[36]Thetuais the religious ceremony performed by the father, or theArikiof the tribe, when the child was born, to remove thetapufrom the mother and the settlement.
[36]Thetuais the religious ceremony performed by the father, or theArikiof the tribe, when the child was born, to remove thetapufrom the mother and the settlement.
§ 1. Adjectives generally follow substantives; e. g., he tangata kohuru,a murderer. Sometimes, however, they will take the form of an adverb, and precede; e. g., homaikatoamai nga mea,give (me) all the things. Sometimes, also, they will take the form of a verb and precede; e. g.,nui rawataku riri,very great is my anger—or of a substantive; e. g., henuitaku riri, idem.
§ 2. The pronominal adjectives,tenei, &c., andtauawill always precede; e. g.,tenamea.
§ 3. Adjectives will generally take the form of the noun with which they are connected; i. e., if the noun be of the verbal form, so also will be the adjective; e. g., oranga tonutanga,eternal life; rerenga pukutanga,sailing hungry.
Note.—To this rule there are many exceptions. Thus, we have kaingakotahi,one eating; i. e.,one meal; matenga nui, patunga tapu, whakamutunga pai, tikinga hangarau, korerotanga tuatahi. In many cases observation can alone determine when such forms are admissible. As a general rule, it would perhaps be correct to say that when the verbal noun is of very familiar use, so as almost to have its verbal character forgotten, or when somethingorsingleact, is spoken of, it will sometimes admit after it an adjective of the simple form. It will, we think, also be found that such common adjectives as nui, pai, katoa, and also the numerals most frequently follow in the simple form.
§ 4. Under other circumstances, the adjective will follow in the verbal form, especially when diversityor a number of acts of the same kind, is intended. Thus, oku nohoanga katoa will meanall my settlements; aku nohoanga katoatanga,all the times in which I sit down. The following expressions are objectionable: korerotanga whakamutu, tirohanga atawhai, whakinga puku.
§ 5. It should be noticed, perhaps, here, that we sometimes find the verbal noun used as an adjective or participle, and with a passive meaning: e. g., he toki tua, isan axe to fell with; he tokituakanga,an axe which has been used in felling; he meawhakakakurangamai no tawahi, (clothes)worn abroad and sent here. Whakakahu would in this construction be seldom used. On the other hand we meet with pu whakamoe;gun taken to bed with you; poaka whangai,fed pig.
§ 6.Many adjectives to one substantive.—It is contrary to the genius of Maori to allow many adjectives to follow one substantive. When, therefore, it is desired to affirm many qualities of the same word, the word itself will be repeated before each adjective; e. g.,a great and good man, would be thus rendered: hetangatanui, hetangatapai; or the adjectives will be converted into substantives, by taking the articlehebefore them. Thus, the above sentence might be rendered:he nui, he paitena tangata,he was a great, &c.; a large red blanket might be thus rendered: he paraikete nui, hemeawhero. Sometimes the adjective will be resolved into the verb; "a great and terrible God," would be thus rendered; he Atua nui,e wehingia ana.
§. 7. The following are instances in which an adjective is made to qualify two substantives: ko te poaka raua ko te paraoa,he reka kau,pork and flour (they are both) sweet, or (a sweetness); he mea reka te poaka, he me reka te paraoa, idem. Tena koa etahi hate, etahi tarau hoki,kei nga mea pai:Shew someshirts and some trousers; let them be good ones:i. e.,shew some good shirts, &c.
§ 8. Sometimes the adjective will unexpectedly assume the form of a verb or substantive, e. g., kei ona kainga,e(orhe,) maha,he is at his many settlements. The following form is heard at Taranaki: kia toruhera,it will take three days. Sometimes adverbs are used as adjectives; e. g., he tohungarawa,a great artist, &c., tetinotangata,the very individual. The following form in which the verb supplies the place of the adjective, is, we believe, in general use: a pouri ana o matou ngakau mo tenei patunga o matouka rua;our hearts are dark at this second murder of our friends, lit., this murder of our friends, it is two.
Comparison of adjectives.—The comparative degree is denoted in various ways in Maori. (a) The first, and most common, is similar to that adopted in Hebrew; viz. by putting the prepositioni(from) after the adjective; e. g., e kaha ana a Honeia Pita,John is stronger than Peter. (b) Sometimes there is joined to the adjective some adverb of intensity; e. g., e kaharawaana a Honeia Pita,John is much stronger, &c.(c) Sometimes it is denoted by the adjectives ngari, and rangi, the verb following in epanorthosis; e. g., e ngari a Hone i a Pita,e kaha ana.
