Take for example, minwaindumëigowaud. He (who) makes them happy. Of this compound, minwaindum, as before shown, signifies he makes happy. But as the verb is in the singular number, it implies that but one person is made happy, and the suffixed, personal pronouns singular, mark the distinctions between me, thee, and he, or him.
Minwaindum-e-ig is the verb plural, and implies that several persons are made happy, and, in like manner, the suffixed personal pronouns plural, mark the distinctions between we, ye, they, &c. For it is a rule of the language, that a strict concordance must exist between the number of the verb, and the number of the pronoun. The termination of the verb consequently always indicates, whether there be one or many objects, to which its energy is directed. And as animate verbs can be applied only to animate objects, the numerical inflections of the verb, are understood to mark the number of persons. But this number is indiscriminate, and leaves the sense vague, until the pronominal suffixes are superadded. Those who, therefore, contend for the sense of the relative pronoun “who,” being given in the last mentioned phrase, and all phrases similarly formed, by a succedaneum, contend for something like the following form of translation:—He makes them happy—him! or Him—he (meaning who) makes them happy.
The equivalent for what, is Waygonain.
| What do you want? | Waygonain wau iauyun? |
| What have you lost? | Waygonain kau wonetöyun? |
| What do you look for? | Waygonain nain dahwaubundamun? |
| What is this? | Waygonain ewinain maundun? |
| What will you have? | Waygonain kau iauyun? |
| What detained you? | Waygonain kau oon dahme egöyun? |
| What are you making? | Waygonain wayzhetöyun? |
| What have you there? | Waygonain e-mau iauyun? |
The use of this pronoun, like the preceding, appears to be confined to simple interrogative forms. The word auneen, which sometimes supplies its place, or is used for want of the pronoun which, is an adverb, and has considerable latitude of meaning. Most commonly it may be considered as the equivalent for how, in what manner, or at what time.
| What do you say? | Auneen akeedöyun? |
| What do you call this? | Auneen aizheneekaudahmun maundun? (i.) |
| What ails you? | Auneen aindeeyun? |
| What is your name? | Auneen aizheekauzoyun? |
| Which do you mean; this or that? (an.) | Auneen ah-ow ainud, woh-ow gämau ewidde? |
| Which do you mean; this or that? (in.) | Auneen eh-eu ewaidumun oh-oo gämau ewaidde? |
| Which boy do you mean? | Auneen ah-ow-ainud? |
By adding to this word, the particle de, it is converted into an adverb of place, and may be rendered where.
| Where do you dwell? | Auneende aindauyun? |
| Where is your son? | Auneende ke gwiss? |
| Where did you see him? | Auneende ke waubumud? |
[Transcriber's Note: The text at this point was misprinted. There is at least one missing page.]
becomes quite necessary in writing the language. And in the following sentences, the substantive is properly employed after the pronoun.