a. Conjunctive attributes.
122. A conjunctive attribute is connected with the word or phrase which it modifies by the atonic particle na. Normally ŋ takes the place of na after a vowel, n, or the glottal stop (see 10Phonetics): mabúti ŋ aklàt good book, or: aklàt na mabúti.
However, na and ŋ are not exactly equivalent. Predications, longer phrases, and, frequently, transient expressions are joined with na even where ŋ is possible: isa ŋ malakì ŋ higànte na nalìlígoʾ a big giant who was bathing.
15On the other hand, some constructions use na rarely or not at all: where ŋ cannot be used the particle is then omitted and we have absolute attribution. These constructions will be described under the latter heading.
In the formation of compound words (see Morphology) na is 20never used, while ŋ is a regular element. This latter circumstance sometimes makes it difficult to determine whether a given expression is a conjunctive phrase or a compound word.
123. Conjunctive attributes are closely joined and either precede or follow; for this reason it is sometimes undetermined 25which of the elements connected is the attribute, which the element modified.
124. The elements connected by conjunctive attribution are viewed as constituting a single larger element. Conjunctive attribution is the normal and general relation between modifier and 30modified and includes relations that in many other languages (such as English) are viewed in manifold ways. We may divide the construction roughly into three types, although these actually merge into each other: (1) quality, (2) manner, and (3) complement.
35Not included in this division are the cases where conjunctive attribution alternates with absolute (§ [122]), which will be treated of under the latter heading, and a type which in meaning is so closely parallel with disjunctive attribution that it will be more economical to treat it under this head (§§ [165].168).
40(1) Conjunctive attributes of quality.
125. Conjunctive attributes of the quality type are used chiefly in object expressions. They have no fixed order: aŋ mabúti ŋ aklàt the (a) good book, or: aŋ aklàt na mabúti. aŋ sumùsúlat na bátaʾ the writing child, the child that is writing, or: aŋ báta ŋ sumùsúlat.