(d.) Sometimes the comparative is denoted by some approbatory, and the positive by some disapprobatory term; e. g., epaiana tenei paraikete, ekinoana tera,this blanket is good, that is bad. (e.) Sometimes the positive is put into the negative form, and the comparative into the affirmative; e. g., e ngari ano te patu i a au; aua e tangohia oratia taku kainga,it is better to kill me, do not take away my settlement while I live; i. e., I should rather die than have my possessions taken from me. E nui ana taku hara, e kore e taea te muru,my sin is greater than that it can be pardoned; lit. my sin is great, it cannot be pardoned. Hehirate hunga i a koe nei;e koree ho atu e ahau nga Miriani ki a ratou,the people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their power.
(f.) Sometimes the positive is made antecedent, and the comparative consequent; e. g., me patu ano au ka riro ai toku kainga,you must kill me, andthentake my possessions.
(g.) Following, are two modes of comparison which are sometimes met with:poka ke atute pai o te ra tahiiou whare i nga ra ko tahi mano,one day in thy courts is better than a thousand. Ma tenei e whakakoakoa ai a Ihowatera atui te koakoatanga ki te okiha,this shall please the Lord better than an ox.
Note.—These two forms are not much used in Waikato. The following is sometimes heard, but it is a weak mode of comparison:rere keana te pai o teneiitera,the goodness of this is different from that.
(h.) A very common process for denoting aninferiority of degree, is to associate two contrary qualities: e. g., pai kino,indifferently good; roa poto, (long short,)of moderate length; mangu ma nei, (black white,)blackish.
(i.) The adverbtuaprefixed to the adjective denotes a similar kind of comparison: e. g.,tuariri,somewhat angry;tuapouri,rather dark. (k.) Sometimes comparison is implied by reduplication of one or more syllables: e. g., pouriuri,darkish(as in twilight). All adjectives which, in English, are preceded by some qualifying adverb: assomewhat,not very,moderately,as it were, &c., can be rendered into Maori by one, or other, of these three last methods.
The Superlative degree.Maori has no direct form to mark the superlative, but expresses it by various circumlocutions: (a.) by the definite article prefixed, with, or without some word of intensity: e. g., Ko autekaumatua,I am the eldest son; kote tinonohinohirawa tena,that is the least; ko te nui tenei o nga rakaukatoa,this is the largest(lit.thelarge one)of all the trees. (b.) The form for the comparative sometimes necessarily implies the sense of the superlative: e. g., hetinomohio iainga tangata katoa,he is the most wise of all men.
(c.) Following are two other forms for denoting the superlative: e. g., e ngari a Hone e mohio ana; a,waiho ano ia Wiremu te tino mohio,John is better, he understands; but leave the great knowledgewithWilliam; or, whakarerea rawatia i a Wiremu, &c.
Sometimes a great degree of intensity is denoted by a repetition of the adjective, with a peculiarly prolonged sound of the first syllable; e. g., nūi, nui whakaharahara.
The particles prefixed to numbers.
Ko.§ 1. This word will often, withoutte, precedetahi; e. g., tokuko tahi,myself alone; kiako tahi,be one; i. e., pull together. When tahi is used as a substantive, it will generally takete; e. g., kote tahitenei,this is one(of them).
§ 2. The numerals betweenoneand ahundredwill seldom take any article; butrauandmanowill take eitherteorhe; e. g.,herau pea,it is perhaps a hundred; ko tahiterau, ortemano. Sometimes the numerals lower than a 100 will take the articlete, when the substantive is not expressed but understood; e. g., e taea ete tekaute whakanehenehe kite hokorima?can the ten contend with the fifty?
§ 3. The simple numeral is mostly used in counting; e. g., tahi, rua, toru, one, two, three, &c. Often, however, the verbal particlekais used in the same sense; ka tahi, ka rua, &c., it is one, there are two, &c.
§ 4.Ka, prefixed to the numeral, generally denotes thecompletionof a number; e. g.,katoru enei matenga oku i a koe,this is the third time I have been ill treated by you, i. e., this makes up the third, &c.
§ 5.Eis a very frequent prefix of the numbers betweenoneandten. It differs fromkain that it does not so distinctly imply thecompletionof, or thearriving at, a number, and that whereaskawill generally answer to the question, "How many have you counted, made, &c.,ewill be used in reply to "How many are there"? e. g.,ehia ena kete? How many baskets are those? It would not however be generally correct to say,Ehia ena ketekaoti? It should beka hia. Again, ahea koe hoki mai ai?Karua aku wiki.When will you return? in two weeks' time.It should bekiarua nga wiki.
Note.—This distinction, however, does not hold invariably, &c.
§ 6.Kia.—For its usesvide verbal particles.
§ 7.Note.—The particlesiandkuaare occasionally found prefixed to the numerals. (Vide those particles,verbs.)
§ 8.The case and number following the numeral.In most instances, up toone hundred, the numeral will require no possessive case after it; e. g., a, ho mai ana e ratou, e ono nga kete,and they gave six baskets; lit. they were given by them, they were, (or are), six baskets.
