so Da Kelowi sun saida ni Sun saye ni wuri-n-wani mutum Sun sayes ni ga Salah bin Omer Ina so ka kai zane-n-nan wuri- n-dilali, shi saida shi. Idan ya sayer ka karbi kurdi ka sayo mani rago, ka kawo saura-n-kurdi Doki-n-nan na sayerua ne ? Aa, ansayesda shi jia Ka tafi ga wani ka saiyo Nawa nawa akesayesda su ? Nawa anasayesda su ? Suna sayesua dukiansu Abubua duka ambayes gareni He sold (it) Sell (it) whatever you may not want They sold me to the Kelowi They sold me to a certain man They sold me to Salah bin Omer I want you to take this cloth to the broker to sell. When he has sold it take the money and buy for me a ram. Bring back the rest of the money Is this horse for sale ? No, it was sold yesterday Go to some one else and buy How much each ? How much are they (in a lump) ? They are selling their goods All things are delivered unto me NOTE. "r" is found as a phonetic variation for " s," but always employed at the end of a sentence. Bata, to lose, spoil Ya bata da kurdinsa Ya bata da shi Ya batashe shi Ya batas Shi yaro ne, shina batasua He lost his money He lost him or it He lost him (or it) He lost (it) He is a boy and will spoil it Bache, to be spoiled The various forms of " bata " are used for this verb, which in itself admits of no variations Abi-n-nan ya bache mani Yaro ya bache mata / have lost the thing The boy was lost to her Fita, to take out, go out Ya fita da mutum Ya fita da shi Ya fishe ni Ya fitas Na fishe ka Ya fitasda riga-sa Shi fishe mu aiki mutane zina (poetic) Su sa fitasua kurkono. (" Fita- sua " is " fitas " with the termi- nation " ua ") He pulled the man out He freed him He released me or pulled me out He pulled (him) out I dismiss you He took off his coat He separates us from the work of adulterers They made the guinea worm come out VERB 113 Tashi, to rise Other forms " Tada," "tashe," "tayes," "tayesda," " taso." Saidai shi tada haba yi jaki He would merely lift up his chin berbera (poetic) and bray like an ass Na tada manzo I sent a messenger Ka tasheni da sasafe Wake me very early En na tashe yaranku kua zo // / raise up your children, will you come ? Hadari ya taso masu a chikin The storm descended on them in daji the forest Chi, eat Ki cbl nama ! Eat meat (" you " is feminine) Na chishe shi / gave him to eat, I fed him Ya chida doki da dawa He fed the horse with guinea corn Ya chida shi da dawa He fed him with corn Ya chiyes He has fed, or eaten (it) Jefa, throw Na jefada abu / threw a thing Na jefada shi / threw it Na jefashe shi I threw it Na jefas 7 threw Other forms" jefshi," " jefasda," " jefda " = " jefada " ; also found as " shepta " and " shebda." Ajefo bar takardu-n-aiku namu We shall be placed according to the (poetic) list of our deeds Yas or yes, to throw away Na yada shi (yada = ya-r-da = I threw it away yasda Na yashe shi 7 threw it away Ya yas 77e threw (it) away Ta yada zane She threw off her cloth Tara, assemble Ya tara mutane He collected the men Ya tarasu He collected them Suka tara gari They are of one town Uwa in uka tara We have one mother Ya tarda mutane He assembled the men Ya tara da su He collected them. H 114 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Ya tarshe su Ya tarda chiwuta Na tarda shi Ya taras Ka tarshi mu ji dadi (poetic) Kadadai ka tara hanuka don tsoro-n-beri (poetic) He assembled them He will contract a disease (poetic) / overtook him He collected (them) Help us to feel happy Although you put both your hand* to it for fear of losing it Tsaya, stand Other forms tsai, tsayi, tsaishie. tsaisa Na tsaya daidai Ya tsaya Ni na tsaya ga litafi nan Malaiku su tsaida zugazuganta (poetic) Da ya fara chewa sun tsaisa sa Na tsaitse shi Kowane zashi tsayesda wannan mutum zaakasshe shi Sun sani mi ya tsaishie ni haka I stand upright It is finished I hit upon this book The angels will lift up the bellows When he began to speak they stopped him I got before him Whoever shall detain this man shall be killed They kneiv what delayed me so Kawo, bring Kauda (=kawo da) take away, abrogate; kawas, kaushi Chira, save Kawasda, remove, Ya chirada mutum daga rua Ya chirada ni daga rua Ya chirashe shi Ya chiras He saved the man from the water He saved me from the water He saved him He saved (him) Zuba, pour Ya zubada rua Ya zubada shi Ya zubsh6 shi Ya zubas Zubasda mia Also Amsa, amsashi Bi, bishe Mu roke ta'ala shi bishemu hainya Cheta, chetas Issa, ishe, iyes, iyesda He poured the water out He poured it out He poured it out He poured (it) out or It gushed out To expectorate violently answer follow We beseech the Exalted One to direct our steps save VERB 115 Gaji, gasda, gashi weary Gama, gamshe fit, please, meet Gaya, gaida, gaishe salut Kawo, kauda, kawasda, kawas, carry kaushi Kada, kayes condemn Koshi, kosda, koshada satisfy Kwanche, kwanta, kwantas lie down Koiya, koiyas teach Kada su koiyas chikin sunan That they should not teach again in Isa the name of Jesus Lasa, lasda, lashe lick Murda, murshi twist Sani, sanasda, sanda, sanaswa know Shida, shishi descend Zarana, samshi sit, set down Ku samshisu kasa hamsinham- Make them sit down in fifties sin Wohalla, wohalshi, wohalda trouble Derived Verbs Glass 6 The intensitive particle u nye" is added to some slight variation of the stem of a primitive verb Sha drink shainye swallow greedily Chi eat chainye, devour (as wild beasts) Taya help tainye help Derived Verbs Glass 7 Many nouns which have not a related verb form can only be used as predicates with the aid of the verb " yi," to do, or " ji," to hear. They can only take an indirect object Muka yi zanche We conversed Yi girima To grow Further examples of the use of "yi" are given under idiomatic expressions. In Sokoto, Zanfara, and Katsina " wo " is commonly used for " yi," as " wo takarda," send a letter , " wo yaki," wage war. 116 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Use of "it'" V */ The verb " ji " is combined with substantives or adjectives similarly to " yi," and must be equally regarded as a form-word " Ji tsoro," to be afraid ; " ji haushi," be angry ; " ji kumia," feel pity ; " ji dadi," be pleased. The object which is indirect is expressed by adding the possessive pronoun to the noun Ba ka ji tausayi mu You felt no pity for us Ba na ji-n-dadi-n-hawanki, I do not feel comfortable riding you, kura hycena Ka ji dadi-n-hawana ? Do you like riding me ? Derived Verbs Glass 8 Nouns and verbs of same form Ya fadi masu He said to them Da ya kare fadi-n-sa When he had finished his speech Duma ta lalachi The world perishes Lalachi Idleness Ba magana ! Do not talk ! Don Allah ya badamu so-n- Because God has given us a love of kwana sleep Tambaye-n-nan da ka ke yi The question you ask (make) Kana yi-n- magana Hausa ? Do you speak Hausa? Koiya na Shaitan The teaching of Satan Su dora kira They raise a cry Ya kira shi He called him Suna magana banza They talk nonsense PART II DIVISION OF VERBS Verbs are of two kinds transitive and intransitive. The transitive verb requires an object. The intransitive verb denotes a state, feeling, or action which terminates in the doer or agent. Some verbs in Hausa are (1) only transitive ; others VERB 117 (2) only intransitive ; (3) some, primarily one or the other, may be used in the opposite sense without any change of form ; and (4) yet others by taking an addition to the stem can be recognised as transitive alone or intransitive alone. This last feature is not found in the English language, where there is in general nothing in the look or appearance of a verb, unless its intransitive counterpart is known (e.g., raise, rise ; set, sit), which renders it possible to tell whether it is transitive or intransitive. Causative verbs are, of course, all transitive. The following are examples of the different kinds of transitive and intransitive verbs : (1) Verbs only Transitive, Gani, to see ; ji, to hear ; kawo, to bring (2) Verbs only Intransitive Zo, come ; tafi, go ; zamna, sit down (3) Verbs both Transitive and Intransitive in Meaning Kiwo, tend a flock, graze, feed Boye, hide, hide oneself, be hid Chika, fill, be full (4) Verbs whose Form Indicate whether Transitive or Intransitive Transitive Verbs formed from nouns with suffix " ta " (see class 2 of derived verbs); also verbs ending with "ta" which have corresponding intransitive forms ending in "che." The termination "shi" (see derived verbs, class 5); also the termination "yesda." Intransitive The termination " che " usually ; also the termination " yes " ; also verbs ending in " u " which are formed from transitive verbs by the change of the final vowel. Many of the latter are usually found only in the 3rd person singular, and so a middle voice may be said to be produced. 118 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE The suffix " wa " may be added to this form (see examples under present participle). This intransitive ending " u " must be carefully distin- guished from the termination " u," which many transitive verbs take, without ceasing to be transitive, either for euphony or to indicate absence or neutrality of direction. These are discussed in class 1, Derived Verbs. Some Intransitive Verbs in "u" Budu, to be open Bugu, to be beaten Dadu, to be increased Dafu, to be cooked Damru, to be bound Faru, to happen Fasu, to be broken Furu, to be burning Godu, to appear Gamu, to meet Haifu, to be delivered Kaf u, to be fastened Karu, to be added Kasu, to be slain Kuntu, to be loosened Matsu, to be narrow Mutu, to die Nadu, to be rolled up Niku, to be ground Rabu, to depart Ragu, to be decreasing Retu, to be swinging Rufu, to be shut Sanu, to be known Shimfudu, to be spread Taru, to be assembled Wazu, wasu, to be dispersed Yiwu, yiu, to be done Zubu, subu, to be gushed out from bude, to open buga, to beat dade, lengthen dafe, to cook damre, to bind fara, to begin fashe, to break fura, to kindle goda, to show gama, to join haife, to beget kafa, to fasten kara, to add kashe, to kill kunche, to untie rnatse, to squeeze nade, to coil nika, to grind raba, to divide rage, to lessen reto, to shake to and fro rufe, to shut sani, to know shimfude, to spread tara, to collect wasa, to disperse yi. to do zuba, to pour This form is used in a reflexive sense, and also follows the same verb in the passive voice for emphasis Mutum ya bugu Dundu ya dafu Kofa ta budu Kofa ta rufu The man is beaten The yam is cooked The door stands open The door is shut VERB lid Tukunia ta fasu The pot is broken, has broken itself Jirigi ya rabu The boat is split Ka tara mutane da zasu yi- Collect the men to work. They are aiki. Sun taru collected Ta ga wata akwia ta half u She saw a certain goat which had just brought forth For Emphasis Adamre shi, shi damru Let it be tied so that it is tied fast or tie it tight Abugashi shi bugu Let him be well beaten Ayishi, shi yiwu Let it be done well PART III AUXILIARY VERBS There are three forms of the verb "to be." They have gender. They refer to present and past time, but not to future. They are Ke (m. and f.) Che (f.) Ne (common) For the future the verb "zama," to become, is used. There is no auxiliary " have," nor is " have " a possessive verb. The place of the latter is taken by the preposition "da," with. The following is the conjugation of the auxiliary verbs ni ne ni ke kai no ka ke ke che (f.) ki ke (f ) shi ne shi, ya, yi ke The negative forms are ita che (f.) ta ke (f.) the same with " ba urn ne mu ke ... ba." ku ne ku ke su no su ke "Ke" "Ke" is used both as an auxiliary to form one of the present tense forms of other verbs, and also as a 120 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE substantive verb. In the latter capacity it usually requires the complement to precede it Da ka ke or Kai, da ka ke Sania ta ke Dana ke nan Shi dana shi ke Enna ku ke ? Shi ke nan Ba da ka ke ba Jia ni ke nan ni daia Yarinia da ka gani ita ke nan Ka tafi ke nan har abada You are a free man It is a cow This is my son He is my son Where are you ? So it is You are not a free man Yesterday I was here alone The girl you see it is she You are leaving in fact for ever Ne This form is usually enclitic. If a pronoun is added it may follow in its capacity of complement, but if the person is the 3rd singular, it is commonly omitted Ni ne Da ne ni Da ne kai Kai ne sariki ? Ni sariki ne Yaro ne or, less commonly Yaro ne shi Kai dansa ne Kano da gari karami ne. Ni danfari ne, su ne na baya It is I I am a free man You are a free man Are you the chief? It is a boy I am the chief You are his son or Are you his son ? Kano was formerly a small town I am the first born, they are after me In the following examples " ne whole sentence becomes enclitic to a Gurubi-n-ido ba ido ba ne (prov.) Allah shi ne ya ba ni Wani mutum maihalbi ne shina da mache Ba zaka kai ni wurin malamin nan ba ne ! Mu kuma duka shaidu ne ga wannan Compare the following Allah shi nc abada Allah shina kocnna A substitute for the eye is not the eye It was God gave it to me A certain hunter had a wife Will you not take me to this mallam? We also are all witnesses of this God is eternity (or for ever) God is everywhere VERB 121 Che This feminine form may be substituted for "ne," but not for "ke" Dia che ni / am a free woman Dia che ki You are a free woman Sania che ita or sania che It is a cow Ba dia che ni ba / am not a free woman Ita mache che It is a woman Ni, fa, ba akwia che ba, mache As for me, I am not a goat, I am che ni a woman Kama da wani ba wani ba che Likeness to another it is not the (prov.) same person (The noun phrase " ba wani ba," i.e., not another, ends in "a," and so is treated as feminine, probably by a very pedantic mallam). " Ni che " is not found, but only " ni ne " of whichever gender. In " Dia che ni " the feminine form is used after " dia," " ni " being treated as a complement. Emphasis on the Pronoun If emphasis is required on the pronoun, it is placed at the beginning of the sentence Shi dana ne // is my son Ita diyata che She is my daughter Idiomatic Uses of'ne" "Ne" is sometimes added almost pleonastically to the end of an answering sentence for emphasis. In answer to such a question as " What do you want ? " one hears Na zo wurinka ne I have come to see you (lit., / have come to your place, it is) Also Na sani ne / know of course Some of the examples given under "ne" above also exemplify this. 122 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE " Ne," preceded by the pronoun, sometimes stands before the main sentence for the same purpose Shi ne, shi ke shakka azaba-n- He it is, he doubts the pains of hell lakhira Shi ne, na fada maka It is as I told you Shi ne, uba na yara goma He it is, the father of ten boys Omission of Pronoun The 3rd personal pronoun singular is sometimes omitted with " ne." This is common in negative sentences Sariki ne da doki for Sariki shi The chief has the horse ne da doki Banza fari - n - ido babu gani A bright eye that cannot see is (prov.) worthless Also omitted with " ke " Enna ke yi maka zogi ? Where is the pain ? Yao da gobe ke sa gini-n-rijia To-day and to-morrow are like da alura (prov.) having a well dug with a needle After the relative pronoun Suna tareya da duka-n-abinda They were collecting everything they ke garesu had The verb " to be " itself is often understood Akoi Allah, ba shi gabas, ba shi There is a God, he is not in the yama east, he is not in the west Gaskianki You are right (lit., your (f.) truth) Da-n-zomo wayo gare-i (gareshi) The young hare is cunning Enna sariki ? Where is the chief? Kurdinsa nawa ? How much is it ? Other Ways of expressing " to be " The form of the pronoun ending in "na" is used, the verb "to be " itself being understood. VERB 123 For this " na," which is the same particle as the preposi- tion "of," in all probability, in Sokoto and Katsina the preposition "a" is sometimes substituted. The conjugation is as follows ina, nina l ka na, kaina ' kina shina, yana, yina tana, ita na ? * muna kuna suna ma kai-a ke-a (ki-a = ki-e) shi-a, yi-a ita-a mu-a ku-a su-a In the negative the terminations omitted. This second form is distinct from the future (I) form. It must here be noted that while the forms of the pronoun with auxiliary " ina," etc., and " ni ke," etc., are used for the present tense conjugation of verbs, the form " ni ne," etc., is not so used. -na " Forms Shina nan Shina gida Bature na gida Ba shi nan He is here He is at home The white man is at home He is not here Ki-e wa ? Da ki-e da wa ? I-a gaba suna binsa I-a daga chikin rijia nan Mai-algeta i-a masa busa Gari a nan Sarki a da talakawa, ba kawa a da sariki Shi-a baba " -A " Form Who are you ? And who are you with ? He is before, they follow him He is in that well The bagpipeman, he was blowing for him The town is there (Note omission of pronoun as with " na.") tala- The king owns the poor, not the poor the king He is a great man 1 In these the emphasis is on the pronoun, in interrogation, nor in independent sentences. They are not used 124 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE The following is obscure Ki-e ma en zaki shiga ki shiga But you, if you are going to enter, ki kawo enter and bring it Future Use of "zama " Ka zama da You will become free Ki zama diya (f.) Ba ka zama da ba You will not become free Na zama mala mi / shall become a priest To have Hausa agrees with all x West African languages of what- ever group in having no auxiliary " to have." To describe possession the preposition "da," with, is used. The form of the pronoun which accompanies it is most commonly that with the suffix " na." The auxiliary " ke " is, however, also not uncommonly used Ina da kurdi / have money Su ke da su They have them or are with them There is, however, a slight distinction in making use of the foregoing. For instance, in " Ina da shi " and " Ni ke da shi " the first is used in making a plain statement, and the second for preference in answer to the question " Who has it ? " To express tense that is, point of tune adverbs are added Ina da shi yanzu / have it now Wanda ya ke da shi da ya ba ni He who had it before gave it to me Instead of " da " it is often possible to use some other preposition such as "gare." Other examples of the use of " da " may be found under prepositions. 