Ochi There nyanya a goat vāna is ana I ntsiala. know.
In reporting the words of a third person the actual words spoken are placed with the particle to immediately in front of the principal verb.
Thus “Chongsemo said he would go” would be in Lhota—
Chongsemona Chongsemo ana I wov will go to thus ezocho. said.
If the actual words of the speaker are not used the indirect discourse is placed after the principal clause and its verb takes the affix -lato.
Chongsemona Chongsemo ezocho said omona he wolato. would go.
Specimens. The following specimens of the language with literal translations will serve to illustrate the grammar and syntax.
I.—The Story of the Cuckoo and the Crow.
Păngpăng-to cuckoo nā and kāshāk-to crow ōni they-two ōkămo friends tscōtācho. became. Ole Then pangpang-chi-na cuckoo-that kashak-chi (to) crow-that ēzōchō said “Ā-kăm, “my-friend, [[221]] nnā-hā you-too ōnyu-shi-ki gum-this-with mhōna well ā-rānīke me-ornamenting ana-ha I-too onyu-shi-ki gum-this-with mhona well i-ranika.” you-will ornament.” to thus ezoa having said mhona well eranitokcho. made him ornament. Chi-silōcho That-after kashak-chi-na crow-that pangpang-chi (to) cuckoo-that ezocho said “A-kam, my-friend, nna-ha you-too mhona well a-ranike me-ornamenting ana-ha I-too mhona well i-ranichoka.” you-will ornament.” to thus ezoa having said onyu-chi gum-that picho. gave. Ole Then pangpang-chi-na cuckoo-that “A-kam, “my-friend a-pfu-na my-mother a-tsāla, me-is calling, a-pfu-na my-mother a-tsala,” me-is calling,” to thus ezoa having said onyu-chi-na gum-that-with kashak-chi cuckoo-that kŭrri-lo head-on tyankaisi having poured out tsancho. ran away. Chī-tsōkō-nā That-reason-from nhūnga-cha now-till kashak-cho crow-the nyĭkā-lā. black-is. Hochi-na That-from pangpang-cho cuckoo-the kashak crow khȳua fearing engo (by) day n-sāmphina not-wandering zāmo-thăng-tai darkness-time-only “pangpang “cuckoo pangpang.” cuckoo.” to thus khua crying samphiala. wanders.
Translated into ordinary English the story runs as follows:—