AZTEC IRREGULAR VERBS.
There are but few irregular verbs in the Aztec language and the following are all that Pimentel could find;—ka and mani, to be; icac, to be on foot; onoc, to be lying down; yauh, to go; huallauh and huitz, to come; mazehualti, icnopilti, and ilhuilti, to obtain a benefit.
The following words are always used as affixes:
| For | pal, pampa |
| Of, from | tech |
| Behind | icampa, tepotzco, cuitlapan |
| Toward | huic |
| Between | tzalan |
| With | huan, pa, copa, ca |
| In the midst | nepantla |
| Belonging to | tloc |
| Together | nahuac |
| Within | co, c |
| Above | icpac |
| On the other side | nalko, nal |
| Before | ixco, ixpan, ixtlan, ixtla |
| Upon, in time | pan |
| Underneath | tlan |
| Inside | itic, itec |
| Under | tzintlan |
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Totatzine ( Our revered father ) ynilhuicac ( who heaven in ) timoyeztica, ( art, ) mayectenehualo ( be praised ) inmotocatzin, ( thy name, ) mahualauh ( may come ) inmotlatocayotzin ( thy kingdom ) machihualo ( be done ) intlalticpac ( earth above ) inmotlanequilitzin, ( thy will ) inyuhchichihualo ( as is done ) inilhuicac, ( heaven in, ) intotlaxcalmomoztlac ( our bread every day ) totech monequi ( to us is necessary ) maaxcan ( to-day ) xitechmomaquili, ( give us, ) maxitechmetlapopohuili ( forgive us ) intotlatlacol, ( our sins, ) iniuh ( as ) tiquintlapopolhuia ( we forgive ) intechtlatla ( those who ) calhuia, ( us offend, ) macamoxitechmomacahuili ( thou not us lead ) inicamo ( that not ) ipan ( in ) tihuetzizque ( we fall ) inteneyeyecoltiliztli: ( in temptation: ) çanye ( but ) xitechmomaquixtili ( deliver us ) inyhuicpa ( against ) inamoqualli. ( from not good. ) Maiuhmochihua.[IX'-10] ( )
Many comparisons between the Aztec and the tongues of Asia and Europe have been made, and relationship claimed with almost every prominent language, but under analysis all these fancied affinities vanish. Similarities in words, in common with all tongues, are found between the Aztec and others, but at best they can be called only accidental. Still, a few remarkable word-analogies have been noticed, among the chief of which are the following. The Aztec like the Greek and Sanskrit, uses the privative preposition a, which in the Celtic has been changed to an, in Latin to in, or im, and in the German to un;—Greek, athanatos; Aztec, amiquini, immortal. Further, in the perfect tense, and sometimes in the imperfect, o is used in the Aztec, like the Sanskrit a, and the Greek e. But the most remarkable coincidence is the word teotl, which is as near as possible to the Greek Théos. Kingsborough and Mrs Simon see in the Aztec the language of the Jews; Jones that of the ancient Tyrians; Lang, that of the Polynesians. García makes comparisons with the Hebrew, Spanish, Phoenician, Egyptian, Japanese, and German, and for a relationship with these and many others he finds claimants. Until further light is thrown upon American philology, the Aztec must stand alone, as one of the independent languages of the world.[IX'-11]
The Otomí, held to be next to the Aztec the most widely extended language in Mexico, was spoken by a rough and barbarous people who inhabit the mountains encircling the valley of Anáhuac, but more particularly those towards the north-west. Thence it extended into the present state of San Luis Potosí, was spoken throughout Querétaro and the larger part of Guanajuato, and in places in Michoacan, Vera Cruz, and Puebla.[IX'-12] From the Journal and Proceedings of the fourth Provincial Council, held in Mexico in the year 1771, it appears that the language was spoken in four dialects, varying so much that it was only with the greatest difficulty that the several tribes could hold intercourse.[IX'-13] The only dialect of which particular notice has been taken is the Mazahua, spoken in the ancient province of Mazahuacan. Of the others the only specimens are a few Lord's Prayers.
HYPOTHETICAL OTOMÍ AND CHINESE RELATIONSHIP.