1 The author has not found a single instance of the contrary. VERB 125 Meaning conveyed by use of two nouns in apposition, one formed with "mai" Da kishiyoyi nan babu mai-da And those rival wives had no children PART IV CONJUGATION OF THE VERB There are two voices active and passive. There is no change of form for mood, but two participles are distinguished. Tense carries no inflection of the stem, but the pronouns are subjected to some modification, and particles are added in certain tenses. The following is the conjugation of "so," to love, like, want : Active Voice It is to be noted that in the negative both " ba " are put in in all tenses, but the second " ba " is often omitted in practice. AORIST OR COMMON TENSE AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE 1 na so also ni so ba na so ba or ban so ba 2 (m.) ka so ba ka so ba (f.) ki so ba ki so ba 3 (m.) ya so ba ya so ba (f.) ta so ba ta so ba 1 mu so ba mu so ba 2 ku so ba ku so ba 3 su so ba su so ba PRESENT I 1 ina so ba ni so ba also ba na so ba 2 (m.) kana so ba ka so ba (f.) kina so ba ki so ba 3 (m.) shina (yana, yina) HO ba shi, ya, i, so ba (f.) tana so ba ta so ba 1 muna so ba mu so ba 2 kuna so ba ku so ba 3 suna so ba su so ba 126 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE PRESENT II 1 ni ke so also na ke so ba ni so ba 2 (m.) ka ke so (f.) ki ke so 3 (m.) shi (ya, yi) ke so (f.) ta ke so 1 mu ke so same as negative of Present 1 2 ku ke so 3 su ke so PAST I 1 na so 2 (m.) ka so (f.) kin so 3 (m.) ya so also shi so, shin so (f.) ta so same as aorist 1 mun so 2 kun so 3 sun so PAST II 1 na so 2 (m.) ka so (f.) ki ka so 3 (m.) ya so (f.) ta so same as aorist 1 muka so (K), munka so (S) 2 kuka so (K), kunka so (S) 3 Suka so (K), sunka so (S) FUTURE I 1 naa so, na so ba na so ba 2 (m.) kaa so, ka so ka ka so ba (f.) kii so, ki so ba ki so ba 3 (in.) shii so, shi so ba shi so ba yaa so, ya so ba ya so ba (f.) taa so, ta so ba ta so ba 1 muu so, mu so ba mu so ba 2 kuu so, kii so ba ku so ba 3 suu so, su so ba su so ba Robinson gives "mua," "ma," "kua," "sua," "sa ; "eo" plural. VERB 127 FUTURE II 1 zani so or zan so or za en so ba zani so ba 2 (m.) zaka so ba zaka so ba (f.) zaki so ba zaki so ba 3 (m.) zashi (zaya, zai), so ba zashi (zaya, zayi) so ba (f.) zata so ba zata so ba 1 zamu so ba zamu so ba 2 zaku so ba zaku so ba 3 zasu so ba zasu so ba FREQUENTATIVE I 1 iii (or na) kan so ba ni kan so ba 2 (m.) ka kan so ba ka kan so ba (f.) ki kan so ba Id kan so ba 3 (m.) shi (ya) kan so ba shi kan so ba (f.) ta kan so ba ta kan so ba 1 mu kan so ba mu kan so ba 2 ku kan so ba ku kan so ba 3 su kan so ba su kan so ba FREQUENTATIVE II 1 ni ka so ba ni ka so ba 2 (m.) ka ka so ba ka ka so ba (f.) ki ka so ba ki ka so ba 3 (m.) shi (or ya) ka so ba shi (ya) ka so ba (f.) ta ka so ba ta ka so ba 1 mu ka so ba mu ka so ba 2 ku ka so ba ku ka so ba 3 su ka so ba su ka so ba This is a very doubtful tense. Robinson says " ka " is an abbreviation of "kan," and also a poetical future. Harris supports him that "ka" = "kan"; also Edgar. Mischlich calls it a Sokoto variation of "ni ke so." SUBJUNCTIVE 1 on so (n'so) kada en so 2 (m.) ka so kada ka so (f.) ki so kada ki so 3 (m.) shi (ya) so kada shi (ya) so (f.) ta so kada ta so 1 mu so kada mu so 2 ku so kada ku so 3 su so kada su so 128 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE IMPERATIVE 2 (in.) so, ka so kada ka so (f.) so, ki so kada ki so 2 ku so kada ku so " Kar " is found for " kada " in Kano. " Ba " is also sometimes substituted for "kada," but is not repeated after the verb. Passive AOBIST 1 asoni ba asoni ba 2 (m.) asoka ba asoka ba (f.) asoki ba asoki ba 3 (m.) asoshi, asosa ba asoshi, asosa, ba (f.) asota ba a so fa ba 1 asomu ba asomu ba 2 asoku ba asoku ba 3 asosu ba asosu ba PRESENT I. 1 anasona anakamnata ba anasona ba ba anakamnata ba 2 (m.) anasonka anakamnarka ba anasonka ba ba anakamnarka ba (f.) anasonki anakamnarki ba anasonki ba ba anakamnarki ba 3 anasonsa anakamnatasa ba anasonsa shi ba anakamna- anasonshi ba tasa ba (f.) anasonta anakamnatata ba anasonta ba ba anakamnata- ta ba 1 anasonmu anakamnarmu ba anasonmu ba ba anakamnar- mu ba 2 anasonku anakamnarku ba anasonku ba ba anakamnarku ba 3 anasonsu anakamnarsu ba anasonsu ba ba anakamnarsu ba PRESENT II 1 a-ke-soni ba asoni ba 2 (m.) a-ke-soka (f.) a-ke-soki 3 a-ke-soshi (f.) a-ke-sota same as aorist 1 a-ke-somu 2 a-ke-soku 3 a-ke-sosu VERB PRESENT II. INVERTED To correspond to the active form " ni, su ke so 120 1 ni akeso ni akaso 2(m.) kai akeso kai akaso m ke akeso ke akaso 3(m.) shi akeso shi akaso (f.) ta akeso ta akaso 1 mu akeso mu akaso 2 ku akeso ku akaso 3 su akeso su akaso (See note on Frequentative in Active.) PAST I 1 ansoni 2(m.) ansoka (f.) ansoki 3(m.) ansosa, ansoshi 1*0 ansota same as aorist 1 ansomu 2 ansoku 3 ansosu PAST II KANO SOKOTO 1 akasoni ankasoni 2(m.) akasoka ankasoka CO akaso ki ankasoki 3 akasosa ankasoshi (f.) akasota ankasota same as aorist 1 akasomu ankasomu 2 akasoku ankasoku 3 akasosu ankasosu FUTURE I 1 aasoni ba aasoni ba 2(m.) aasoka ba aasoka ba aasoki ba aasoki ba 3 aasoshi ba aasoshi ba CO aasota ba aasota ba 1 aasomu ba aasomu ba 2 aasoku ba aasoku ba 3 aasosu ba aasosu ba FUTURE II 1 zaasona zaakamnata ba zaasona ba ba zaakamnata ba 2 (in.) zaasonka zaakamnarka ba zaasonka ba ba zaakamnarka ba (f.) zaasonki zaakamnarki ba zaasonki ba ba zaakamnarki ba 130 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 3 (m.) zaasonshi zaakarana-tasa ba zaasonshi ba ba zaakamna- tasa ba (f.) zaasonta zaakamnatata ba zaasonta ba ba zaakamna- tata ba 1 ' zaasonmu zaakamnarmu ba zaasonmu ba ba zaakamnarrau ba 2 zaasonku zaakamnarku ba zaasonku ba ba zaakamnarku ba 3 zaasonsu zaakamnarsu ba zaasonsu ba ba zaakamnarsu ba These are all noun forms after " zasu," etc. =they will go to the loving of them. The possessive pronoun is masculine after " so " and feminine after " kamna." Compare " Zasu kamna-r-mu," They will love us ; " Zamu kamna-r-su," We will love them. The noun form is not always strictly adhered to, hence, zaasoni, zaasoka, etc. FREQUENTATIVE 1 akansoni ba akansoni ba 2 (m.) akansoka ba akansoka ba (f.) akansoki ba akansoki ba 3 (m.) akansoshi ba akansoshi ba (f.) akansota baakansotaba 1 akansomu ba akansomu ba 2 akansoku ba akansoku ba 3 akansosu ba akansosu ba SUBJUNCTIVE AND IMPERATIVE SUBJUNCTIVE IMPERATIVE BOTH 1 asoni kada asoni 2 (m.) asoka asoka kada asoka (f ) asoki asoki kada asoki 3 (m.) asoshi asoshi kada asoshi (f.) asota asota kada asota 1 aaomu kada ascmu 2 ascku asoku kada asoku 5 asosu aaosu kada isosu It ; s seen that these forms are the same as in the aorist. NOTE. In the foregoing tenses " shi " and " sa " are commonly interchangeable, the former being preferably Sokoto, the latter Kano dialect. VERB 131 USES or THE TENSES Aorist This is an indeterminate tense. It is an unemphatic past, a vague present, and, if the context permits, may have a future significance. It is in common use both when pre- cision is quite unimportant and also in narration Ba ka ji ba ? Do you not hear ? Na ji kishirua I feel thirsty? (lit., thirst) Ba abinda ban yi ba There is nothing I do not do Gobe da sasafe mu tashi We shall start very early to-morrow Ban yerda ba / do not agree Na ki, ba ya issa ba / refuse it is not enough Rua ya tafassa ? Has the water boiled ? Ya yi dimi amma ba ya tafassa It is hot, but it has not boiled yet ba tukuna Ta che, to, mu je en ganshi She said, good, we will go so that I may see him Mu yi gara-n-fuska ; kana mu We wash our faces, then we bathe; yi wanka ; mu sasa sababi-n- we put on new clothes tufafinmu Mu je, mu gani, na magani-n- We go and see, that is proof of a makariachi (prov.) lie (lit., medicine for a liar) Gobe mu chi saura To-morrow we eat the remains Yaro nan ya iya tafia ? ya tan" Can that boy do the journey ? mans Certainly he will go Kwana shidda mu gama aiki In six days we shall finish the work nan Present I This is both the simple present and the present con- tinuous. In narration it may be translated by the imperfect. The verb itself acquires a substantival force, and if it admits of it, takes the termination " wa " or " ya," though sometimes exceptions are made. If the verb is defective in the " wa " (ya) form it remains unchanged in appearance, though not in force. For this reason, when the verb is a transitive one the direct object is attached by the copulative " n," being in the possessive case; and if other verbs are added in 132 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE sequence they too assume a substantival force and are joined with the copulative "n." " WA " OB " YA " TERMINATION USED Enna kana tafia ? Shekara goma yana tafia har ubansa ya hanashi Enna ubanka ? Shina tafowa Tana zua Kano Muna soyeya da junamu Da na ganshi shina tafia (or ya ke tafia) Suna isowa gulbi When are you going ? He had been travelling for ten years until his father stopped him Where is your father ? He is coming She is coming (going) to Kano We are at friendship with one another When I saw him he was travelling (As) They were getting near the river In the following sentence the noun force is strengthened by the addition of a personal pronoun Shina tafia tasa sai ya gamu da kwado He travelled until he met the toad UNCHANGED FOEM Kulum gari ya waye ina addua Saanda ka tada su suna fada da juna ? suna yi Enna shina zamne ? Always at daybreak I pray When you came upon them were they fighting ? They were Where is he staying ? WITH DIRECT OBJECT Ina gina rami (for Ina gina-r- rami) Mi kana yi ? Ina yi-n-aiki (or ina aiki) Ina so-n-ubana. Ina so-n- Allah Ina ji-n-yungwa da kishirua Kana yi-n-aiki ? Muna kamna-tasa gama ya ri- gaya ya kamnachemu Ina sonsa, da shi kua shina sona / am digging a hole What are you doing ? I am working 1 love my father. I love God I am hungry and thirsty Are you working ? We love Him for He first loved us I love him and he loves me (Note the possessive form in " so-na ") Ina so-n-kawa malami (for ina so-n-kawa-r-malami) SUBORDINATE VERBS ADDED / want to become a mallam VERB 133 In this sentence " so " is masculine, and " kawa," ending in " a,'' feminine. Compare Kana so ka kawa maimagani Do you ivant to become, a doctor ? in which all the forms are pure verbs Ina so-n-saye-n-turmi goma I want to buy ten cloth-strips NEGATIVE The "na" termination of the pronoun is dropped, but the verb is still treated as a substantive Kadan ba ka tsoro-n-allah ba shi // you do not fear God He does sonka not love you Ba su samu-n-abinchi They find no food Mugu - n - mia ba ta karewa a Bad soup does not get finished in tukunia (prov.) the pot Gulbina ba shi chi - n - mutum My river does not eat a man in the tsaka sai gefe. Wuka (riddle) middle but at the bank. A knife (which cuts at the edge) Kowa ya halbe zaki ba shi Every one shot at the lion but did samu-n-sa not get him Ba ka sona ; ni, ma, bani sonki You do not love me ; and I, I do not love you / * Compare, on the other hand Har gari duka ya tashi sun yi, Then all the town arose, they try, sun yi, ba su eamu ba they try, but they do not get him The following are examples of pure nouns used after pronoun in " -na," thus confirming the change of verbs into substantives in this tense Tun ina yaro Since I was a boy Don sariki shina mugu-n-sheria J Because the chief is unjust in his judgment The following is an example of mixed idiom Ina so-n en tambaye ka instead I want to tell you of Ina so-n-tambayenka or ina so en tamhaycka 1 See note, later, on omission of pronoun in this tenso. 134 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE As with nouns, the copulative may be omitted Kulum kulura suna kashe mutane They are killing people without (for kashe- m- mutane) cease As with pure nouns, sometimes the copulative preposition is not put into its proper gender Ina kirra-n-ka for ina kirrarka / am calling you Sai ya gani gawa anadaukansa Except he sees the corpse being zua wuri-n-bizne taken to the cemetery Etymology It is to be noticed that the pronoun in "na" cannot be followed by any of the forms of the verb "to be," e.g. Shina gida He is at home Shina nan He is here Suna baya They are behind From this it is clear that the two words are not in the same relation to each other as they would be if the con- necting link of the verb "to be " were possible, but omitted in practice. It might, therefore, be assumed that the syllable u na" of the pronoun is no other than the preposition "of," not readily translateable, however, uniformly into "of," as indeed it is not in many other cases also. USE OF PRESENT I. WITH FUTURE MEANING Kadan na fushe ta, kuna ba ni // / pull her out, will you give me ita en yi arime ? her in marriage ? WITH PAST MEANING Ina tamaha shl bani kurdinsa I thought he would give me all his duka money OMISSION OF PRONOUN The personal pronoun is a necessary adjunct to the verb, the latter being incomplete without it. If a noun precedes the verb as the subject, the 3rd personal pronoun still has to be employed. VERB 135 In this tense, however, the 3rd personal pronoun is commonly omitted when the noun-subject is mentioned, which is a further indication that the verb has been changed into a noun, rendering the pronoun superfluous. This is seen from studying such a phrase as " the hat of the chief." The Hausa would not say " hat he of the chief," but simply " hat of chief." Hence the sentences Malami na sha-n-gia munafiki ne The mallam who drinks beer is a deceiver Doki nan na sayerua (or sayesua) Is this horse for sale ? ne ? Abega na tamaha . . . Abega thinking , . . Kowane na sha-n-taba . . . Whoever smokes tobacco . . . Wata na bada haske The moon is giving light Da hiska na busawa, rairai na When the wind blows the sand goes shiga ga idanunka into your eyes Kadan k^iganigemida-n-uwanka When you see your brother's beard na chi-n-wuta, shafa naka rua catch fire, pour water on your own If the pronoun " shina " were in any of the foregoing sentences used, the noun must be treated as out of the sentence, standing in apposition by itself, and having no connection with the predicate. The uses of "shina" and "yana" are not always in terchan geable . "Shina" is preferred before a noun and verbs with "wa" termination Abokin mijinta shina bisa itache Her husband's friend was up a tree yana kallon abinda ta ke yi watching what she was doing Present II This tense is only very rarely interchangeable with the foregoing. It is purely a verb form, and it has none of the complexity of construction which the foregoing has. It is used in asking questions, and especially in answering them. It is precise as to tune, otherwise the aorist is used. In 136 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE narration it is often convenient to translate it by the imperfect tense. The object usually precedes the sentence Mi ku ke yi ? Aiki mu ke yi What are you doing ? We are working If the latter statement had not been made in answer to a question, it would be in the form of " Muna yi-n- aiki." Mi su ke yi yanzu ? Suna chi- What are they doing now ? They n-abinchinsu are eating their food From this example it is seen that the idea of continuity is stronger in Present I. than in Present II. Mi ku ke kawowa ? Abinda What are you bringing ? What we. muka samu chiki-n-kasua found in the market Suka che, domi muke fasawa ? They said, Why are we delaying ? In the foregoing the noun form of the verb is used. Ubana ni ke so or ubana ni ka so / love my father Shi ni ke so or shi nika so I love him Shanu ya ke kashe or shanu He kills oxen shika kashe Da na ganshi ya ke tafia When I saw him he was travelling Kowa ya ke yi shi Whoever shall do it Abinda na ke so The thing which I want Mi ya sameku, ku ke kuka What is the matter with you that you are howling A perfect sense may even be found Tun da, bar kwanaki nan, For a long time back till this day, mutane-n-Rimo su ke pesshi- the people of Rimo have plundered n-hainya the road Also a future sense Chiki-n-wannan lokachi ka ke At this season wilt thou then restore mayar (mayas) wa Israila da to Israel their kingdom mulki ? VERB 137 Past I This is the tense that indicates simply past time, and it is often best translated by the perfect in English Daga enna mutume nan ya taf o ? Ya fada mani ya fito daga Kano. Ban san' abinda ya kawo shi ba Kun rataye tufafi ? Ta che da mu : kun gamu da wani azne maidauka-n-nama ? Muka che, mun gamu da shi Na so shi, shi kua shina so na Ni, na yi murna Kin gani ? Kin san abinda ya kawo ni garin nan ? Whence has this man come ? He told me he came from Kano. I do not know what has brought him Have you hung up the clothes ? She said to us : did you meet a certain pagan carrying meat ? We said: we met him I loved him, he too loves me I rejoiced Did you see it ? Did you know what brought me to this country ? Pastil This past only differs from the preceding in the plural forms, and in the 2nd person singular feminine. It is to be noticed that in past tense I. the 2nd person singular feminine also takes a termination. There are four uses of this tense (1) in questions; (2) in matters of fact; (3) in narration; (4) for emphasis. There is no negative form, that of the Past I. being used Enna magani-n-da kika debo ? Mi kika gani ? M ut 11 MI daia sunka buga Dakuna nawa sunka gina ? Enna mutane sunka kwana ? Fulani sunka chi Kano Mu munka buge shi Ku kunka yi aiki Su sunka yi sata Saanda muka komo muka ga kayanmu duka sun bache Muka tafi kasua, muka zamna, muka yi chiniki, muka komo Yaushe sunka zo ? Where is the medicine you helped yourself to ? What have you seen ? They have beaten a man How many huts have they built ? Where have the men slept ? The Fulani captured Kano We have beaten him You have worked (well) It is (indeed) they who have stolen When we came back we saw that all our loads were spoilt We went to the market, we sat down, we did trade, we have returned When did they come ? 138 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE In dependent sentences there may be a future signi- ficance !dan suka zo gobe // they come to-morrow Tyayenta sunka gane ta suna Her parents seeing her rejoiced and murna da kuka shouted Future I. and II There are two future tenses with the same meaning. In one the verb remains and is treated as a verb through- out. In the other the verb stem becomes a substantive in the same manner as in Present I. Future I. is formed by a reduplication of the vowel of the pronoun, though some writers consider that it is an "a" that is appended throughout. Future II. is formed by employing the verb <: zani," etc., / will go. As one says " zani Kano," / am going to Kano, so the Hausa also says, "zani zamna," / am going to sit down. The idea of actual motion is modified to that of futurity. 1 Other tenses may also have a future significance from the context. It is the practice when two future tenses follow each other to use Future II. first, followed by Future I. Examples of Future I. without Object Kaa zama talaka You will become poor Gobe da sasafe mfi tashi We will start very early to-morrow Komi zaayi masu ba sua beri ba Whatever may be done to them, they will not give it up Kadan ba ka zuba mai chiki-n- // you do not pour oil into the fitila ta mutu lamp it will go out Ni tafi ga sariki da ni che masa / shall go to the chief and say to him Babu abinda zaya sa sua tabani Nothing he could do would make them touch me 1 See " The Languages of West Africa," chapter on the verb. VERB 139 With Object Ina tamaha ni same sa da rai Idan ka tafi wurinsa ya fada maka labari Idan ka so na yi kokari To, na kara shi Kadan na bashi takarda sh! tsage ta Yi hankali, shii huge ka Kadan na yi shiri ni kirrawo ka / think I shall find him alive If you go to him he will tell you the news If you like I will try All right I will add to it or increase it If I give him the book he will tear it Take care or he will hit you When I am ready I will call you Examples of Future II Without Object Zasu chi Zaku mutuwa Chiki-n-Bida zamu kwana da dere Da zata mutua, ta che . . . Mi zamu yi ? Zata je ta gani Ba zaya kwana nan ba sai Lokoja ... en zasu tafowa Aghat Yanzu za en je en sai sabo Zani tafia en gani abokina Zani en fara waka Zaka hadu chiki Kaka Sariki ze zamna goburo ? (ze=zai) With Direct Object. Zani dauka-1-riga They go to eat or they will eat You will die We are going to sleep in Bida When she was about to die, she said . . . What shall we do She will go and see He will not sleep here but at Lokoja . . . with the intention of coming to Ghat Now I will go and buy a new one I am going to see my friend I am going to begin my song You will be swallowed up inside (Note. Hadu is a verb with a passive meaning.) How can the King remain wifeless ? Insertion of preposition ''of,'' "n" Babu abinda zashi samu-n-ka Ya kan rika nemi yada zashi samu-n-riba a wurina En zasu chi-n-tuo-n-su suna buga baba-n-kube Da komi zaka tambaye-n-su ka che kadan ka yerda Zani saye-n-wannan bunsuru / will take the shirt. Lit., / am going to the taking of the shirt Nothing shall happen to you He is always trying to find a way to make a profit out of me When they go to food they strike a big bell And whatever you ask them for, you say, if you please I will sell this he-goat 140 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Examples of Use of Verb Stem Form of Verb when Noun Form in Existence Mata chan ta che ba zata tafi That woman said she will not go ba sai mun zo before we come Ba zaka iya dauka-n-ta (for You cannot take it up quickly dauka-r-ta) maza Amma abokina yaushe zashi But when will your friend come ? tafo? Yaushe zamu tafi ? When shall we go ? If the verb itself has a prepositional termination, " n " is omitted. This applies to the derived verbs in "da." There is also no " n " if there is an indirect object, either preceded or not by a preposition Zashi gaida sarakunansa He is going to salute his chiefs Talauchi ba zaya kauda yauchi Poverty ought not to take away ba freedom Wata rana da zamu tafia ga One day as we were going to the gona farm Zasu yi masu . . . They will do to them . . . Wani iri-n-magani zaka ba ni What kind of medicine will you give to me Kowani zashi tsayesda wannan Whoever stops this man will be rautum zaakassheshi killed The copulative " n," being often omitted in the genitive case, is also omitted with this tense, commonly with negative Zashi halaka dunia He will destroy the world Fulani ba zasu fada-mu ba The Fulani will not fight us (Commonly Fulani ba zasu yi fada da mu ba.) After "yi," do, it is usually omitted. Babu itache, kaka zan yi wuta ? There is no wood, how can I make fire? Zaka yi tafia You are going to travel This is so, especially if the simple verb stem is used and a pronoun is the direct object. It seems as if the maintenance of the substantival idea were too much of an effort and the construction too cumbersome. Mi zai kai-mu Hausa ? What will take us to the Hausa country ? Ya che zashi wanke ta He said he will wash it VERB 141 In the following examples the personal pronoun is repeated after " zasu " in order to ensure a pure verb form Da Fulani suka gani ba zasu When the Fulas saw that they were samu-n-nasara, suka che, ba not going to get the victory, they zasu su yi fada ba said, they would not fight Zashi ya koiya masa karia He will teach him falsehood Frequentative This is formed by the insertion of the particle "kan" between the pronoun and the verb. It has (1) a fre- quentative or habitual use ; (2) a subjunctive or con- cessive sense ; (3) a sense of necessity or certainty or possibilty : 1 Shi kan yi hakka He is in the habit of doing so Biri ya kan yi banna, halinsa ke A monkey always does mischief, it nan t* his nature Alkema bisa ducbi Allah shi A grain of wheat on a rock God kan ba ta rua gives it water Ki kan tafi, ki kan kunche su You can go and loose them Wanda ya kan chi amana ba ya He who plays false with friendship issa ache da shi aboki ba is not worthy to be called a friend Uwa ta kan ki danta ? Can a mother hate her child ? Wanda ya chi giginia, chikinsa Who eats the (fruit of the) fan- ya (or shi) kan yi chiwo palm, his belly will be sure to be sick (after it). (Note. This is not a fact.) Wa ya ka shiga (ka = kan) Who can enter? (See previous note on the tense) Etymology MiscbJich considers that "kan" is in all probability an abbreviation of "kana," then, before En na gani mache, kana ni // / see a woman I want her BO ta = ni kan so ta En ya gani kura kana ya gudu // he sees a hyaena it runs away = ya kan gudu 142 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Subjunctive Mood and Tense There is no separate form for the subjunctive mood in any tense except the 1st person singular, which carries generally rather a future sense. Its principal usage is concessive or interrogative. The other persons are the same as in the aorist tense Ina so en tafi Ina so shi (or ya) tafi Ka yi nufi ka tafi ? Na yi kokari en komo Na aike shi shi kawo doki Na che, en tafi en kawo shi ? Ni ma en zo en kwanta Uwata ta che en tafi en wanketa Ta che ta tafi ta wanke Kana en tafi en chi nama-na Ya che zani en gani makari-n- dunia Ya che masa shi gina masa kushieya Ea na so en passa kanka ba Kada su mutu Kada nama ya tashi / want to go I want him to go Did you intend to go ? I shall try to come back I sent him to bring the horse I said may I go and fetch him ? Me too, let me come and lie doivn Mother said I must go and wash her She said let her go and wash (it) Then I would go and eat my meat He said I will go and see the end of the earth He told him to go and dig a grave for him I do not want to break your head That they should not die Lest the game should start Imperative In the singular the pronoun is omitted when a second verb is there, but not usually otherwise Tafi ka chi Ka tafi. Ku tafi Kada ka buga Kada su tafi tukuna Ba magana ! Go and eat Go ! (sing, and plu.) Do not strike They must not go yet Do not talk ! The verb "beri," leave, let, is largely used for giving orders, etc. Let us go Let me see first where she is Sometimes, for emphasis, the pronoun precedes as well as follows the verb Ka j i ka ! Ki je ki gurin sariki Hearken thou f You, go to the chief, or you, go to where the chief is VERB 143 Pluperfect Conditional This tense or mood has no independent existence in Hausa. The requisite idea is conveyed by making use of the particle " da " = formerly, with the meaning of unfulfilled intention given" to it Da zani tafia Da na sani da ban yi haka ba Da ni kai ne da na halbe gada nan Da ba ya yi muna dabara ba, da mun fadi chiki-n-rami Da safia ya yi muka tashi See also under " / intended to go or would have gone. Lit., formerly I was going to go Had I known I would not have done so If I had been you I should have shot that deer Had he not warned us we should have fallen into the hole When it ivas light we started da " adverb of time. Can, to be able There is no special mood or tense. The verb " iya " is used. For "to be unable physically " the verb " kasa " is used. Ya iya dauka-r-kaya nan ? Ya kasa dauka tasa Shina iya yi-n-sa Kana iya kai ni ? Ina iya kaiki, ba na iya kawoki Ba shi yiuwa ba (from " yi," do) Babu abinda zasbi iya rabasu daga wanan abuta Ba na iya ba en shiga kwogin wuta Can he lift that load ? He cannot lift it He can do it Can you take me ? I can take you there, 1 cannot bring you back He cannot Nothing could break their friend- ship I cannot enter the stream of fire PASSIVE VOICE A general survey of the languages of West Africa reveals the fact that all of them are without a passive voice. The 3rd personal pronoun plural is commonly, if not invariably, used with the verb in the active voice, as " They beat him," for " He was beaten." The Hausa language seems to have acquired somehow 144 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE the notion that a passive was necessary, and to produce it merely made use of the natural method, as stated above, but with the aid of an obsolete form of "they" namely, "a." This is as it appears from the present-day point of view. What actually took place, probably, is that a foreign influx of population which possessed a passive voice in their own language, and also the word "su" for "they," brought in these new elements with as little disruption to the existing language as possible. " Su " attached itself to the active voice, and the obsolescent " a " maintained its existence only in an artificial usage. Regarding "a" as "su" simply, the translation of the various passive forms is seen to run harmoniously with the active voice : Present I Anasona = suna sona Ba asoni ba = ba su so ni ba Anasonka = suna sonka Anakamnarka suna kamna-r- ka Present II Akesoka = su ke so ka, or Akesonka = su ke sonka Akekamnaka = su ke kamna ka, or Akekamnarka = su ke kamnarka they love you Shi akeso = shi, su ke so they love him Shi akaso = shi, suka so they love him Past I Ansomu = sun so rau they loved us Ba ansomu ba = ba sun so mu ba they did not love us Pastil Akasoku = suka so ku they have loved you Ankasoku=sunka so ku they have loved you Ba asoku ba = ba su so ku ba they did not love you Future Aasosu = sua so su they will love them Zaasonsu=zasu son su ,, Ba zaasonsu ba = ba zasu son su ba they will not love them VERB 145 Frequentative Akansosu=su kan so su they are all laved Subjunctive Asoshi=su so shi (let them) love him Kada asoshi=kada su so shi let them not love him In place of a pronoun as direct object (in the active rendering) a noun may be substituted Anabugu-n-yaro don mugunta- The boy is beaten on account of his 1-sa bad deeds Gari akechi yanzu The town is being taken now If "by whom " is added the active voice is reverted to for preference Tonawa suke chi-n-gari The Ashantis are taking the town If the following sentence from Mischlich is correct the passive may be adhered to in the Past II. tense. Anka chi gari da tonawa The town was taken by the Ashantis Anka, Aka There is a great tendency to use the forms " anka " (aka) instead of the active voice in 1. Questions. 2. Narration. 3. Emphasis. l Yaushe ankabugeka ? When were you beaten ? Enna ankaganeku ? Where were you seen? Domi ankasache doki ? Why was the horse stolen ? 2 and 3 Jia ankabugesu They were beaten yesterday Jia akayi wannan abu Yesterday this thing was done Tundadewa ankasache doki The horse has been stolen a long time Akayi sansani; da safia ta yi, T he camp was pitched ; when morn- akatashi ; akayi ta fada har ///;/ came they arose and fell to akekasshe mutane wojen tala- fighting until about 3000 men ta ; kana akadena were killed ; then they ceased K 146 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE It will be noticed in the last example that it is impossible in English to keep to the passive construction throughout. The active must be resorted to. Passive with Intransitive Verbs The passive form can also be used in Hausa with in- transitive verbs. The origin of the passive form as stated above is thus fully emphasised Anazua da su They are being brought =Suna zua da su They are coming with them Anje Kano They went to Kano Special Uses of Passive Form The passive is often used in an imperative sense En kawo rua ? akawo Shall I bring water ? Bring it or let it be brought Asa su tafichan,adauko kayamu, Let some one go there and take our azo da su wurinmu loads and bring them here A real noun may be used with a passive prefix in those tenses where the verb acquires a substantival idea Ban debo wani ba don anarua / did not take any out on account of the rain Zamanin nan anayungwa In those times there was hunger Anshekara biu bai rua ba For two years there was no rain Bayan anshekara dunia tai dadi After a year there was peace Also Ana -nan Thereupon Ana-haka-nan ,, In the passive as well as in the active voice the verb root is occasionally reduplicated in the plural. This gives a distributive force Ankasosu They have been loved (all of them together) Ankasososu They have been loved (i.e., each one with special attention) VERB 147 Sundry Examples of Use of Passive Anaikoni wurinka Saanda akakawoni Akahaifeni a birni-n-Katsina gida-n-Musa Anakira-n-salla Kai a-ke-kira 1 Anarua 1 A A, yanzu andauka rua 1 Da dam ana anarua deri da rana 1 Sal ankwana biu 1 Yanzu afara sabo Akanrena aiki-n-gwoni ? su kan yi mana Ba asan garinda zaasuba Ni za-a-aikeni ga Bornu ? Ina ji-n-motsi chan, mi anayi (or akcyi) ? Kurdi-n-dokina, sai da nono- n-mache anasayensa Ina so en tambayc shi ko ambashi abinchi ? ya che ambashi kurdi, amma ba abashi abinchi ba tukuna Daga rana nan anasukuan doki da anabuga bindiga Kada su ji tsoro, ba zaa korcsu ba Wani lokachi zaayenka sa chikin _ kasua kuma ? Abersu su tafi ? Idan sariki ya cho abersu, abersu Amma ku zaayi maku baptisma / was sent to you At the time when I was brought I was born in the city of Katsina in Musa's house It is the call to prayer You are called It is raining No, now the rain has stopped, lit., been taken away In the wet season it rains day and night Goodbye. Lit., Until slept twice We will now begin again Is the work of an expert despised ? They do indeed (despise it) The town they were going to pour down on was not known Shall I be sent to Bornu ? I hear a noise over there. What is being done ? As to the price of my horse, it can only be bought with a woman's breast I want to ask him if they have given him food ? He says he has been given money but not food yet On that day there were horse races and shooting Let them not fear ; they will not be driven away At what time will they kill a cow again in the market ? Will they be allowed to go ? If the chief says let them go they will be let go Hut you yourselves will be baptized The use of " ke " for " na " might possibly be called a hybrid, being a transfer into the passive form of the and 1 In these sentences the purely passive idea is more prominent, id the substitution of "su" would be difficult. 148 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE present tense form " ke " just as if it were " na." To complete the analogy " n " is inserted Ina fada maka kamada akeyin- / will tell you how " tuo " is made tuo A-ke-samunsn They were caught If the verb has the termination "da," the "n" is of course omitted Har ya zo wurinda a-ke-saida Until he come to the place where bayi they sold slaves THE INFINITIVE The fact that the infinitive is a noun is not lost sight of in Hausa. In rendering such sentences as 1. To sleep is pleasant 2. I wish to go the infinitive may be employed, though in the second example a circumlocution may be adopted. The above may be translated as follows 1. Berichi ya yi dadi Berichi da dadi ya ke Berichi yana da dadi 2. Ina so-n-tafia Ina so en tafi The following sentences furnish examples of pure nouns, or verbs used as nouns, in the same position Su tafi halbi They go to shoot Su tafi gida They go home Muka tafi farauta We went hunting Sun tafi chi-n-tuo-n-su They have gone to eat their food Sometimes the preposition "ga," to, is added Kai, ba ka girima ba ga aiki You are too small for work (or ga yi-n-aiki) Mn tafi ga sha-n-hiska We go to take the air VERB 149 Examples of Infinitive in Nominative Case Gudu, gado - n - matsorachi ne ; To run is the inheritance of a tsayawa, na maikarifi - n - coward; to stand (lit., standing) zuchia that of a brave man Gani, em ba chi ba, karre (shi) To see if not to eat means the dog kan kwana da yungwa (prov.) will sleep hungry Gani-n-sa da keao It is beautiful to see (lit., The seeing it is beautiful) Na samu wani abu da kamsi, / found something sweet smelling chinsa babu dadi but not good to eat PLURAL Chiye - chiye ya fi chanyewa To eat a little at a time is better (prov.) than to devour Infinitive as Direct Object Zaki ya ji kukanta The lion heard her cries Halbi a wutsia ya fi kuskure It is better to hit the tail than to (prov.) miss Ina so- n- tafia / want to go Infinitive as Indirect Object without Preposition Mun tafi chi-n-abinchi We went to eat food Ya tafi nema-n-doki He has gone to search for the horse Na zo tambaya-r-ka ne / come to ask you Infinitive as Indirect Object with Preposition Na aike shi gari-n-kawo-n-doki I sent him to bring the horse In Future Tense II. it is, of course, the infinitive that is used after " zani," etc. Na rassa abinda zan yi / do not know what to do. Lit., / am without the thing I shall do Ya yi terko da zaya kama He made a trap and he will catch kurege a weasel In such a sentence as " He heard us come," the Hausa construction is " He heard our coming," keeping "come " strictly as a noun Ya ji mosi-mu He heard us move Na same shi zamne / found him sitting down 150 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE The following are examples of the use of the subjunctive mood instead of the infinitive either with or without a conjunction : WITHOUT Ina so shi (or ya) tafi I want him to go Ya soki sarikin da mashi-n-nan He pierced the king with that spear da ubangidansa ya ba shi riko which his master gave him to hold Ka yi nufi ka tafi ? Did you intend to go ? Na aike shi shi kawo doki I sent him to bring the horse Fadi en ji Let me hear (lit., Speak so that 1 hear) WITH Na aike shi don shi kawo doki / sent him to bring the horse (For " don," " domin" or " garin" may be substituted) Instead of a subordinate sentence two co-ordinate sentences may be employed Sun tafo gidansu suna rabawa They came home to divide it Ba naku ne da zaku san zamanu It is not for you to know the times Ta shigo gari tana nema-n-miji She entered the town looking for a ta yi amre husband to marry him Use of the Future Tense Na aike (mutum) wanda zashi / sent some one to bring the horse (or zaya) kawo doki Na koiya masa yada (or kanda / taught him how to clean the gun or wada) zashi (or zaya) wanke bindiga Ni, ba ruana ba ne, su ne zasu It is not my business. They are yishi the people to do it Use of Prefix "mai" Kana da mutum maitaya maka ? Have you any one to help you ? Note also f ollowing Mun ji tausayi en rabua da shi We were sorry to leave him VERB 151 PRESENT PARTICIPLE There are two forms of present participle, both sub- stantival. One can be used adjectivally in apposition to another noun, but the other is never anything but a noun. In reality neither is a true participle, but they are the equivalent renderings of two uses of the verb in English with the termination " -ing." No. 1 Adjectival forms are produced by the use of "mai" and " ma " prefixed. The resulting adjectives take gender and plural variations as follows : MASC. AND FEM. Maibude Maifalka Maififika Maifura Maifuta Mairubutu Mairufe Mai j if a Maiso Maiyaswa Maizua SOKOTO PLURAL masubude masufalka masufifika masufura masufuta masurubutu masurufe masujifa masuso masuyaswa masuzua ENGLISH opening waking flying blowing, kindling resting writing shutting throwing loving throwing away coming MASC. Mabudi Mafalki Mafifiki Mafuri Mafuti Marubuchi Marufi Majefi Masoyi Mayashi Mazayi KANO FEM. PLURAL mabudia mabuda mafalkia mafalka mafifikia mafifika mafuria mafura raafutia mafuta marubuchia marubuta raarufia marufa majefia majefa masoyia masoya mayashia mayasa mazayia mazaya ENGLISH opening waking flying blowing, kindling resting writing shutting throwing loving throwing away coming NOTE Moat of the foregoing are from Mischlich 152 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Various Examples of Syntax Mutuin mairufe kofa A man who shuts the door, i.e., Door-opener Malami mairubutu yana zamne A mallam is sitting yonder writing chan Muka nema mutane ma-isu tafi We looked for one who would (lit., Hal ma capable of) go to Balma No. 2 Noun Form l The other form of the present participle is as used in English in the sentences, " I am coming," "He is killing," etc. It is formed by adding "wa" to the verb stem. This produces a noun form, and not every verb is capable of taking it. Being a noun form, the pronoun that pre- cedes it is the one ending in " -na," which suffix is dropped in the negative. In the 3rd person the form of pronoun "shina" is preferred to "yana" Zo zuwa coming lya iyawa being able Sayas (of saye) sayaswa selling Shina fitowa He is coming out Ba shi fitowa He is not coming (actually now) out (actually now) These have, besides, supplementary meanings. (1) Futurity Ina zuwa or ni ke zua / am coming or I will come Ina tafiata / am going my journey. (This is the possessive pronoun at end of the noun) Suka che ba mu bayesua They said we will not give (it) (2) Possibility or Ability Shina yiuwa ? ba shi yiuwa Can it be done ? It cannot be done Gulabe suna ketaruwa ? Can the rivers be crossed ? 1 See derived nouns, class 8. VERB 153 Ba ta amrua or aurua Ba na damua Abi-n-nan ya fasu ba shi gertuwa Iri-n-nan ba shi geruwa Yana yenkan rua da lauje shina damrewa shina ajiyewa sai rua ya yi sarari She is not marriageable I am not to be annoyed or astonished This thing is broken, it is not repairable This kind cannot be improved He cut the water with a sickle he tied it up and set it aside until the water made an open space If the present participle is not used a series of co- ordinate sentences may be found Suka kama hainya, suna waka, suna yebo-n- Allah They took the road singing (and) praising God PAST PARTICIPLE The past participle is a pure adjective formed from the verb stem by a reduplication of the last syllable for the most part MASC. FEM. ENGLISH Arare araria araru ara lent Biye biyia biyu bi followed Budade budadia budadu bude opened Chechache chechachia chechachu cheche saved Chikake chikakia chikaku chika filled Dafafe dafafia dafafu dafa cook Falkake falkakia falkaku falka woken Fifikake fifikakia fifikaku fifika flown Furare furaria furaru fura blow a fire Futate futatia futatu futa rested Haifafe haifafia haifafu haife begotten Jefafe jcfafia jefafu jefa thrown Karikache karikachia karikatu karikata bent Kiraye kirayia kirayu kira called Koshashe koshashia koshashu koshi satisfied Karbabe karbabia karbabu karba received Konane konania konanu kone burnt Matache matachia matatu mutu dead Ninane ninania ninanu nina ripened Kamtachc ramtachia ramtatu ramche borrowed (ramtye) Bubutache rubutachia rubutatu rubutu written Bufafe rufafia rufafu rufe shut Sanane sanania sananu sani known 154 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Satache satachia satatu Shaidade shaidadia shaidadu Shiriaye shiriayia shiriayu Soyaye soyayia soyayu Tafasashe tafasashia tafasasu Tarare tararia tararu Toyaye toyayia toyayu Tsarare tsararia tsararu Wankake wankakia wankaku Yasashe yasashia yasasu Yirdade yirdadia yirdadu Zayaye zayayia zayayu sata shaida shiria so tafasa tara toya tsara wanke yas yirda zo stolen proven prepared beloved boiled assembled baked guarded washed thrown away believed Examples of Syntax A Kano akoi takardu rubutatu dayawa A Kano akoi rubutatu-n-ta- kardu dayawa Kada ka tafi wuri-n-sariki, sai ka ga kofa budadia or Kada ka tafi wuri-n-sariki sai ka ga budadia-1-kofa Doiya nan dainye che, wadanga kua dafafu ne Lemu da ka kawo mani ba nunanu ba ne Yara nan lalatatu ne, da suna samari akakialisu, shi ne ya sa Ya damra fitila juyaya a bisa adaka Zakara ya zamna adaki matache At Kano are many written books Do not go to the chief until you see his door open This yam is fresh those however are cooked The limes you brought me are not ripe These boys are corrupted, when they were young they were ne- glected ; that is what caused it He has tied the lamp on the box upside down The cock lay in the room dead VERBAL ADVERBS These are formed from the verb stem with the prefix "a," which may perhaps be the preposition "on," and the final vowel is changed to " e," as Abude from budu Adarime , damre Afalke , falka Afifike , fifika Afure fura Afnche futa Ahadie , hade open Ajefe fr< tied Akafe waked Akwanche flown Akunche kindled Amache rested Amanche swallowed Arataye jm jefa thrown kafa fastened kwanta laid down kunche loosed mutu dead manta forgotten rataya hung VERB 155 Arubu- from rubutu tuche Arufe rufe Ashike Ashirige shiriga Asoye written shut melted laden, placed on top of each other loved Asage fro Atsaye Asanche , Ataushe , Awanke , Azamne , Ayashe . Azaye , m tsaga tsaya sani tausa or taushe wanka zamna yas zo drawn (stand) erect known pressed washed seated thrown come These forms are not all translatable into English in the same way Na ga kaza afifike Na ga kofa abude Na ga mutum azaye Na ishe shaifu Usman asoye ga Filani Ya tashi tsaye a chiki-n-tsaka- r-ya-n-uwa I saw the chicken flying away I saw the door ajar I saw the man had come I met the sheikh Usman the beloved of the Fulas He got up and stood in the midst of the brethren (In this the prefix "a" is dropped.) Na ganeshi akewaye ga yara dayawa Sai ga mutum biu daura da su atsaye Suka iske kogi achiko Sun gan'shi azona kaman da ("azona" euphonic for " azone " = " azamne ") Ga sauran zuma a-ajiye Na bar mashi chan akafe a jikinsa I saw him surrounded by many boys But two men were standing by them They found the river full They saw him seated as before See the rest of the honey is put down I left the spear there fast in his body USE OF INVERTED PERSONAL PRONOUN There are only three verbs in Hausa that are exceptions to the rule that the subject pronoun precedes the verb. They are all defective, and only appear in the forms given here 1 Zani / will go. Used in the future tense 2 (m.) zaka (f.) zaki 3 (in.) zashi, zaya, zai (f.) zata plu. 1 zamu 2 zaku 3 zasu 156 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE " Za " is the reverse of " zo," come, and so means " go." Yaka (m.), yaki (f.) come here ) T Yaku come here (plu.) ( Operative Jeka (m.), jeki (f.) qo / T Jeku go \ Operative "Je" is also used in the ordinary way preceded by the pronoun Zani Kano / go, or will go, to Kano Na biku bar wurinda zaku / will follow you to the place you are going to Ke je ki 60 thou ! (f.) Ni ma za en je ni en rama abinda And I will go and revenge myself ubana ya yi mini on my father Ya tafi ya je sari oban He went and killed his father IMPERSONAL VERBS There are two impersonal verbs in Hausa "akoi" (akwoi) and " wai " (wae). Akwoi " Akwoi " means there is. There is no change for tense, time being indicated by adverbs Tun a mafari akoi Allah God has been since the beginning or There is a God ever since the beginning Sometimes the 3rd personal pronoun plural follows in answer to a question, as " Akwoi su " There are. Akwoi su dayawa, ba arasasu There are plenty, they are not wanting Wai (wae} " Wai " = " ya che," he says. It is always used when the speaker is not speaking on his own authority. It is not universally interchangeable with "ya che." Wai ku tafi He says you must go or you are to go Wani yaro ya zo wai shi Audu A certain boy has come, he says he is Audu NOTE. Miller says this is a Zaria idiom. VERB 157 Under the head of impersonal verbs may also be mentioned the use of the noun " saura," remainder. Saura kadan muu gama aikinmu In a short time we shall finish our work Saura kwana uku In three days or There is left three, Yi The verb " yi " is often used as an impersonal verb. Ya yi kusa It is near See in chapter on idioms under " yi " CHAPTER VI ADVERBS ADVERBS may be divided as follows : 1. Place. 2. Time. 3. Manner. 4. Affirmation and Negation. 5. Interrogation. Most adverbs are either compound words made up wholly or partly from other parts of speech, or, in regard to adverbs of place in particular, some nouns are used without any change of form. There are some words which are classed under adverbs of manner and time of which it is hard to decide whether they are not better classed as conjunctions, a doubt which is equally common to other West African languages. Some West African languages, among which may be mentioned Yoruba, Efe, and Mende have long lists of intensitive adverbs. These words are very commonly attached to certain verbs alone, and cannot be used with other verbs. Hausa is quite deficient in this respect, but seeing that many of these intensitives have an approxima- tion to the root of the verb to which they are attached when needed, it may be assumed that they are derived from that verb. If that be confirmed, a germ of the same idea lies in Hausa in the use of the neuter form ending in " u " following the principal verb (see under division of verbs). 158 ADVERB 159 Nan, nana Nanyanga Chan, chana Tare Enda 1. ADVERBS or PLACE Simple here, there. (For etymology see under demonstrative pronoun) here. (Not in colloquial use) there, yonder together. (Related to " tara," to collect) where (relative) For "enna?" where? ste under interrogative adverbs) Daga nan Daga chan Da nisa, daga nisa Da kusa, daga knsa Wuri-n-nan Wuri duka Wuri-n-da Ko-enna Dabara, daura Compound hence, from here thence, from there far, from afar. (Nisa is a noun) near here, at this place everywhere where, the place which anywhere near, alongside Gaba Baya Bisa Kasa Kalkas, kalikashi Nouns used as Adverbs in front behind above below below Waje Tsakani Chiki Kusa Nisa outside, beside between inside near, nearly, almost far, distant Gangare Verbs used as Adverbs across Ketare across Examples of Uses Nan, chan, daga chan, wuri-n-nan, etc. Shina nan Shi ke nan a vi nan, bar ka yishi Tana chan. Tana chana He is here, or there not far It is so. This phrase is used as n sort of mark of punctuation in conversation Since I have told you, so it is, you must do it She is yonder 160 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Shina nana Ba shi nan Zo nan Aje bindiga nan Ba shi daga nan Tumaki duka suna nan ? Ba su duka nan ba Mi zaki yi nana ? Daga chan na ganiabi-n-mamaki He, is here He is not here Come here Put the gun here He is not here Are all the sheep here ? They are not all here What will you (f.) do here ? There I saw a wonderful thing Note- that the adverb precedes for emphasis Daga nan muka tashi, muka issa nana Daga wuri-n-nan Daga nan bar chan Daga chan har nan Abokina shina (or yana) nan Tun yaushe kana nan zamne ? (and) From there we started we reached here There or from there or from that place From here to there From there to here My friend is here How long have you been sitting (or living) here? NOTE. // " wuri-n-nan " were used it would follow " zamne " Suna nan zamne da shi Ina tamaha kwanaki shida nan zua ga Bornu They are sitting there with him I think it is six days from here to Bornu Tare Mutane duka suna tafia tare All the people are travelling together " Tare " is distinct from " tari " =very many Enda, wurinda Suka tambaye sa enda (or wur- inda) uwasa ta ke Enda hali, muni keao ne; enda ba hali ba, keao muni ne (proverb) Ba enda ban tafi ba Tali enda zaka They asked him where his mother was Where there is character unfavour- able appearance counts for nothing; where there is no character good looks are of no avail There is nowhere I have not been Go to your destination Nisa, da nisa, etc. Bature shina nisa tukun Bature ba shi nisa Na gan' shi daga nisa Ya tsaya daga nisa The European is still far off The European is not far I saw him afar off He stood afar off ADVERB 161 Kadan ku tafi nisa daga garemu, kada ku shida nisa daga uban- enku Mu tafi wuri da nisa Ban gan' su ba, suna da nisa Rua nisa ya ke daganan Dengina sun tafi nisa duk' sun rabu da ni Ya yi nisa Suna tafia sun yi nisa Let us go to a far place I have not seen them, they are a long way off The water is far from here My countrymen have gone far away, they have all parted from me It is far They went a long way Kusa, da kusa, etc. Shi ne kusa gareni NOTE. " Kusa gare Ba ka gani ba ya kusa gareka Ya kusa chika da rua Shina kusa da shi Shina kusansa Daga kusa Ga shi tsakanin kulkusa Kusa da juna Ya kusa inutua Hani ya kusa zakua Runa ta kusa fadowa Aikinsa ya kusa karewa Ya kusa fadua He is near me really makes a preposition. You do not see hi is near you It is nearly full of water He is near him. (Preposition here) He is near him. (Noun here) From near See him in the middle very close Close to each other He was nearly dead The dry season is near The sun is nearly setting His work is nearly finished He almost fell The last five examples show that the fact that " kusa " is always a noun is not lost sight of. The succeed- ing verb takes a noun form (in "wa"), and "kusa" and the verb are thus two nouns in apposition Ya yi kusa Ku yi kusa Allah shina koenna. wuri duka Koenna sun sha gia sun koshi It is near (not he is near) Come near Koenna, wuri duka Allah shina Ood is everywhere Koenna ka tafi Allah shi nana Wherever they drink beer, they get drunk Wherever you go God is there Su jeru daidai ba na so su taaya daura da juna Dabara, daura Let them fall in properly. I do not want them to stand one (slightly) in front of another 162 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Gaba, baya Suna tafia gaba ina binsu daga They are, walking in front, I am. baya following them behind Ki wuche gaba, rua-n-Madina Pass on, the water of Medina is ba kusa ba not near Ba shi iya shi dauki kayansa He cannot carry his load on nan gaba Bisa, Tcasa, kalkas, etc. Shi ne daga bisa, ni ne daga He is on top, I am underneath kalkas Ya shido daga bisa He came down from aloft Kadan ka kai shi bisa, ka kawo- When you have carried it up, bring shi kasa it down again Kai bisa ! Carry it up Tainya shi ! shi dauka kaya a Help him to carry it up bisa Mu fadi kasa We fell down Zamna kasa Sit down Ku aje kasa Put it down Safko kalkas daga itache Come down from the tree Waje Ya fito waje He came outside " Waje " might equally well be called a noun here in the objective case after "fito" Sun fita waje sun yi yaki They went outside and fought a battle Tsakani Aje tsakani Put it between Child Muka samu yara suna worigi We found some boys playing inside daga chiki Sa chiki Put it inside Gfangare. Used with hills Gangare duchi Across the mountains Ketare used with water as well as land Ketare gulbi-n-nan Across this river Ketare chan That side Ketare duchi Over the rock ADVERB 163 2. ADVERBS OF TIME Those marked * are also conjunctions, are also prepositions. Simple again, also before that, until, then Those marked f *Kuma *Kana (K), kan, kanda Kamin *Dada (S) tHar, hal Hario Tun, tunda Tuni (K), tuntuni Tukun, tukuna Tukunche Nada Abada, hal abada Tutur, tutut, tutuk. tutu Kulum Da Da Karshe until again, yet while, since, while as ye long ago, already yet, not yet (rare) before for ever for ever always of old when lastly Take (S) = koyanzu, and, nan da nan Yao Jia Shekaranjia Gobe Jibi Gata Chita Bara Km. i Badi to-day yesterday day before yesterday to-morrow day after to-morrow the third day ahead fourth day ahead last year this year next year These are, strictly speaking, Ananan Yanzu (ya-n-zu) Ko-yanzu Saa-n-da, lotunda, lokachinda, wokachinda, kwanakinda Nan da nan thereupon, after that. From "a" the prep. = on, al, and "nan" here now now immediately when (relative) immediately 164 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Daganan (Yaushe ? Koyaushe Saa-nan, lotu-nan, lokachi-nan, zamani-nan, kwanaki-nan Saa duka, lokachi duka, lotu duka Wani lotu Tundadewa (S) Dadewa Dadai Da wuri, Dauri (S) Da fari (S) Chikin da-farko (K) Da safe Da mareche Da dere Zama-zama So dayawa fBaya ga Baya-n-wannan tAgaba Gaba ma Nan gaba Gaba daia (S) Baki daia (K) thereupon When ? see interrogative adverbs) at any time, immediately, always now, these days at any time another time long since long since ever. Usually with negative ; ~ never of old, formerly at first at first early morning at evening at night after a little time often, many times after. (Prep, really) after this in front later on, in the future henceforth, in future at once Kuma, again, more, also Derived from Tcoma, to return Zo kuma Babu nisa kuma Ba ni da kurdi dayawa kuma A-kan-yi-su da kasa, a-kan-yi- su da itache kuma Wani lokachi za-a-yenka sa a kasua kuma Audu ya yi sata ; Mahma ya yi sata kuma Come again No farther I have no more money at all They are made of earth, they are made of wood also When will they kill a bull again in the market Audu has stolen ; Mahma has also stolen. (This does not imply that Mahma has stolen again, i.e., a second time) Kana, kan, kanda. See also below under "before" kan tafi ni kan chi Then I used to go, I used to eat Kana ni tuona Dafari na gani sariki, kana galadima, da karshe sariki-n- pawa my food First I saw the chief, then the minister, lastly the head butcher ADVERB 165 Hario ya kirani so-biu, kana na Again he called me twice, then I amsa answered Ina son Allah, kana abokina / lave God before (then) my friend Kan su gama Before they have done Kanda ta rabika (poetic) Before it part you Kanda na je daga nan Before I go from here Dada = Kana Suka fide nama dada suna bida- They skinned the animal, then they n-wuta (began) to look for fire Kamin Kamin rua shi taso Before the rain started Sai ka shiria kamin na zo You must get ready by the time I come Shiga daki kamin masugayya Go into the room before the assem- su zo blage comes Ear Har rana ta fadi Until the sun sets Har yao Until to-day Yana tafia bar yanzu ; ba ya He was travelling until now, he gama ba did not meet him Tsaya bar ya tafi Wait till he has gone Ka jira ni bar en zaka Wait till I come Ya tambaye ta bar so uku He asked her three times Ya jira bar ruaye su zuba kasa He waited until the rain came (lit., Waters pour on the earth) Na rike asiri - n - nan bar ga / have kept this secret until now yanzu (yao) (to-day) Kada ka maide mani dana bar You need not return my son to me na gamu da kai daga chiki-n- until I meet you in the other lakbira world Hario Hario mutume-n- nan, ko ubanta, Again the same man, or perhaps it ya zaka ya maishieta was her father, came (and) made her return See example under " kana " Tun Tun bara Since last year Tun da safe Since morning Tun jia bawa sbi ke, amma yao Only yesterday he was a slave, but da no to-day he is free 166 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Tun a mafari akoi Allah Ubanka yana da rai ? Aa, ya mutu tun ina yaro Ku tuba tun ba ku mutu ba Tun da Tun da akoi daki Tun da babu sai Allah God has been since the beginning (lit., Since in the beginning there is God) Is your father alive ? No, he has been dead ever since I was a boy Repent before you die Since a long time back. This is distinct from " tunda," while, etc. From the first there has been a hut (here) From the beginning nothing but God Compare " tun a mafari " above Tunda =tun lokachinda Tun da ni ke, kulum na fadi gaskia Ever since I was born (lit., I was) I have always spoken the truth Tunda ankahaifeni ban ga bature Ever since I was born I have never ba seen a white man Tunda, while Tunda suna chika bindigansu dorina ta tan* nisa Ina son chi tuona da safe tunda ba shi yi ba sainyi Tunda ba shi kare maganansa Tunda ya mutu birni ya zama wofi Tuni, tuntuni, tundadewa. Ya tafi Kano tuni Na rabu da gida tuni Na yi shi tuntuni Karifi tara ne, antafi makaranta tuni Ka shimfida tufa tuni ? Ka toya gurasa tuni ? Ina jira-n-ka tundadewa Ya mutu tundadewa Whilst they are loading their guns the hippopotamus went far away I want to eat my food in the early morning before it gets cold Before he had finished talking Since he died the city has become desolate The last is a stronger form He has already gone to Kano I left home long ago I did it very long ago It is nine o'clock, everybody has gone to school long ago Have you spread the cloth yet ? Have you baked bread recently ? I have been waiting for you a long time He died long since Tukuna, as yet ; not yet (in negative sentences) Abinchi ya kare ? Tukuna, ba Is the food (lit., finished) ready ? ya nuna ba sarai Not yet, it is not properly cooked Ban chi komi ba tukuna / have not eaten anything yet Ba ya zo ba tukuna He has not come yet ADVERB 167 Anzo da mutane ? Tukuna Have they brought the men ? They anazua da su are just bringing them now Yina chan tukuna, ya ki zua He is over there just now, he refuses to come Ku zamna tukuna Sit down for the moment Ba doki rua tukuna, kana ka Give the horse water first, then go to tafi kasua the market Sai tukun shi damre maikarifi Except he bind the strong man first Ya zakua tukun He will come first Nada Ba ya ji tsoro ba kama-n-nada He was not afraid as before Litafi nan duka daine (daia ne) This book is all the same as before kama-n-nada Ta waza wukanta kama-nada She sharpened her knife as before Abada, hal abada Allah shi ne abada God is for ever, i.e., eternal Iblis shina chiki-n-wuta har Satan is in the fire for ever abada Tutur, etc. Ku sani dunia ba ta zama tutut You know the world will not last (poetic) for ever Kulum Kulum suna kashe mutane They never ceased killing men kul 11 in kulum Da, of old Kano da gari karami ne Kano was formerly a little town Da ni talaka ne, yanzu na samu Formerly I was poor, now I am dukia da dama better off Mutane-n-da suka zamna nan, Men of old lived here, without work, ba aiki ba, ba komi sai abinchi without anything but plenty of tari food (lit., food-abundance) NOTE. " The men who " would be " mutanenda = mutane da " Tasunia kwanaki-n-mutane da A story of the days of men (of) old Mu tuna da Let us recall former times Da, when (relative) Da ta gane ni ta tambayeni : When she saw me she asked me : enna ubanka ? Where is your father ? Da suna yi-n-inagana Bornu As they were speaking the Bornu ban sani ba abinda su ke language I did not know what chewa they were saying 168 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Da suka dauka abu duka chiki- When they had taken everything out n-gari sun sa wuta of the town they set fire to it Da sa lia ya yi muka tashi When it was daylight we started Da mareche ya yi When it was evening Da gari ya waye When the dawn had come Saanda, (Saa'da) lokachinda, lotunda, wokachinda = when (relative) Saanda na samu dama When I am better Lotunda na tashi ba na ji lafia When I started I did not feel well ba Kun zo da safinga ? I, muka Did you come this morning ? Yes, zo, amma kwanakinda muka we came, but when we came you zo kana karatu were reading Saa-nan, lotu-nan, lokachi-nan, zamani-nan, kwanaki-nan (or saa- n-nan, etc.)=Then, at that time Lotu nan ina tamaha shekarata / think I was eleven years of age sha daia then Saa nan Musa ya tafo Then Musa came Also Daga rana nan anasukua-n-doki On that day there were horse races da anabuga bindiga and shooting Wani lotu, etc. Wani lotu shi kan kawo labari Sometimes he brings good news, nagari, da wani lotu mugu sometimes bad Karshe (See example under " Kana ") Yao, gobe, jia, etc. Usually at beginning of sentences Yao ba mu tafi ba makaranta To-day we did not go to school Jia na ji labari da ni ke so To-day I heard the news I liked Ananan Ananan da safe After that, in the morning . . . ADVERB 169 Tanzu, Koyanzu Yanzu-yanzu Now at once Hal ya zua yanzu Up till now Ya che Bature shi tafo yanzu He said, Let the white man come at once Koyanzu na yi koda na gaji / will do (it) at once though I am tired Koyanzu na tafi Lokoja Just now I go to Lokoja Koyaushe Ina tunawa koyaushe 7 am always remembering it Dadai See other ways of expressing " never " under " never." Mutume kama-n-wannan dadai 7 have never seen a man like this ban gani ba Bako gari ba ka zo dadai ba A strange city to which you have never before come Dadai ban gani ba anadafa 7 never saw dates cooked before dabino Ban yi sata dadai I have never stolen Nan da nan. (Usually in narration) Ka yi shi nan da nan Do it at once Daganan Daganan sariki yache After that, or thereupon, the king said Dawuri, dauri Na ji magana nan dawuri / have heard that before Dafari (See example under " kana ") Da safe, da mareche, etc., points of time. " Da " is the preposition " with " Muka tashi da dere We started at night Ina tamaha sun aike wadansu 7 /////// they sent some persons awiy daga chiki-n-dere nan during the night Gobe da safe mu tashi To-morrow we start 170 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Zama-zama or sama-sama Ban ji ba sai sama-sama / only heard a little Baya ga (a preposition in reality) Daga baya ga wannan After this Baya ga beri-n-gidansa After leaving home Baya ga mutua-r-kanuata na ji After the death of my younger sister labari-n-yaki / heard rumours of war A gaba Allah ya sa kwanakinsa agaba God prolonged his life Gaba ma Gaba- ma shi zama da Later he will be free Gaba- ma ina da kurdi In the future I shall have money Nan gaba Nan gaba ba kana kara Henceforth do not do it again Gaba-daia, baki-daia, gabadai Masukaya su zo gaba daia, ba The carriers must all come together, daia daia ba not one by one Kana gani dari suna tafia gabadai You might see hundreds walking about at one time Domi ba ka zo wurina gabadaia Why did you not come to me at ba ? once ? Ku beri ataru atafi gaba daia Let them assemble and go all together Baki daia mu tashi We will start all at once Time Idiomatic expressions and circumlocution. Some adverbs of time in English may in Hausa be expressed idiomatically, or a circumlocution may be adopted. There may also, however, be a corresponding ADVERB 171 adverb in Hausa, and the two modes of expression may be used indifferently. Never Besides using "dadai" the verb "taba" to touch, may be used. Ban taba gani mutume-n-nan / have never seen this man until ba sai yao to-day Ka taba zua Kano ? Have you ever been to Kano ? Before " Before " besides being expressed by " kana," " tunda," etc., may be translated by means of the negative, an idiom which is the standard one even as far as in the far distant Mende language Shekara-n-birni-n-Daura alfina The age of the city of Daura wax da dari Filani ba su tafo ba 2100 before the Fulani came " Tun " may also be used with a negative Ya rabu da gida tun abokina He left home before his friend came ba ya zo ba Also by special verbs Na rigaya shi zua nan / reached here before him (lit., / anticipated him) Na fara zua nan ya bini a baya / reached here first (lit., / began to come here he followed me behind) Since. Expressed with " not," etc., when " tunda " not used Ya yi shekara biu ban gan'ka ba / have not seen you for two years Sai kaka : ba ya fi wata biu ba Xot till autumn : it is not more anshipkata than two months since it was sown Ya yi shekaru dayawa da zuansa It is several years since last he came Bakoi uku ke nan da uwana ya It is three weeks since my brother yenke yatsansa cut his finger (See example under Sundry Expressions of Time below) For, duration of time Kwana uku ko nan da na ke yi For three days I have had dysentery atuni Na shekara f udu ina chikin karatu For four years I was learning to read 172 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Whilst Wa zaya yerda wani ya chi Who will agree to another's taking sarota tasa, shi ko yana da rai his kingdom whilst he is still alive See under preposition " chiki-n " Soon Dufu ya yi kusa It will soon be dark. (Lit., Dark- ness makes near) Sundry Expressions of Time Dare-n-jia ansache kaya guda On the previous night a load was stolen Yao kwana uku ban chi komi It is now three days since I have ba eaten anything Daga chiki-n-shekara nan In that year Sun yi masa aiki kwana shida They worked for him six or three ko uku days Kadan sun kwana dere uku ko When they had stayed three or four fudu nights Muka zamna daganan kwanaki We remained there many days dayawa Gobensa ( = gobe-n-sa) On the next day Yao shekara-n-mu'goma sha biar / have had that jar for exactly da ni da buta nan fifteen years 3. ADVERBS OF MANNER Those marked * are also used as conjunctions. Bale (S), bale-fa (S), barshema (K), balantana (Zanf.), bal- anta, barshe (K) Daidai Daia-ne Dakir, daket Dole (S) = tilas (K) Fache Gaya (K) = kwarai Girshi Haka, hakanan Halama much, more, much less properly, equally, together, uni- formly ready, completely with difficulty with force much less, however (? fa and verb "to be" (f.)) exactly suddenly so perhaps ADVERB 173 Kadai alone Kadan o little (also an adjective) Kama (noun), kamada, karaanda how, like as *Ko even. See under conjunctions Kokaka anyhow Kwarai (S) exactly, properly Lale in any case, of necessity, of a surety Mana then, do ! A command of urgency Maza quickly *Sai alone, except, etc. Also preposi- tion and conjunction *Saidai except Sanu softly Sarai properly Tari many. (A noun = abundance) Tilas (K) with force Wada (S), yada (K), awa (Zanf) how, the, manner in which, Wajib of necessity Watakila perhaps Bale, etc. Na yi murna doki daia balefa I rejoiced for one horse much more biu over two Ba ya tafi Masar ba bale Makka He did not go to Egypt much less to Mecca Bale fa mu dada It is much better for us to wait Daidai This is possibly not the same word as " daidai " a contraction of " daia daia " Maida tana motsi, ba ta tsaya The table moves it does not stand daidai ba evenly Suna gina dakuna biu daidai They build two houses alike Ban ji daidai ba / did not hear correctly Daia ne ( = it is one, unity) Sun yi aikinsu daia ne They did their work completely Dakir, daket Dakir na samu hainya I found the road with difficulty 174 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Oaya (K) = kwarai Ya gudu gaya He ran well Girshi Girshi na gani kura Suddenly I saw the hyaena Girshi ya mutu Suddenly he died Haka Gara haka or Guma haka Better so Haka shi ke It is so. (In reply to a question or as a sort of punctuation in a speech) Ko ba haka ba ? Or is it not so ? (Used at end of question) Ya che haka He said so (or thus) Ina fada maka haka shi ke / tell you ; it is so Wani iri-n-sanda ke nan da What kind of stick is this, it is so nauyi haka ? heavy Haka da girima So big Hakanan Hakanan shi ke It is so (in reply to a question) Nan da nan ya mutu, ashe ! ii, He died immediately ; ah, yes, that hakanan ne is so Halama Mu nemi halama muu samu Let us look, perhaps we shall find it Kamada, kamanda (Kama-n) Ina fada maka kamada akeyishi / will tell you how it was done Obangiji ya bashi ya komo The Lord granted to him that he kamanda shi ke da should become as he was before The noun " kama," from which " kamanda " is made up (kama- n-da), is used with an adverbial sense with the copulative " n "- Yare ya yi kama-n-uwansa The boy is like his mother Da rana ta fara tashi ina ganinta When the sun began to rise I saw kama-n tana fita daga chikin it as though it was coming out of gulbi the sea Kama-n ya shiga gari As he enters the town Kama-n ba su san'ka ba As if they did not know you Ko (see conjunctions also) Ban gani ko daia ba / have not seen even one ADVERB 175 Kokaka Kawoshi kokaka Bring it anyhow Kadai Kada daia na gani kadai / saw only one crocodile (See also under " sai") Sariki ba rago kadai ya ba ni The chief gave me not only a ram ba, da akuya but a goat A llali u shi kadai shi ba ka God alone does good to you to-day keauta yao Kadan, kadan Kadan kadan ! Sai anjima kadan Shina yin aiki kadan kadan Bana ta ye kwarai Ya chi dayawa kwarai Doki shina gudu kwarai Babu nisa kwarai Lale ina zua da mareche Yao lale ya zo Tafi ! mana ! Ku zo mana Ka fada masa shi zo mana Mana ! mana ! Ku t.tli maza-maza Very little Wait a little He works very little Kwarai The sun is very hot He ate a great deal The horse trots well Not very far Lale In any case I shall come in the evening He comes to-day in any case Mana Go I do I Come, along Tell him he must come at once Come along I or Wake up I Maza Go very quickly (See below, other ways of saying "quickly") Sai, also a conjunction Sai gobe Until to-morrow. A parting salu- tation Sai da-safe Good night. (Lit., Until the morning 176 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Sai anjima Sal anjima kadan Sai laiia Salbarka = . ? sai albarka Sai gaisua Sai ambideka Sai ankwana biu Sai kada daia na gani Sai ka dawo Babu bawa ko daia daga chiki- n-gida sai ni Sai ubana ya che mani Kafa-ta duka sai jini Sai mutume daia akesashi ya hawa bisa itache Ya che masa sai ya aika wuri- n-sariki-n-Sokoto ya tambay'- shi Ya che mani babu komi sai lafia Shi ne, shi ke shaka azaba-n- lakhira ; sai ya gamu da wuta ya kan che kaitaro (poetry) En ba ka da kurdi ba ka da komi, sai kare Abinda ki keso sai en baki Good-bye for the present. (Lit., till you have waited) Wait a little. In a little while Quite well. A reply salutation Nothing but thanks. No thank you Nothing but thanks. Lit., only a salutation ( Wait) till you are sent for Good-bye for an indefinite time Lit., Until you have slept twice I saw only one crocodile Until you return There was not a single slave in the house except me But my father said to me My feet were nothing but blood Only one man was made to climb the tree He said to him he must send and ask the king of Sokoto first He said nothing to me except that all was well He it is he doubts the pains of hell. Wait till he meets the fire and he will say, Alas ! If you have no money you have nothing, you are only a dog Anything you (f.) like I will give it you Saidai Mun kira ka saidai ba ka jimu We called but you did not hear ba Sanu. See also under salutations Ya tafi sanu (sanu sanu) He went slowly (very slowly) Ya yi magana sarai Sarai He speaks correctly Tilas (a noun by origin) Seize him by force But you drink this water from necessity Ya ki zakua, don wannan ya sa He refused to come so he forced shi tilas him to Kama shi tilas Amma ka sha rua nan da tilas ADVERB 177 Ya karaata maihankali da dere ya yi shi zamna wuri daia, shi ber'yawo sai tilas, ko wani ya mutu, ko wani ya kiraka tilas A prudent man ought to stay at home at night. He should not go out except forced to, say, by some- body dying or calling you im- peratively Tari (a noun) Turawa suna tara soja gabas da The white men are collecting soldiers Kukawa tari tari east of Kuka in vast numbers Watakila Wotakila obanka shi zo kuwa Perhaps your father will come too Wajib Wajib mu do haiyasu (poetry) We ought to take their road Wada, yada, awa (these are nouns) Yada ankayi zani fada maka Ka iya gaya mini yada mutume- n-nan ya mutu How ( the way) it was done I will tell you Are you able to tell me how this man died Formation of Certain Adverbs Many adverbs are formed from adjectives in English with the addition of the suffix " ly." In Hausa correspond- ing adverbs which may also equally be adjectives are formed from nouns with the preposition "da," with. The following are a few : Da mareche Da rana Da sasafo Da baya Da nisa Da gaskia Da yawa Da karifi Da dadi Bugashi da karifi Ya tafi da kafa Time at evening by day in the very early morning last Place far Manner Da hankali carefully Da wuri of old Da kafa on foot Da gudu with running Beat him well He went on foot M 178 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE The use as adverbs of simple adjectives or others of different formation from the foregoing is not unknown Ya fita nagari He has turned out well Enda ya shiga duka ka bishi Wherever he enters you follow him Enda zaka duka a dunia Wherever you go in the world There is also the use of the intransitive verb form in " u," usually in the 3rd person. It accompanies its parent verb, and is probably an indication of the origin of those intensitives in other languages, so many of which have the same root as the verb they accompany Adamreshi shi damru Tie it tight Other examples are given under the verb. There are some adverbs in English, such as "very," "too much," etc., which are rendered in Hausa in a variety of ways : Very By Reduplication Farifari, very white Maza maza, very quickly Kadan kadan, very little With colours the second part may be modified. Fari-fet, fet-fet (S) very white Fari fer, fer-fer (K) Lafia lau or lau-lau very well Ja-wur, wur-wur very red Baki kirin, kirin-kirin very black Uwata tana da rai amma ta My mother is alive but she is very tsofa da gaske old See also examples under "kwarai." Too, too much Na fayc chi / ate too much Na chi na faifaye Quickly Kada ka dedi ka yi hanzeri Do not delay, make haste En ka komo da samli em baka // you come back quickly I will lada give you a reward 179 Like as. (See " kama ") By Reduplication Kare kare Bawa-bawa Sarki sarki Ya bada keauta sarki-sarki Like a dog Like a slave Like a king He presented the gift like a king I, ii E, eye (K) Owo (Zanf) Naam Ai Ashe Labadda Hakika Gaskia ne To Aa La, la la Ba . . . ba Babu ( = ba-abu) 4. ADVERBS Of Affirmation and Negation yes yes yes yes. Only used in answer to a roll call or summons. Means " I am here " really truly certainly, no doubt It is true all right no. Instead of a single word reply simple sentences are often preferred. No (Arabic). Used as an exclamatory " No " rather than negativing another person's statement. not no, not, without (prep.) Examples of use of " ba " ya ta Ba ka ji ba ? Ban sani ba Ba ni da komi da ni ko ba su Ba daia da kiba Ba kowa da ya zaka nana ? Ba namu ba nc Kad" Allah kashc ka ba mumuni ba Baba-n-da ba wuri yaro ne (prov.) Jini ba ya magani-n-kishirua ba (proverb) He did not go Do you not hear (understand) I do not know I have nothing to give them Not one was fat Has no one come here It is not ours Lest Ood slay thee because of thy unbelief. (Lit., You not a believer) (poet.) The big man who is penniless if a boy (ba wuri = not a cowry) Blood is not a cure for thirst 180 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Fadawa sunka che, la, ba ka ba The councillors said, No, do not shi give it him Ba abinda zan chi There is nothing for me to eat 11 Ba " is sometimes used as a negative form of interrogation Ka ji ba ? Do you not hear ? Sometimes one " ba " is omitted, especially if several co-ordinate sentences follow each other Ba ni da kurdi, ba ni da karifi ba // / have no money I am powerless Babu With pronouns is often interchangeable with "ba" Babu komi or ba komi ba Nothing at all Ba kowa or babu kowa Nobody Babu kowa da ya yirda da shi There is no one who believed in him Babu nisa Not far Babu ruanka (idiom) It does not concern you Babu abinda kana iya yi There is nothing you can do Babu maitafia ga rijia da dcre No one goes to the well at night Babu mutum da ya taya masa No one helped him Ba abinda babu There is nothing short Babu daiansu or babu daia Not one of them chikinsu Da babu wawa gara da wawa It is better to own a fool than (proverb) nothing Komi ya bache hankuri a babu Everything goes wrong where or ne babu (proverb) patience is wanting Don babu na uwansu chiki Because their mother's (food) was not amongst the other (dishes of food) Example of " babu " for " ba" with Verb Sariki nan babu shi da da That king had no son En ka tafi babu ina gaferta maka // you go I will not pardon you Munche masu, mu babu zamu We said to them, We will not drink sha nono wurinku milk with you ADVERB 181 5. INTERROGATIVE ADVERBS Kaka ? (K) How ? In what manner ? This word is not coupled with other adverbs as in the English phrases, " How far ? " " How soon ? " How? When ? Since when ? What time ? How many ? How much ? Why ? On account of what ? Why ? On account of what ? Not ? (See under Affirmative and Negative adverbs.) Where ? Whence ? Aa? (S) Yaushe ? Tun yaushe ? Wani lokachi ? Nawa ? Domi ? ( = do-n-mi) Gari-n-mi ? Ba? Enna ? Daga enna ? Kaka, Aa Kaka ka ke ? Kaka ki ke ? Kaka iyalinka ? Kaka sunanka ? Da kaka zaka tafia yaki babu fadawa ? Ka gani kaka su yi gina ga kalkashi-n-kasa ? Kaka zan yi en sami wannan mashi ? How are you ? (m. or f.) How is your family ? What is your name ? And how will you go to war with no officers? Do you see how they dig under ground? (Kaka is not directly interrogative here.) How shall I be able to find this spear ? Yaushe (usually with present and future) Yaushe ka zo nan ? Yaushe sariki shina gida ? Yaushe zamu tafia ? When did you come here ? When will the chief be at home ? When shall we go ? Tunyaushe Tunyausho barao ya beri gari ? Sincewhenhas the thief left the town ? Wani lokachi ? also wani saa ? wani lotu ? Wani lokachi zaayenka kasua kuma Yaro nan shekarunsa nawa ? Nawa shekaru-n-doki-n-nan ? Guda nawa ? What time will they kill a cow in the market again? Nawa How old is this boy ? How old is this horse ? How many ? 182 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Nawa nawa ? Kwoi guda nawa na sayerua ne ? Nawa nawa anasayerua ? Nawa anasayesda su ? Ku nawa kuka tafi wuri-n-sata ? How much each ? How many eggs are there for sale ? How much are they sold for each ? How much are they all ? How many of you went to the place where the theft took place ? Domi ka che haka ? Domi ka zo ? Gari-n-mi sunka bache ? Domi, don mi Why do you say so ? Why have you come ? Garinmi Why are they lost ? Enna ? Enna shi ke ? Enna ta ke ? Daga enna kun tafo ? Enna ka fito ? Enna hankalinka ? Enna danka ? Enna zaka ? Enna ka ke ? Enna kana zamne ? Enna hainya-r-gida ? Enna marabi - n - wannan da wanchan ? Babu marabi tsakaninsu Ka tambayesa, Enna uwasa ? Enna sunanka ( = kaka sunanka) Enna ruanka da wannan ? Enna azenchi-n-wannan ? Where is he ? Where is she ? Where have you come from ? Where have you come from ? Where is your sense ? Where is your son ? Where are you going ? Where are you ? Where are you staying ? Which is the way home ? What is the difference between this and that ? There is no difference between them Ask him where his mother is ? What is your name ? What have you got to do with that ? What does this mean ? For Adverbs. Interrog. How Besides being translated by " nawa " or " kamada " various circumlocutions are necessary to represent this English word Daga Kano zua Katsina na da nisa ? Daga nan kingi-n-mu (or, saura- n-mu) nawa mu issa Kwara ? Is it far from Kano to Katsina ? How long before we reach the Kwara (Niger)? How many weeks before . , . CHAPTER VII PREPOSITIONS SIMPLE PREPOSITIONS A(K) Da Ga Gare Har (K), hal (S) Ma Wa (K) Na (m.) n' Ta (f.) t, 1, r Sai at, on with to towards up to, until (also adverb) to to f t of except (also adverb) COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS Formed from a noun or verbal noun with the preposition " of " varying according to the gender of the foregoing. Very commonly the masculine form "n" is used for the feminine "t," "1," or "r" for euphony. The copulative may also be entirely omitted, as is often the case with nouns not used with a prepositional force, the two thus standing in apposition. Do-n- (K) Domi-n- (S) Gari-n- (Zanf) Zua-r- (more commonly Zua-n-) 1 Kai-n- (kan) 1 Bisa-r- (also bisa-n-) 1 Kasa-n- Kalkashi-n- on account of (verb do " dauka," " doka," to take on account of on account of towards. ("Zua " = coming) on top of on top of under, bottom of 1 A=ow, may or may not be prefixed to these. 183 184 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 1 Gaba-n- in front of 1 Baya-n- behind Tsaka-r- (also tsaka-n-) in middle of Tsakani-n- between 1 Chiki-n- in 1 Woje-n- beside, outside of, towards Shiya-1- (S) Abaki-n- in exchange for Kama-r- (Kama-n-) like Kusa-r- (kusa-n-) near. See also ". Kusa da " Gu-n- to, at the place of 1 Wuri-n- Bigiri-n- (K) instead of Gurbi-n- (Zanf) Maimaki-n- (S) Tamka-r- like Batu-n- with reference to Kafi-n- before Compound Prepositions formed with " da," with Barn-da different from Dabara da in front of and near one another Daura da Garni da together with Kusa da near to Tare da together with Saba-da on account of Other Compound Prepositions Daga from This preposition can be combined with many others, as, " Daga chikin " for " chikin," etc., etc. A, at, on Muka beri kaya-mu a wani gari We have left our loads at another town Tafia a hankali Slow travelling Ahmadu ya sarnu miki a hauu- Ahmadu has a boil on his right n-dama hand Tun a mafari akoi Allah God has been since the beginning Da sunka ketare daia, biu, a When they had crossed one, two, at na-uku sunka issa wuri-n-kasa the third they reached dry land Mi ku ke yi a-nan What are you doing there ? 1 A on, may or may not be prefixed to these. PREPOSITIONS 185 Azaba-1-allahu a rana-1-lakhira The pains of Ood on the day of judgment Na tura mutum a rua 7 pushed the man into the water Ya fadi a rua He fell into the water Ya fada rua (Robinson) He flung himself into the water Halbi a wutsia ya fi kuskure To hit the tail is better than to miss (proverb) Ya fi su duka a dauka-n-kaya He was better than they all in carry- ing a load Ya koma a chan a Bornu He returned yonder to Bornu Da ankasheka a banza You would have been killed for nothing Da, with. Also by, of, etc. Instrument Ya buge shi da bulala He beat him with a whip Ya yenke shi da wuka He cut it with a knife Ka chika shi da rua Fill it with water Accompaniment Tafi da shi Take him away or go with him Ya zo da shi He brought him or came with him Sun saidani da kelowi They sold me to the Kelowi, i.e., they traded me with the Kelowi Possession (see also under auxiliary verb) Suna da bindiga They have a gun Ba mu da abinchi We have no food Ina da shi and Ni ke da shi / have it En ba ka da da, ba ka da favi- // you have no son you have no n-chiki happiness Ina da kafa (idiomatic) 7 have a (bad) leg Manner Tafo da gudu Come quickly, i.e., come running Da mi akanyi su ? Of what are they made ? Miscellaneous other Examples Ta fada mani da Hausa She told me in Hausa Mine da Engliz ? What is it in English ? Na gaji da sukua bisa lakuini 7 was tired of riding on the camel Ka yi hankali da dunia Be careful of the world Suna fada da mutane chiki-n- They were fighting with the people kasua in the market Ka gai mani da ubanka Salute your father for me 186 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Da dadi-n-chi Nice to eat Sun kira ni da sunana, or, sun yi They catted me by my name kirana Sai da nono-n-mache anasayensa Only for the breast of a woman is it to be sold Da babu wawa gara da wawa Eather than to be without (even) a (proverb) fool, it is better to have a fool (with you) Ya che da shi He said to him Na lura da halinka I will look into your character Ku yi kama da sariki You are just like the king Ya komo da baya He returned back Ban sani da guba a chiki ba I did not know that there was "guba" poison in it Ka yi murna da gani-n-ubanka ? Are you pleased to see your father ? Kare ka mutu da haushi-n-kura Dog, you will die of hatred to the (proverb) hyaena Ina murna da ganinka / am pleased to see you Da is used instead of daga Kudu da Kukawa South of Kukawa Gabas da rua sunansa Shari East of the river called Shari Da is used in comparative statements Yao mun fi na jia da biu To-day we have (done) more (than) [of] yesterday by two Nasa ya fi nawa da shidda His exceeds mine by six Ya fini da keao He was more beautiful than I Na fiso wannan da wannan / prefer this to that " Da " is used with nouns to make adjectives and adverbs, as Da hankali careful or carefully Ga, to, etc. It is found in company with other prepositions, as " bisa ga," " baya ga," etc. Motion Sun tafi ga wani gari They went to another town Simple Dative Ya fadi ga sariki He said to the chief Ya fadi ga shi He said to him. (More usual " ma ") PREPOSITIONS 187 Ga maidauka - n - kaya tafia a hankali ta ii dadi Ya zama sanane ga duka - n - mazamna a Kuddus To the carrier to travel slowly is more pleasant It became known to all the in- habitants of Jerusalem Tafi ka fada Allah Ga " omitted Go and tell God On, at Ga rana aljima Ya che, ga chiki-n-gulbi Gulbi-n-nan shi kan kaffe garani Yana (or shina) da karifi ga duka Doki shina tsaye ga hainya En mun issa ga wani wuri enda akoi chiawa mu kan yenka mu dora ga baya-n- rakuma Ba mu dade ba ga gari nan On Friday She said, in the river This river generally dries up in dry season He is stronger than all The horse is standing in the road When we came to some place where there was grass, we used to cut it and tie it on our camels' backs We did not delay at that town Of Ga mi ? Of what ? Ga hakarikari na jiki-n-Adamu Of the ribs of Adam's body Wache ga chikinmu ? Which of us (f.) ? Purpose Mata sunka tafi rijia ga dauka- The women have gone 'to the well to n-rua draw water Muka yi shiri ga zua Gushiba We made ready to go to Gushiba By Na ishe shaifu Usman asoye ga / met the Sheikh Othman beloved of Filani the Fulas From Wannan na ji ga yaro da shina / heard this from the boy that ji magana-m-Bornu speaks Bornuese The preposition is omitted when the name of a town is mentioned and in a few other cases Ya tafi Kano Tafi gida Ya tafi gari Ya komo kasua He went to Kano Go home He has gone to the town He has come back to the market 188 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Gare Only used before pronouns Tafi gareshi Daga garesu Kusa gareku Mutume-n-nan fari-n-jiki gare-i Su saye su gareku Bature nan, shi ne za-abashieka garesa Oo to him From them Near you This man is popular They buy them from you This is the white man to whom you will be given Ear, to (see also adverbs) Na sa mutume-n-nan aboki-n- tafia - r - ku, shi kai ku har birni-n-Kano lafia / appoint this man your travelling companion, he will take you as far as the city of Kano in safety NOTE " Birni Kano " is also found, the two nouns being in apposition. Ma, to, for " Ma " may become " mi " or " mu " for euphony (S) Ya fada mani Ya fada maka (m.) ; maki or miki (f.) Ya fada masa, mashi, mishi, mai Ya fada in at a Ya fada mamu, mumu, muna Ya fada maku, rnuku Ya fada masu, musu Ya fada ma sariki Na gode maka Kawo mani rua en sha Ya gaya mani labari Kada ka fada ma kowa labari He said to me He said to you He. said to him He said to her He said to us He said to you He said to them He said to the chief I thank you (formal) Bring me water to drink He told me the news Do not tell any one the news Meaning " for" Ka rike mani Na dakanta ma sariki Ka yi mani shimfida-r-gado Ka gai mani da abokinka Kawo mani doki Hold (it) for me I waited for the chief Spread my bed for me Salute your friend for me Bring my horse Akadaurawa masa dawaki surdi They were saddling the horses for him PREPOSITIONS 189 Of Bature ya kashe masu mutum The while man killed many of them tari da doki with their horses Sun kashe ma Turawa mutane They killed of the Arabs many men tari Achikin wani gari anache masa In a certain town called Danga- Dangagarra garra From Ta bida masa mdgani She sought medicine from them Wa This is probably another form of " ga " ; compare " guri " for " wuri." Only used before nouns, not before personal pronouns, and usually with verbs to tell (K) Na dakanta wa sariki I waited for the chief Kada ka gaya wa kowa Do not tell anyone Ya yenke wa sariki kune He cut off the chiefs ear Kafa-r-wani ba ta yi wa wani The foot of one man cannot walk tafia (prov.) for another Suka saiyo wa dumma nan baiwa They bought a slave for the pumpkin Na(n; or d, m for n) (m.) -\ Ta (t ; or 1, r for t) (f.), and modified often to any letter of the I of alphabet which may begin the following word J This preposition is of two genders, and that form is used which agrees with the gender of the first word. If, however, the first word is plural, the masculine form is used. When the short form is used, which is generally the case, it is enclitic to the first word in enunciation but not in meaning. 1 Da-n-sariki (dan sariki) The chiefs son Ya-1-sariki (S) The chiefs daughter Ya-r-sariki (K) ,, Ya-t-sariki ,, 1 In ordinary text the " n," etc. is written as part of the first word. This work, however, being a grammar, it is necessary to distinguish it clearly, and so it is joined with hyphens to each word it connects. 190 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Yaya-n-sariki The chiefs children Yarinia-t-sariki The chief's girl Mata-r-sariki The chief's wife Mata-n-gari The women of the town Mata-n-sa (for mata tasa His wife Aboki-n-tafia-ta My travelling companion Da-n-uwansa His brother (because " danuwa " is masc.) Da matansa saura shi daia And of his women (wives) there was left one to him Sarari-d-dunia (rare). (Poetic) The plain of the earth Daki-d-dunia (rare). (Poetic) The house of the world ( = the world) Wuta-1-kiama. (Poetic) The fire of the day of judgment Ra-1-kiama. (Poetic) The day of judgment "N" is joined to many nouns to make prepositions, as, " wuri-n," " kai-n," " chiki-n," of which examples are given later. It is used when adjectives precede the noun, thereby making them in reality nouns. Baba-1-kaza for kaza baba A big fowl As "baba" ends in "a" it has to be treated as a feminine word. When, however, the second word is one of importance, especially a person, it seems to have a dominating effect upon the preposition ; so Baba-n-sariki The big chief Baba-n-rago The big ram Also Sabo-n-wata New moon Shashi-n- garina zani bashi / will give him the half of my kingdom Allah shi baka yawa-n-rai May God give you a long life 11 Yawa-r-rai " is also found, and is correct, as " yawa " is a feminine word ; it is less frequently heard, however, not being so euphonious. The long form is used (1) in poetry, (2) when "na" is the first word in the sentence, (3) when a pronoun intervenes, (4) with the cardinal numerals to form the ordinal, (5) for emphasis or clearness, and (6) when the previous word is not a noun Namu ne It is ours Na sariki ne It is the chiefs PREPOSITIONS 191 A kafata ta hagun ina da kur- kunu Na biu (m.), ta-biu (f.) Na-baya (m.), ta-baya (f.) Na-bisa ya fi na-kasa riba Mu je kasua ta Zerma Ya wo gaiya ta yaki Ko gida-n-sariki ko na talaka Allah ka bani haifua ko ta dumrna Ba shi da chin yao, ba shi da na gobe In my left leg I have a guinea worm The second The last The person above has the advantage over the one beneath We went to the market of Zerma He made a war camp Whether it be the house of a chief or of a poor man God, grant that I bear something, even a gourd He has nothing to eat to-day and nothing to-morrow Compound Nouns Quasi compound nouns are made witjh the use of this preposition Kada-n-gari Aboki-n-gaba Lizard, i.e., crocodile of the town Enemy, i.e., friend of the front In the following examples there is rather a different idiom from the English Ba ni iyansa ba Muna iyansu Ba na ji-n-tsoronsa En tali sha-n-rua Ka aiko muna wotika kaka suna yi-n-gerdamanka, da kai kana gerdamansu har ka kasho su / am not equal to the doing of it We are able to do it I am not afraid of him That I may go to drink water You send us a letter (to say) how they dispute with you, and how you also dispute with them until you have convinced them The following use of " na " as a substitute for the verb " to be " in English is very idiomatic. In the second example this usage is partly abolished and a reversal made to a verb, with the result that the subject that begins the sentence is replaced by another Hauka-r-kaza amre-n-musuru It is madness for a fowl to marry a cat. Lit., Madness of fowl, marriage of cat Karambuni - n - akwia ta gaida It is forward for a goat to greet a kura hycena. Lit., Forwardness of goat, she greets the hycena 192 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE If this proverb were formed like the preceding, for "ta gaida kura " there would be " gaisua-r-kura." " Karam- bani," which begins the sentence, is not continued with, and " ta " pertains to " akwia " Gaskianki You have spoken the truth Kariansu They have lied "Na" is sometimes found instead of "shina." See under personal pronouns. Examples of"of" omitted Lafia jiki arziki ne Health of the body is prosperity Laifi baba rowa, laifi yaro kiawa The fault of age is meanness, the fault of youth is laziness Gida biu magani gobara (prov.) Two houses are a remedy against fire Yanmata gidanmu da fari baki. The daughters of our house have Taberia a white mouth. Fufu - slick. (Riddle.) The fufu-stick being in constant use with pounding corn has always its end whitened Ba su chi abinchi kowa ba They do not eat the food of any one Ku mutane yamma You men of the west Mutane zina Adulterers Kwana-mu goma muna tafia We have been travelling ten days Muka beri kaya-mu We have left our loads This seems to be commonly so when final " a " is long Shi fishe mu aiki mutane zina He separates us from the work of adulterers Examples of use of Masc. for Fern. Uwansu Their mother Uwan matansa Mother of his wife Zuchiansa ya yi biu He was in doubt Dere rigan mugu Night is a cloak for the evil man It is commonly found that when there is a series of linked nouns, some have the copulative and others stand in apposition, usually alternately Zani gurin dia sariki / will go to the place of the daughter of the king Sunan sariki garin Wandara The name of the chief of the country of Wandara PREPOSITIONS 193 The following is an example of the use of the particle "mai" as a substitute for "na"- Ta zo kusa da wani gida mai- She came near a certain goat's awaki house Sai, except (see also adverbs). Pronounced " se " (say) Sai wannan Only this Sai lafia Only health, i.e., quite well Shi kua dan sariki nan ba shi And he the chiefs son had no da wani chiniki sai sha-n-gia other business but to drink beer Don (K), Aomin (S), garin (Zanf). See also conjunctions This preposition takes either a direct object or a sentence in lieu Don bawa daia sun yi yaki On account of one slave they mad war Ya ragu don kainsa It is diminished of itself Ya taf o wurina don gaishe ni He came to me to salute me (because of saluting me) Riki karenka don kare-n-wani Hold your dog on account of the (prov.) other man's dog Mahmadu ya dauki kaya guda Mahmadu has taken one load for don kansa himself Domin Na je Kano domi-n-gani-n- I went to Kano to see my friend abokina Domin hakanan On account of this Ya che do-n-mi bai yi aure ba ? He said why is he not married? Domi-n-shina mutum kirki Because he is a virtuous man Kuka da na yi domin ganinka The cry I made in order to see you Domin mi ? What for ? Garin (see also interrogative adverbs) Ya tafi gari gari-n-saye-n-nama He went to the town to buy meat Ya tafi gari-n-yawo He has gone to take a walk Zua-r or ya zua ( = he is coming) or zua ga, to Sun tafi zua-r-Kano They went to Kano Sun tafi ya zua Kano They went to Kano Muna godia zua ga Allah We give thanks to God Hal ya zua yanzu Until now Na komo zua-r-gidana / came back home 194 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Ya tafi zua-r-gabas He went east Zua-r-mutua-r-Ahmedu ya yi On the death of Ahmedu he became sarki King Daga Kano zua-r-Katsina na da Is it far from Kano to Katsina ? nisa ? In the foregoing the "r" is very commonly omitted after <; zua." Its existence is, however, supported by the alternate rendering of "ga." Kai-n, kan, on top of Doki shina tsaye kan (or akan) The horse is standing in the road hainya Muka gamu da shi kai-n-hainya We met him in the road Sa tukunia kain wuta Put the pot on the fire Joined with other prepositions Bisa-r-ka-n-doki/or a kai-n-doki On horseback = 0n the subject of Akain mi ku ke zanche ? What are you talking about ? Manzani - n - Allah suna waazi The messengers are talking about akan atuba da beri-n-zunufi repentance and forsaking sin Ya sa dan uwansa akain abo- He puts his brother before all his kainsa duka friends Ya bani wannan kain alkawali He gave me this according to a da ya yi mani da promise he made me long ago Dan sariki ya yi fada da sariki The young chief fought with the akan sarauta chief over the kingdom Bisa-r, also bisa-n or bisa alone Doki shina tsaye bisa-r-hainya The horse is standing in the road Yara duka sun tuma bisa-r- All the boys jumped up on their kujerinsu chairs Lokachinda anadaukanka bisa When you are carried on a man's kai head (as a corpse) Shimfida tufa bisanta Spread the cloth on it Kana bisana You are on top of me With ga Gidansu bis' ga ishi Their houses upon posts Ya kwanta bisa ga gadona He slept on my bed With other prepositions Ya sabko daga bisa-r-kai-n-doki He got off his horse PREPOSITIONS 195 Meaning " concerning " or " about " Bisa-r-zanche-n-uan Concerning this conversation Mi ka che bisa gareni ? What do you say about me ? Bisa yerda-n- Allah By the will of God Kasa-n, kalkashi-n, under, beneath Kada ka sa fitila kalkashi-n- Do not put the lamp under the maida table Ta aje danta kalkashi-n-itache She put her son under the tree Yaro ya fito daga kalkashi-n- itache Ta tan har ga kalkashi-n- dusi Gaba-n, in front of. (" Gaba " is mostly masculine gender) Ya tsaya gabana He stands before me Ya tsaya agabanka He stands before you With other prepositions Ya tsaya gaba ga kai (or gareka) He stands before you Note also Shina gaba da Allahu He is opposed to God Baya-n, behind, back of Also baya ga, baya gare. " A " can also be prefixed Baya is mostly masculine by gender Baya na Behind me, my back A bayana At my back Bayansa, baya ga shi Behind him or in his absence Ya tafi bayan gari He went outside the town Ya tafi bayan gida He has gone to ease himself (a polite form) Baya-n-wannan ba ya kara yi- After this he denied no more n-musu ba Daga baya-n-wannan After this Karatu Ar'bi ya fi karatu duka. Arabic literature is before all Baya ga Ar'bi Turanshi ya fi literature. After Arabic Euro- Bafilashi. Baya garesu Hausa pean is above the Fula. After ya fi Baribari them Hausa is above Bornu (literature) Shi ne gaba gareni da ni ga He is before me and I am behind bayansa him 196 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Tsaka-r and Tsaka-n, middle of (mostly masculine) Tsaka-n-woje akoi rijia There is a well in the middle of the yard Tsaka-n- dere In the middle of the night Suka tafo tsaka-r-daji They came into the middle of the forest Tsakani-n, between Ya zamna tsakaninmu Amana ke tsakaninmu da shi Tsakani - n - dakuna masallachi yana tsaye Babu marabi tsakaninsu Kofofi - n - Zaria tsakaninsu da nisa Ba shi tsakani gabas da kudu Domin babu gaba tsakaninmu da ku Tsakani na da ubanka ka sare daga chikinmu He sat down between us There is friendship between him and me Between the houses stands a mosque There is no difference between them There is a long distance between the gates of Zaria He is not between east and south For there is no enmity between us and you Decide between me and your father Chiki-n, in Chiki- n- chikinta A chiki-n-daki Chikinsa Chiki-n-wata shawal Zani tafia-r-chiki-n-rua Dai a chikinsu Chiki-n-wannan lokachi ka ke mayar wa Israila da mulki In her belly In the hut or room His belly or inside it In the month Shawal I shall walk in the water One of them At this season wilt thou restore to Israel their kingdom Joined with other prepositions Biu daga chikinmu Ta fita daga chiki-n-rua Ta che, ga chikin gulbi Note the following Suna chikin dubawa Two of us She came out of the water She said, In the river Whilst they were looking Woje-n, shiya-l (S), beside, outside, towards Woje-n-gabas, shiya-1-gabas Woje-n-kasa-1-nan Ya waiwaia wojensa (or wurinsa) Sun tafi wojen Kano Woje-n-ku Shina daga woje (adv.) Towards the east Towards that land He turned towards him They went Kano-way With you He is outside PREPOSITIONS 197 Woje-n-nan On this side Daga woje-n-chan On that side Ina tafia woje (adv. and noun) / am walking outside Woje-n-dama, woje-n-hauni On the right side, on the left side Woje-n-dari da ashirin ne They were about 120 Kama-n, like (see also adverbs). Mostly masculine Kama-n-kwana uku yatambaya After about three days he asked the mutanc men Yaro ya yi kaman uwansa The boy is like his mother Kaman dakin chan Like that house Tamka-r, like. Also tamka-n Sunyi ma sabo-n-malam tamka- They did to the new mallam like n-tsofo-n-malam the old Kusa-r, near. Also kusa-n. See also kusa da Ta kusa mutua da daria She nearly died of laughter Kusansa Near him Kusa-n-nan Near here Wuri-n, at the place of. Almost invariably used with a person Zo wurina Come to me Gudu wurinsa Bun to him Na zo wurinka / come to see you Abinnan yana wurina The thing is with me Ban che laifi yana wurinka / did not say that the fault was yours Alhakinda ka dauka ya komo The sin you committed has returned wurinka upon you Ansa wani wurinsa Another was put in his place Ba ya bude ido ba tukuna wuri- He is ignorant as regards religious n-karatu education Allahu ya bada dunia wuri-n- God has given the world to the bature white man Wanda kuka ji awurina What you heard from me Ya koma wuri-n-ubangiji Allah He returned to the Lord God Ya ji kumia wurin ubangi ji He felt ashamed before Qod Allah Na ji labarinka wurin Mahmadu / heard of you from Mahmadu Gu-n (H) = wurin, which in the northern dialects is sometimes found as " guri " Mostly used with a person Zo guna (!<> a, < to me Gu-n-chan Over there Gudu gunsa Run to him A gun fure nan At the place of the flower 198 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Bigiri-n (K), Ourbi-n (Zanf), Mamaki-n (S), instead of Ya tafi Kano bigiri-n- Sokoto He went to Kano instead of Sokoto Ba ni rago gurbi-n-akwia Give, me a sheep instead of a goat Abaki-n, in exchange for Ya tafi Kano baki-n-Sokoto He went to Kano instead of Sokoto Batu-n, with reference to Batu-n-mi ? With reference to what ? Kafi-n, before Kafi-n-shekara nawa goro shi In (before) how many years does ke yin yaya the Kola bear Bamda, different from, apart from Bam da Allah ba ni tsoro-n- Except God I fear nothing komi Bam da wannan ba ni da wani Except this I have nothing Mi kana so en sawo maka bam What do you want me to buy for da shinkafa you besides rice Dabara da, daura da, near to, alongside Su tsaya daura da juna They stand alongside each other Ya tsaya dabranka He stands next beyond you Itache-n-nan shina tsaye dabra- The tree stands next to that tree n-itache-n-nan Sai ga mutum biu daura da su But two men were standing by atsaye them Garni da, together with Derived from " gama," to join, finish. Ya tube wandonsa garni da shi He took off his trousers together with it Kusa da, kusa gare, near to (see also kusa-r) Shina kusana He is near me Shina kusa ga ni ,, Shina kusa gareni Shina kusanka He is near you PREPOSITIONS 199 Shina kusa ga ka Shina kusa gareka Kusa ga gida He is near you He is near you Near the house Ya zo tare da ni Tare-da, together with Derived from " tara," to assemble He came with me Saba da, on account of Na gode masa sabada keauta da ya aiko HIM ni Domin sabada tsoro Sabada hakanan / thank him for the present sent me For fear On account of this he Daga, from, at, etc. This preposition is very commonly joined with others. Ya tafo daga Kano Ya tafo daga chikin Kano Daga nan Daga chan Daga nisa Daga Ture Daga garesu Daia daga chikinsu Shina binsu daga baya Ya kubche daga hanuna Ya fito daga chikin gari may be said for Ya fito gari simply Zomu ba shi kamuwa daga zamne (prov.) Wonga wochika ta fita daga hanu mallam Musa He comes from Kano He has come out from Kano Here There From afar or far (simply) In Europe From them One of them He follows them behind It slipped from my hand He came from the town A hare is not to be caught from your seat, i.e., unless you get up This letter is from the hand of Mallam Musa. (A common beginning to a letter) NOTE. " Wuri-n" may be used in the meaning of "from " with verbs of motion. See under " wurin,'" 200 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE OMISSION OF PREPOSITIONS In a great many cases certain prepositions are omitted, though they are necessary in English. Locality. At, in The two nouns are then in apposition Na tafi kasua Lokoja da laasar / went to the market at Lokoja in the evening Babu wani sariki dunia There is no other king on the earth (" Sariki dunia " is an expression also meaning king of a big country, "sariki" being chief of a town, market, head- man, etc.) Ba shi sama He is not in heaven Sun sa barao jaru, ya mutu They put the thief in gaol, and he died. (Jaru is probably a cor- ruption of the English " gaol ") Yanmata gidanmu kulum The daughters of our house always wanka. Moda. (Riddle) wash. A dipper Garinku, kadan yaro ya yi In your country when a boy grows girima, minene anayi masa up, what is done to him Shina Kano He is at Kano Suka kwana jeji They slept in the bush Time Point of Time Kwanakin-nan ban yi girima ba In those days I was not grown up Chiwuta nan ba zata worike ba This sickness will not heal in one kwana, daia ko kwana bial ba day, even five are not enough su issa ba The noun " saura" = remains, may be used. Saura kwana uku mun tashi or In three days more we shall start kana mu tashi Period of Time Kwanarmu goma muna tafia For ten days we have been travelling Omission of " with " Ina ji-n-haushinsa / am angry with him " Without " is rendered by " babu." Ba ka iya sayensa babu kurdi You cannot buy it without money, lit., You cannot buy it ; no money CHAPTER VIII CONJUNCTIONS NOTE. Some conjunctions are often classed as adverbs and vice versa. CO-ORDINATING Amma, ainana (not colloquial) Da Da ... da Da ... da Dai, de Fa Gara, goama, guma Ko Ko . . . ko Koka Kua Kau, kawa Kuma Ma but and both . . . and had I ... I should (not} then, indeed therefore (about ; usually inter- rogative) rather either or even either, whether ... or as well as, like as also also (not colloquial) again. See under adverbs too, likewise SUBORDINATING Bamda Don (S) Domin (K) Don kada, don en Don wannan, don haka En, idan (S), kan, 1 kam, 1 kadan (K) kur (Z) En Inda Gama except because, in order that. (See also Prepositions) lest for this reason if, when in order to, that if. Inda . . . da, Had I . . . / should (not) for 1 See also Adverbs of Time. 201 202 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Kada (S) kar (K) Do not, lest Koda although, when, even if Sabada on account of Sai except, and, etc. Zama because NOUNS USED (WITH PARTICLES) IN SENSE OF CONJUNCTIONS Kama-n-da in the same way, as soon as, like as Kwatamshi (S) Kama-n- like, the same Amma Ina dubensa, amma ban gane shi / looked for him but I did not ba see him Da uwata kua tana kuka, amma And my mother also was crying kanena ba shi sani ba komi but my younger brother did not know anything Da "Da . . . da,," both . . . and, neither . . . nor in negative sentences, whether ... or, in conditional sentences. " Da " connects words as well as sentences Rago da akwia The ram and the she-goat Ba naku ne da zaku san zamauu It is not for you to know the times Ni tafi ga sariki da ni che masa / shall go to the chief and I shall say to him Da kaka zaka yaki babu fadawa ? And how will you go to war with no officers ? Ta che mu biu da ni da barao She said both of us both I and the thief Da ni da shi mu duka muna tafia Both I and he were walking on chiki-n-kaya the thorns Ina so mu yi gana da ni da kai I want to have some conversation with you Da ya sha bami, da ya sha barasa, Whether he drinks palm wine or duka daia ne he drinks spirit, it is all the same " Da " may be omitted in narration Mutum ya tashi, ya dauka sanda, The man arose, he took a stick, fie ya gudu, ya tafo ga wurin enda ran, he came to the place where machiji shi ke, ya kashe shi the snake was, he killed it Ina chi, ina sha / eat and drink CONJUNCTIONS 203 Two verbs in the imperative mood have no conjunction between them, only a personal pronoun Duba ki ga yawa-n-dawaki nan Look and see the multitude of horses here Da . . . da, Had 1 ... I should (not) This idiom is usually found with one of the sentences in the negative Da na sani, da ban yi shi ba Da kana nan da kanena ba ya mutu ba Da en yi wannan gara en mutu Had I known, I should not have done it Had you been here my young brother would not have died I would rather die than do this Inda . . . da Inda ba ha ka ba da na gaya maka // it were not so I would not have told you Inda ka zo wurina da lotu, da mu If you come for me in time, we will tafi tare kasua go to the market together Dai, de. It is never first word in a sentence Dila de ke nan This is the jackal (the beginning of a story). See here is the jackal Ni de . . . As for me ... Fa Shi fa ? What about him ? Gara, guma, goama Kada ka sayas shi, amma goama Do not sell it but rather give it to me ka ba ni Gara haka It is better so Ko, either, or Bani rago ko kurdi Hario mutume nan ko ubanta ya zaka ya mashie ta Give me the ram or the money Again this man or her husband came and made her return Ko ka bashi kurdi, ko ka bashi Either give him the money or give rago-n-nan him the ram Ko Audu ya zo ko Mahma ya zo Either Audu comes or Mahma comes 204 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Angaya mani wannan labari, ko / was told this news, whether it is gaskia ne, koko tasunia che, true, or whether it is a tale, I oho ! don't know ! Suna che ko na mutu They asked if I was dead Amma ban ji ba ko daia ya mutu, But I have not heard if anybody ko, wani ya halbi kibia died or whether any one shot an arrow Ko = even, indeed (an intensive) Na gani ko sariki / have indeed seen the chief Ba mu samu ba ko aluransu daia We did not find even one of their needles Ko ni dakaina ina tafia da kafa Even I myself was travelling on foot Da babu rairai ko kadan There was no sand there, not even a little Bature ba shi tsoro mutua ko The white man does not fear death, anakasheshi ba i kula ba even if he is to be killed he does not care Ko da babu daki nan Formerly there was no house at all here " Ko da " here is distinct from " koda," although " Ko " may be used at the end of a sentence as an interrogative particle Mutum ya tafi, ko ? Did the man go ? Here " ko " is elliptic for " ko ba hakka ba," or is it not so. "Ko" may also be used in the middle of the sentence, even splitting the verb A ko nuna inaka talauchi ? Shall poverty be shown you ? Koka Na sani sariki- n-Kano koka / know the chief of Kano as well sariki-n-Sokoto as the chief of Sokoto Kua Usually found with " da," and. Compare use of " kuma." Gobe ubanka shi zo kua Tomorrow my father will also come Audu ya yi sata kua Audu has also stolen Ina sonsa da shi kua shina sona / like him and he also likes me Ko kua mu ya-n-Africa niuna Even we Africans also eat raw chi-n-nama dainye meat Ni zani tafia ga kasua da kai kua / shall go to the market and you zaka tafia ga kasua also will go to the market CONJUNCTIONS 205 Kuma (conjunction). See also under adverbs Audu ya yi sata, Mahma ya yi sata kuma Audu has stolen, Mahma has also stolen Ma Enclitic to the word it refers to Ni ma ina tafia en nema dukia Su ma ba su da yaya / too am going in search for riches They too had no children Bamda. See under Preposition Bamda Allah ba ni tsoro-n-komi Except God I fear nothing Don. See also under Preposition Ya yi kuka don mun buga shi Kira shi don en biya shi Don ba ka ji ba Na sani Hausa kwarai don ni da-n-Tuntume ne Suna zo bisa dawaki don su kamaku Yao na tafi ga makaranta don en gani abinda zasu goda ga yan makaranta Ya bani duka don wannan na ya murna Don kada su gani wuta da dere He howled because we beat him Gall him so that I may pay him Because you do not understand I know Hausa correctly because I am a native of Tuntume They are coming on horses to catch you I went to school to-day to see what they were going to show to the school children They gave me all therefore I was glad Lest they should see the fire by night En, idan, kadan, etc. En ya yi karia abugeshi Asamu en anjima kadan Ya kamata mutum zashi tafia shi nema guzuri en shina yi hankali En ba ka da kurdi ba ka da gaskia Idan kana son sarota em ba ka Kadan ban che ba karia Kadan wanga mutum ya yi gudu shi fadi Kadan anarua ba zamu tafia ba Kadan na tafi garesa shi facia mani gaskia Kan na sakeki Kan na yi muku rana, kada ku yi mini dere (prov.) // he lies he will be beaten They will be got if you wait a little It behoves a man who is going a journey to lay in provisions if he is wise If you have no money you have no truth, i.e., only a rich man is listened to If you want the kingdom I will give it you If I am not telling a lie If this man runs he will fall down If it rains we will not go If I go to him he will tell me the truth If 1 set you free If I make day for you, do not make night for me 206 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE " //" understood from context Akoi laya, kana sa ta ga wuya, There is a charm, (if) you hang it kana yi sata babu maigani on your neck, you can steal and no one will see you .Era = in order to, that Ya tambaye en su Fulani ne He went to ask if they were Fulanis Ta tafi gari en dauka kashia She went to the town to take her pay Inda . . . da Inda ba haka ba, da na gaya It it were not so I should have maka told you Gama Ban so tafi ba gama ban ganshi / do not want to go for I have not ba tukuna seen him yet = because not. Compare don Kada ka tafi Do not go Kada su tafi Let them not go Gudu maza kada shi wucheka Bun quickly lest he pass you Na tambaye su domi mutane / asked him why the men should kada su tafi not go Ya aiko mani wata budurua kada He sent to me a certain girl (to en tafi bar ya-n-makaranta su say) that I should not go until fita the school children came out Koda Koda shi ke yaro shina da karifi Although he is a boy he is very kwarai strong Koda ya mutu shi yi rai Even if he dies he shall live Koenna ka tafi Allah shinana Wherever you go God is there with tari da kai koda dere koda rana you whether by night or by day Sabada This preposition is used with a noun or with " wannan," and the phrase may be translated by such a conjunction as " because " Ni kua ina yi-n-kuka sabada / too cried because I was tired. gajia Lit., on account of fatigue Or " haka " may be used Ba ni ba ta kurdi sabada haka ta / did not give her money so she tafi went CONJUNCTIONS 207 Sai See also under adverbs Sai suna yawo chikin gari All they did was to walk about the town " Sai " is used in narration at the beginning of sentences meaning little more than " and " Sai ya bubuge ta da sanda a kai, And he continued beating her with sai ga kafoni sun fito a stick on the head until the horns came out Zama Zama Kafirawa kan yerda da sabo Because the heathen are addicted to evil (NOTE. " Su " is omitted before " kan " by poetical license) Kwatamshi Sun yi inasa kwatamshi-n-wan- They did to him the same as to the chan other CHAFFER IX A oh Aa exclamation of astonishment. It is in a different tone from aa = no, which has a low, falling tone Af, Ap oh ; an exclamation of recollection Aha exclamation of satisfaction Ai ah Arr(K), irr(S) be off Ara go on Ashe truly Asha, hasha an exclamation of pain or grief Aya up I or it does not matter Gasa expression of disgust, surprise Hakika true ! Habba, hubba expression of astonishment or indignation Kai hi I you ! Kaito, kaicho alas Ko exclamation of surprise Labada true ! Madilla exclamation of joy, also used as a reply salutation, or on receiving an acceptable gift Oho it does not concern me, (See example under con- junction " ko ") Sanu softly, also a salutation. An expression of sym- pathy To all right. Used on receiving an order and signifying acceptance. Also as an informal expression of - thanks Ungo take it I Us used in driving sheep and donkeys Tir alas. An expression of sympathy Wai exclamation of doubt, hesitation Ya 0. Arabic Yowa (K) yes, all right 208 INTERJECTIONS 209 Examples A mugum bara ! Ah bad servant ! Kai yaro You boy I Kai ! YOU Kai wadanan yara ! You boys I Aya mu tafi ! Up I let us go ! Ya sidi ! Ya ku mutane ! air 1 You, men ! Ungo mashi-n-nan Take this spear CHAPTER X SYNTAX GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF SENTENCES THE SUBJECT The subject may be composed as follows : i. pronoun, personal. ii. noun or other substantive + personal pronoun (never noun alone), iii. demonstrative + noun + personal pronoun ; or, noun + demonstrative + personal pronoun, iv. noun + possessive pronoun + personal pronoun. v. noun + adjective or numeral + personal pronoun. vi. two nouns in apposition + personal pronoun, vii. two nouns, one in genitive case + personal pronoun, viii. infinitive + personal pronoun, ix. relative sentence + personal pronoun. From this list it can be seen that, whatever the nature of the subject, its predicate must be preceded by a personal pronoun. The only cases in which its omission is per- missible are in poetry and proverbs. Examples i Ya tafi He went ii Mutum ya tafi The man went iii. Wannan mutum ya tafi "\ m -, . Mutume-nan ya tafi ) ^s man went 210 SYNTAX 211 iv. Dansa ya tafi His son went v. Yaro karami ya tafi The small boy went Yara uku sun zo Three boys have come vi. Yaro, dana, ya tafi The boy, my son, went vii. Da-n-mutum ya tafi The man's son went viii. Dauka-n-yaro ba da wuya ba To carry the boy is not difficult ix. Mutum da ya zo jia ya tafi The man who came yesterday has gone Simple Subject The subject need not necessarily be a noun ; other sub- stantives or a substantival phrase may be substituted Na-baya ya kuka The one behind howled Mai-doka-n-kaya ya zo The man to carry the load has come Bature mai-ji Hausa ya zo The white man who knows Hausa has come Compound Subject The compound subject consists of one or more simple subjects, to all of which one predicate belongs Mutume da mache da yaro sunka The man the woman and the boy tafi went THE PREDICATE The predicate may be simple or compound. The Simple Predicate The simple predicate may consist of i. a simple verb, ii. auxiliary verb, iii. or, may be understood. Examples \. Aiki ya karc The work is finished ii. Yaro karami no The boy is small or it is a small boy 212 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE iii. (a) With " mai " Gari mainesa The town is far (b) With the pronoun compounded with " na " Shina baya He is behind (c) With " da,." with (the substitute for " have ") Aiki da wuya The work is hard These predicates may be expanded in various ways with attributes i. Aiki ya kare duka The work is all finished Ya ji sarai He understands perfectly ii. Miji-n-ta shi ne inaisaida-n-zinaria Her husband is a seller of gold Yaro ba shi da karifi The boy is not strong The Compound Predicate A compound predicate consists of two or more simple predicates belonging to the same subject. The personal pronoun has to be repeated with each Yaro ya gudu ya fadi chiki-n- The boy ran and fell into the hole rami Special Notes on the Predicate By idiomatic usage the number of the predicate does not agree with that of the subject. A singular noun will take a plural predicate when the former has a collective sense Kasua duka sun hauka The whole market went mad drunk Dokinsa dubu ishirin da biar His cavalry was 25,000 men Mutum duka ya gudu They have all run away Wani mutane yatafi garin Bauchi Some men went to the Bauchi taritari country a great many SYNTAX 213 Also two subjects may have a singular predicate Kowa ya rinaka yaro da baba kafiri da Musulmi duk ya zageka Ban ji ba ban gani ba ta rabaka da zaure-n-tara (proverb) Every one despises you, boy and grown-up, heathen and Musul- man, all revile you / did not hear I did not see keeps you out of the hall of fines, i.e., proves an alibi In connection with these the following sentences may be noticed Ya tafi gari baba ya yi aiki da su Bature ya kashe masu mutum tari da doki He went to a big town he made war on it (them) The white man killed of them many men and horses Verbs of saying, thinking, seeing, etc., generally intro- duce direct speech and are not followed by any con- junctions Na sani ka ba ni abinda ni ke so Ina tamaha shina da rai bar yanzu Da inuka zamna na ji suna so-n- When we halted I heard that they / know (that) you will give what I want / think he is still alive tafia yaki Da muna gani suna gudu wanted to go to war Aa we, looked they ran off There are a few instances in which the predicate precedes the subject. The verbs are ' akwoi," "za," "je," "ya" (see under the Verb) Akwoi mutane dayawa a chiki-n- There are many people in the gida Akoi Allah Akwoisu Zamu gida Gobe zaka Kano Jeku ! Yaka ! house There ia a God There are We will go home Tomorrow you will go to Kano Be off / Come I 214 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE THE OBJECT The object is of two kinds i. Direct. ii. Indirect. The nature of the object is the same as that of the subject. Direct Object The following are examples of the direct object follow ing the classification of the subject i. Mutum ya huge shi The man beat him Na ba wani I gave (it) (to) another ii. Mutum ya buga yaro The man beat the boy iii. Mutum ya buga wannan ) yaro > The man beat this boy Mutum ya buga yaro nan ) iv. Mutum ya buga yaronsa The man beat his boy v. Mutum ya buga yaro mugu The man beat the bad boy Mutum ya buga yara uku The man beat three boys vi. Mutum ya buga yaro dansa The man beat the boy his son vii. Mutum ya buga da-n-uwansa The man beat the son of his mother, i.e., his brother viii. Mutum ya tafi dauka-n-kaya The man has gone to take his load ix. Mutum ya buga wanda ya The man beat him who carried the dauki kaya load Don ba ka samu ba ya fi Because you cannot find better wannan than this Example of Compound Direct Object Mutum ya buga yaro da yarinia The man beat the bad boy and miagu girl In Hausa a direct object in the form of an objective phrase is used where in English a subordinate sentence is found Allah shi sake taramu da lafia May God grant we meet in health, lit., May God bring about "our meeting in health " Ya gani anashiga gida-n-Muham- He saw them enter the house of madu da bame Mohammed with palm wine NOTE. // " anashiga " is treated as the equivalent of " suna shiga " the verbal aspect becomes more prominent than the substantival. SYNTAX 215 In the following example a verb although treated as a noun yet takes a direct object. It must, however, be observed that the direct object begins the sentence as an interroga- tion, and the rest of the sentence in following loses its strictly grammatical sequence Mi ki ka zo gari-n-nema ? W hat have you come to look for ? Double Object Some verbs take two direct objects, one of the person the other of the thing Sariki ya ba mu shanu biu The chief gave us two cows Ba ina tamaha ba shi ba ni abinda / do not think he will give me what ni ke so / want Anaba kowa nasa Every one was given his share Shi ya gode Allah don bai haliche- He thanks God because he has not shi karre ba created him a dog Da-n-zaki ya dauka dan mutum The lion's child took the human aboki child for his friend Ya daura dokinsa surdi He saddled his horse Lokachinda anazuba maka kasa When they pour earth upon you bisa kai (i.e., bury you) Example of Nouns in Apposition Ya hau dokinsa zaki He mounted his horse a lion Indirect Object This is very varied in its nature. It usually follows the predicate Ya tiifi ga gida-n-maimagani He went to the house of the medicine man Or it may stand first Da sanda na buge shi With a stick I beat him Wanene ka ke kira biri Whom are you calling a monkey ? When there are both direct and indirect objects the indirect stands first Ta bids masu magani She sought medicine from them Wani ya kawo ma sariki labari Some one brought the news to the chief 216 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Some verbs take " da " with the indirect object Na gaji da sukua bisa rakumi / was tired of riding on the camel Ta tuna da mijinta She remembered her husband Ta mutu da yungwa She died of hunger Ni ban yirda ba da shi I do not believe in him NATURE or SENTENCES Sentences are 1. Affirmative. 2. Negative. 3. Interrogative. The affirmative sentence is a simple statement in any mood or tense. The negative sentence is formed from the affirmative sentence by the addition of " ba . . . ba " before and after the verb. (See under adverb.) Affirmative Negative Yaro nan shi ke karami Yaro nan ba shi ke karami ba Yaro nan shina karami Yaro nan ba shi karami ba Yaro nan shina da wayo Yaro nan ba shi da wayo English. This boy is small ; This boy is cunning, etc. In sentences containing a command, if direct the subject pronoun may be omitted in the singular, but not in the plural Tafi or ka tan Go Ku tafi Go (pi.) Ga shi See him Ba ni rua Give me water Inverted subjects are found in " Yaka," come; " Jeka," go; "Jeku," go (pi.) Ta che mata, ki kunchesu She said to her loose them Ban sani ba ; fada man! en ji / do not know, tell me about it, lit., so that I may understand SYNTAX 217 Interrogative Sentences Interrogative sentences are formed in three ways 1 . Change of tone in an affirmative sentence. 2. With interrogative pronouns. 3. With interrogative adverbs, such as " ko," for indirect questions especially ; " ba ? " not? "Fa ? " then ? " De ? " indeed ? 1 Ni ne ? Is it I ? Kai ka ke yi mani magana haka ? Do you speak so to me. ? Ka gani abin-nan ? Have you seen this thing ? Akoi rua chiki-n-rijia ? Is there water in the well ? Wanene ka ke kira biri ? Whom are you calling a monkey Mi zaka yi da shi ? What will you do with him ? 3 Adverbs Kurdinsa nawa ? How much is it ? Enna ubanka ? Where is your father ? Yaushe zaka komo ? When will you come back ? Ko Ya tambaye shi ko shi zo ko ba He asked him if he was coming or shi zo ba not Ta che ko daganan rua Madina She said, is thia the water of shi ke ? Madina here f Na tafo ko nan ne rua Madina / came to see whether this is the water of Madina Ko ni ne ? Or is it I ? Ko ba haka ba ? Or is it not so ? (Often used after another question when a negative answer is possible) Baf Ka ji ba ? Did you not hear ? Ni ne ba ? Is it not I ? Fa? Shi fa ? What about him ? Ansa kowa aikinsa, shi yaro nan Every one has been given his work, fa ? but what about this boy ? Amba kanena rabonsa, ni de ? My younger brother has been given Ba zaabani ba ? his portion, what about me f Shall I not be given any ? 218 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Compound Sentences Compound sentences are of two kinds co-ordinate and subordinate. Co-ordinate Kurichia ta zaka, tana yi-n-kuka, The dove came, she was crying out, tana chewa ga mache yi kun- she was saying to the woman unki ki sha make your gruel, drink it Sunka tafi ga baki-n-rijia, ya che They went to the mouth of the well, masti . . . (and) he said to them . . . Amma mu ba mu iyawa mu yi But we, we cannot work aiki Ba ni ne zan yi shi ba ? Is it not for me to do it ? Subordinate Subordinate sentence first Kadan ka bani kurdi-n-nan m // you give me the money I shall baka tagia give you the cap Kadan na tafi, kadan ka rule When I have gone, when you have kofa, kadan wani ya zaka. kada shut the door, if any one comes, ka bude do not open Subordinate sentence last Rairai ya shiga ga idanumu don The sand goes into our eyes hiska ta busa da karifi because the wind blew strong CHAPTER XI COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS SALUTATIONS 1. Sanu sanu 2. Sanu ka dai (de) 3. Kana lafia ? 4. Lafia lau 5. Madilla 6. Madilla (Arabic) 1. Sanu da aiki I. Sanu da gajia 1. Sanu da zua 2. Sanu ka dai (de) Sanuku Sanunka Sanunka da kaya 1. Ka kwana lafia ? 2. Lafia; Madilla 1. Kana lafia ? 2. Lafia lau, na godi 1. Analafia ? 2. Muna lafia 1. Enna gajia ? 2. Babu gajia 2. Gajia da sauki 1. Enna gida ? 1. Kaka gida ? * 2. Lafia lau How do you do. Lit., Softly How do you do Are you well ? Quite well Thanks be to God Said when meeting a man at work Said when meeting a man tired Said when meeting a man coming How do you do ? Said when meeting several per- sons, and also in reply How do you do ? Lit., Your " sanu " Said when meeting a man with a load Have you slept well ? Very well, thanks (Madilla= What has Ood shown ?) Are you well ? Quite well, I thank (you) Are you well ? We are well I hope you are not tired. Lit., Where is the fatigue ? Not at all tired > How are all at home ? Quite well * NOTB. It it impolite to say, How is your wife if 219 220 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE 3. Da iyali suna lafia ? 4. Lafia lau, muna lafia 1. Enna labari ? 2. Sai lafia 1. Maraba, maraba (Arabic) 2. Sanu, sanu madilla 1. Maraba da zua 2. Sanu 1. Enna zamnan gari ? 2. Sai alheri 1. Marhabi, marhabi (Arabic) 2. Sanu, madilla 1. Albarka 2. Albarka de 1. Madilld \ 2. Alhumdillilahi (Arabic) / 1. Salaam alaikum (Arabic) 2. Alaikum salaam 1. Berka (for albarka) 2. Berka da zua Agaisheka Tngoya (ingweya) Sai gobe Sai wata rana Sai anjima Allah shi dade da ranka Gafara ! Gafara dai ! Kaka ka ji da sainyi ? Lafia, sainyi da godia Kaka ka kara ji da jiki ? Na ji sauki (K and Z) Allah shi kara maka sauki, Amin Na ji dama. Na samu sauki (Zar) Allah shi anfana-shi (or -ta) Allah shi keauta Ka gaishe shi da yini Gai mini da ubanka Sai ka komo And are all the family weU ? Quite well, we are all well What is the news ? It is good. The invariable for- mal reply Used after long absence Thank you Welcome Softly, i.e., thank you How is your stay in the town ? It is going well, prosperous Salutation on returning from a journey I am well, thank you Welcome Thank you for your welcome Praise be to God Peace be with you With you be peace How do you do Welcome You are saluted. Hoio do you do Reply salutation to an important person Good-bye till to-morrow Good-bye till another day Good-bye for a short time May God give you long life (to a chief) / beg your pardon How do you feel this cold weather ? Quite well in spite of the cold How are you feeling ? I am feeling better May God increase your health, Amen I feel better or am well again May God prosper it (on birth of a child) Say good-night to him Salute your father for me Good-bye till you come again COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 221 NAMES or SEASONS, MONTHS, DAYS, AND HOUBS Seasons Funturu, or Lokachin dari Cold season, the season of the Harmattan December and January Rani Hot season March Basara Hottest part of the hot season; tornado season April and May Damara Wet season June to August Agajere Hot season after rain September, October Kaka Harvest season October, Novem- ber Months These are the Arabic months, with the names more or less corrupt Moharam Safar Rabiu lauwal Rabiu lahir Jimada lula Jimada luhura Rajab Jaaban Ramadan, ramalan, or wata-n- The fast month azumi Shauwal, wata-n-karama-n-salla Month of the little prayer Zulkiida Zulhaji, wata-n-baba-n-salla Month of the big prayer The corresponding months in the Julian calendar vary from year to year. Days of the Week Ran'lahadi Sunday Ran'latini Monday Ran'talata Tuesday Ran'laraba Wednesday Ran'alhamis Thursday Ran'aljimua, aljima Friday Ran'assabit Saturday 222 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Hours of the Day Jijifi First sign of dawn Kiran salla nafari Call to the first prayer Asuba Dawn Gari ya waye Dawn Sasafe Very early morning Safe Morning (generally) Hantsi About 8 a.m. Walaha About 10 a.m. Rana Day time generally Rana tsaka Midday, noon Zowall Time soon after midday Azuhur About 2 p.m. Laasar About 5 p.m. Maguriba Evening Mareche Evening Lisha About 7 p.m., just after sunset Fadua-r-rana Sunset Dere Night Tsaka-n-dere Midnight Kwana Sleep. A day of 24 hours Verbs : etc., used idiomatically Che Akache da shi It was called a ... Yache da su He said to them Chika Chika bindiga Load a gun Wotsika ya chika The letter is finished Chika mini alkaweli Fulfil your promise to me Chi Chi gari Conquer the country Chi kasua To market Anachin kasua Market is on Kasua ta clii Fataki sun chi riba The merchants made a profit Na chi / take it (in gambling) or / win Ku chi gaba kadan Go a little in front Chi sarota Succeed to the sovereignty Chi lafia To get into safety : enjoy peace Chi a ma na Misappropriate a trust. Lit., Eat a pledge Chi lava Swear on the Koran Chi ado Adorn oneself COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 223 Da (summary of various meanings) Da Eelative pronoun, short of " wanda " Da Son Da Native of, as in " da-n-Kano " Da Diminutive, as " da-n-zane," a piece of cloth ; " da-n- kasua," a little market ; " da-n-tumkia," lamb Da Freeborn Da And Da Of old, formerly Da With Da When ( = saanda) Da ... da Had I ... I should (not) Da Than Dama Hanu-n-dama Eight hand Da da ma A little more Ya yi da ma It were better Da dama dama Moderately Na ji dama kadan I feel a little better Gobe ina zua idan na samu dama I shall come to-morrow if I get the chance Ka yi abinda ka ga dama Do whatever you think best Ba ni da dama / have no time to . . . Dama mun so zua birni bale sariki We wished all the more to go to the ya aiko city now that the chief sent for us Ka ji dama ya fi jia ? Do you feel better than yesterday ? Da ni talaka ne, yanzu na samu Formerly I was poor, now I am dukia da dama better off Damre (daure) Daura kuka liaise a cry Daura ido Frown Daura gudu Take up running Daura magana Keep one's word Dau, do=dauka. Mostly used in Poetry Dau Allah, dau Anabi ! By God and the Prophet ! Wajib mu do hayasu ( = hainya) We must take their road Kai, carry Ba -Iii ka i ba It will not do Ba shi kai hakanan ba This will not do Jibi mua kai gida The day after to-morrow we shall get home Allah ya worike cbiniyansa ta kai God cured his thigh, it became all right 224 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Kowa ya nomi hatsi (ya) kai baba-n-gari (poet.) Gobe da safe na kaika wurinda suna bi suna yawo Every one who sows corn (i.e., good deeds) reaches the great city (heaven) To-morrow I will take you to the place which they went to to take a walk (" Kai " does not necessarily mean to actually carry) Enna rana ta kai kana rau kai Kano ? Zata kai chan Suka iske gulbi, ya kawo rua achikin daji Where will the sun be when we reach Kano ? It will be there They came to a water course in the bush, it had water in it Kara Ina kara daia Ban kara ba zakua Ba ya kara ba chewa Aikinsu zaakarasu Sun che jirigi-n-kasan ba shi kara tafowa daga Iku Allahu shi kara maka alberka Zaki ya yi kuka so-daia, ba shi kara ba, ya mutu Ba shi kara ganinsa Ba ya kara tashi ba bar . . . Ba ta kara koma garesa / add one I shall not come again He said no more Their work shall be increased They said the train shall not come again from Lagos May God increase his blessing on you The lion cried once, he did not do so again, he died He saw him no more He did not get up again until . . . She did not return to him again NOTE. The noun form of the verb is required after " kara." Mai da Ma maida kansa Ya maida kamna gareta Ya mayesda magana Suka mayar ( = mayas) da mag- ana, suka che masu Ka mayes Ina mayesda wane Ya maishe shi Yungwa ta ke maida yaro tsofo He professes He liked him He answered They replied and said to them Bring (it) back I became like so-and-so He transformed him Hunger turns a boy into an old Sha Sha hiska Sha enua Sha wohalla Sha taba Take the air Enjoy the shade Get into trouble Smoke tobacco COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 225 Sa Ya sa masu wuta Na sa ka dilalina Ni sashi tafi chikin jirigi, koda shi yerda ko ba yerda ba Shi ya sa na tashi Sa kasa Ya sashi chikin sanfo Na sa wando baki Sariki ya sa akadaura doki surdi He set fire to them I make you my agent I will make him get into the boat whether he is willing or not He made me get up Put it down He placed it in the basket I wore black trousers The chief made them saddle the horse NOTE. " Sa " has a causative force which may be translated in English " make " or " do." " Ti " is not used in this sense. Hainya ta samu There is a road Na samu lafia 7 am better Har su samu amsa Until they reply Na samesa shina karatu wotikanka I found him writing your letter Saura This is a noun meaning " remainder," " rest." Ya yi saura kadan I, saura igia biu adamre Da matansa saura shi daia There is a little left Yes, it still wants two ropes to tie them And of his wives there was only left one to him Ba sauran kwanaki dayawa nan In not many days' time gaba ba Various uses of " Yi," do, make. Some of its uses are very idiomatic. One variation of form is found namely, " yiwu." Independent Na yi Na yi Suna fada da juna ? Sun a yi Ku yi ta yi Mu yi ta yi Ku yi ta tafia Kaka zaka yi ? Kamada shi kc yi Rana ta yi 7 did it He did it or it will do, it is satisfactory Are they fighting amongst them- selves ? They are Go on with what you are doing We will get to work Oo on How will you manage ? How it is done It is daylight 226 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE \\'lth Direct Object Na yi shi / have done it Mun yi shi da kasa We made it of earth Kana yi magana Hausa ? Do you speak Hausa ? Mun yi abuta da ni da shi He and I have become friends Har ya yi sainyi Until it gets cool " Yi " joined with nouns is often translatable by a single verb in English, as Yi magana to speak Yi zanche to converse Yi aiki to work Yi munafiki to deceive Yi godia, to thank Yi tafia to journey Yi girima to grow Yi alheri to rejoice Yi sata to steal All of these phrases take indirect objects with preposi- tions. The indirect object is placed between " yi " and the noun it is attached to if the preposition in question is "ma," to, but after if the preposition is "da," with. Without Indirect Object Zuchiana ya yi fari My heart rejoiced Zua mutua Ahmadu ya yi sariki On the death of Ahmadu he became king Ya yi girima He has grown up Ya yi arziki It is fortunate Ya yi keao It is good : that is all right Ya yi nauyi It is heavy Yaro ya yi kama-n-uwansa The boy is like his mother Ya yi karatu wonga wochika He wrote this letter (double object) With Indirect Object Ma Ya yi mani munafiki He cheated (betrayed, deceived) me Na yi masa alheri / treated him kindly Ya yi mani alkawali He made me a promise Sun yi masa sata They stole from him Sariki ya yi masa kaliye The king gave him an order Ya yi mani gudumawa He came to my help COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 227 Giwa, anyi mata rauni a kafa The elephant was only wounded in guda one leg Karia ka ke yi mani You are lying to me Ya yi mani takarda He wrote me a letter Kada ka yi mani karia Do not lie to me Da Ku yi magana da su Talk to them Na Ya yi mantuwa-r-suna-n-da He forgot the name that the hare zomo ya fada masa told him " Yi "with Nouns used as Prepositions and Adverbs Ku yi kusa Come near Ya yi nisa It is far With adverbs Yi massa Make haste or do it quickly " Yi " with Expressions of Time Lokachi ya yi mu tashi It is time, let us start Da rana ta yi ya mutu When it was daylight he died Shekarunsa nawa ? ya yi shekara How old is he ? He is five. Oh bial. Aa, ba ya yi ba no, he is not Rana ta yi It is daylight Ya yi shekara biu It is two years Ka yi rana You are late Ya yi kwana bokoi A week passed " Yi " with the sense of " too much " Ya yi mani yawa They are too many for me Rafi nan ya yi masa fadi That river is too broad for it Riga nan ta yi mani kadan (or The coat is too small for me karami) Gidanga ya yi kankane This house is small (or too small) Kun yi yawa You were very many Miscellaneous Zuchiansa ya yi biu Doubt was in his heart Yi itache Cut or get firewood Wannan ya yi wanchan This equals that Anayi da shi He is being set upon Beri kashi chikin chiki ba shi yi To leave excrement in the belly is maganin yungwa (prov.) not food for hunger Funtu ya yi darial maitsuma The naked man laughs at the (prov.) ragged man 228 THE HAUSA LANGUAGE Example of the Form " yiwu " Ta'ala da ya yiwota The exalted one who made it " Yi " takes what seems to be the suffix " da " (see derived verbs, class 5) in the sharpened form " ta." If this etymology be correct, it is not in accordance with the common phonetic rules of the language. Ku yita yi Go on with what you are doing Ku yita tafia ! March ! Ku yita tuba ! Repent I Yita aiki Accomplish the work Ku yita kanku Do that which appertains to you or do as you like In Sokoto, Zanfara, and Katsina "wo" is commonly used for "yi," as "wo takarda," send a letter; "wo yaki," wage war. Examples of Circumlocution Sariki ya rassu The chief is dead but, Doki ya mutu The horse is dead Abokina ba shi da lafia My friend is ill Wazirin Sokoto ba ya gani yanzu The vizier of Sokoto is blind Abokina ba shi da kafa My friend is lame but, Guragu ne In speaking of a horse being lame Kaka iyalinka ? How is your family ? (instead of asking after a man's wife) BIBLIOGRAPHY SCHOEN, J. F. Vocabulary of the Hausa Language and Grammar (1843). Grammar of the Hausa Language (1862). Dictionary of the Hausa Language (1876). Appendix to Dictionary of the Hausa Language (1888). Magana Hausa (1885). ROBINSON, C. Hausa Language, 1st edition (1897). 2nd edition (1909). Hausa Dictionary, 1st edition (I. 1899 and II. 1900). 2nd edition (1906) (Hausa-English only) Specimen of Hausa Literature (1896). MILLER, W. R. Hausa Notes (1901). MISCHLICH, A. Lehrbuch der hausanischeu Sprache (1902). Km. AH. F. Litati na tatsuniyoyi na Hausa (1911). HARRIS, H. Hausa Stories (1907). CHARLTON, L. A Hausa Reading Book (1908). 229 Printed at The Edinburgh Press 9 and II Young Street. FROM KEG AN PAUL <$ CO.'S LIST A Hausa Grammar, with Exercises, Readings, and Vocabu- laries. By Rev. Canon CHARLES H. ROBINSON, M.A., sometime Lecturer in Hausa in the University of Cambridge, and Major J. ALDER BURDON, C.M.G., M.A., Resident of Sokoto Province, N. Nigeria. Fourth Edition. Crown 8vo. 53. net. Hausa Proverbs, including Riddles and Common Expressions, with some Grammatical Notes. By Captain G. MERRICK, R.G.A. Crown 8vo. 33. 6d. net. English-Hausa Vocabulary- By Captain A. H. W. HAYWOOD, R.A. Second and Enlarged Edition, containing nearly 1,400 words in every-day use. F'cap 8vo. Paper Cover. 2s. net. A Grammar of the Angass Language, with Vocabulary, etc. By Captain H. D. FOULKES. Handbook of Modern Arabic, consisting of a Grammar, with numerous Examples, Dialogues, and Newspaper Extracts, printed in roman type. By FRANCIS W. NEWMAN, Emeritus Professor, University College, London. Crown 8vo. 6s. Grammar of the Arabic Language. By the Rev. R. STERLING, M.A. Printed in Arabic and Roman types. Demy 8vo. i2s. net. Arabic and English Idiom. Conversational and Literary. A companion to the above. Demy 8vo. 75. net. Arabic - English Dictionary. By H. ANTHONY SALMONE, Lecturer at University College, London. Comprising about 120,000 Arabic words, with English Index of about 50,000 words. 2 vols. Large Crown 8vo. 363. Comparative Handbook of Congo Languages. A comparative Grammar of the eight principal languages of the district, and of Swahili, with a Vocabulary of 800 words with their English equivalents, etc. By W. HENRY STAPLETON. Demy 8vo. 6s. net. Grammar of the Somali Language. By Rev. Fr. E. DE LARA- JASSE and Ven. Fr. C. DE SAMPONT. Crown 8vo. 123. net. Somali- English and English Somali Dictionary. By Rev. Fr. E. DE LARAJASSE. Crown 8vo. 123. net. Dictionary of the Swahili Language. By the Rev. Dr L. KRAPF, C.M.S., with an outline of the Grammar. Med. 8vo. 305. net. KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD., BROADWAY HOUSE, 68-74 CARTER LANE, LONDON, E.C. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY LIBRARY This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-10m-9,'69(N1370s8)4939A 3, 59 University of Caklorria, Los Angeles L 005 462 915 9 A 001 079 329 7