§ 9. Beyondone hundred, however, a possessive case is very frequently employed; e. g., ko tahi manoonga tau, one thousand years.
§ 10. When the noun is in the oblique case, the numeral will generallyfollowit; e. g., hei tapiri mo enei ketee wha,as an addition to these four baskets. When it is in the nominative the numeral will most frequently precede; e. g.,e whanga kete,there were four baskets.
§ 11. It will be noticed thattahiis sometimes postfixed to other numerals, and adjectives, without any variation of meaning; e. g., e rimatahi, five, turituritahi,what a noise (you are making).Tahiwill sometimes take a plural after it; ko tahionahoa,one were his companions; i. e., he had one companion.
§ 12. Sometimes, when it is desired emphatically to denote all the individuals, or items contained in acertain number, the number will be repeated; e. g., hokorimahokorima iho,fifty fifty down; i. e., thewholefifty were killed; e wha, wha mai ano,four four to me; bring the whole four. In one instance, (viz., that of rua,) we have the first syllable reduplicated to denoteboth; e. g., e tikaruruaana ano,they are both right.
§ 13. Sometimes, in Waikato, we meet with an ironical use of numerals, corresponding to that in English, "six of one, and half a dozen of the other"; e. g., e whitu waru atu! they are seven eight other; e ngari a Hone, e pai ana—e wha atui a Pita!he is four besides Peter; i. e., he is not better than Peter.
§ 14.On the Ordinals.—The student has seen (page 26) the three ways in which these may be formed.
§ 15. There are, however, some distinctions betweentuaandwhaka, as prefixes, which deserve to be noticed. (1.)Tuais not frequently found prefixed to numerals beyondten. (2.) Occasionally, also, a critical inquirer will, we think, detect a difference in the meaning of the two particles.Tuaseems to denote the place, a thing, &c., occupies in a series or gradation;whaka, a fraction which, being added, makes the integer. Thus, in announcing a text, we might say "Kei te ono o nga upoko, kei tetuawhao nga rarangi,"it is in the sixth chapter and fourth verse. We could not however, say Kei tewhakawha o, &c. Again, a Native will say, Ko tetuahia tenei o nga whakatupuranga ka tae iho ki a koe? Ko te tekau,What number of generations is this that reaches down to you?answer,the tenth. Here the generations are represented as following in a regular succession to the tenth. If the reply were "Ko tewhakatekau tenei," we should understand that it is one, which added to the other nine, willmake it ten—a mode of expression which is sometimes substitutedfor the following, "ko te whakakapi tenei o te tekau,"this is one which fills up the place of the tenth. The word whakapu is often also used either to denote a tally, (or surplus one), or the one which completes the number; heiwhakaputenei mo aku riwai,this is a tally for; (or this completes the full number of) my potatoes.
Note.—In speaking of a tenth, or tithe, of property, we should preferwhakatekautotuatekau; the former being afractionaltenth, the latter anordinal.
§ 1. The personal pronouns follow the verb; e. g., e mea anaahau.
§ 2. They are often also omitted after it; e. g., Ka tukua atu te purahorua, ka tae ki te pa, korerotia atu, Kia mohio i te taua e haere mai nei——na ka te whai e te pa. Na wai i haere, a; ka tae ki nga whakatakoto; ka pau te huaki, ka tangi te patu, ka whati tera, te pa;the messenger is sent(he)arrives at the pa(it)is told(them,)be on(your)guard against the hostile party(which)is approaching, so the pa then pursued.On then(they)proceeded, till(they)came to the ambush, the assault is made, the blow resounds, that flies, the pa. Sometimes, in Waikato, they are redundant; e. g., kei te kai taromana,he is eating bread for himself. Examples however of this construction are not varied or frequent.
In Waikato the personal and possessive pronouns will frequently take the particlengebefore them, but without any variation of meaning.
§ 3. It was observed (page 29) that there is no word in Maori to denote the pronounit. Occasionally, however, that word will be designated byiaand its branches; e. g., waihomanae rapu atu te tahi huarahimona,let it (the axe,) search out a path for itself. This perhaps should be explained by prosopopœia. Sometimes also we hear the following: te paraoarauako te poaka,flour and pork; nga toki ki aratouwhakatoki, nga kakahu ki aratouwhakakakahu,axes by themselves, garments by themselves.
§ 4. Often the singular and dual of the personal pronouns will be employed to denote a whole tribe, or company; e. g.,nakutena, na te Urioteoro,that is mine, the Urioteoro's; i. e., the property of my tribe. Keihea taua?where are we two?i. e., where is our party, ko tamauaki tena, ta te tangata Maori,that is a phrase of us (two) of the New Zealander, i. e., of the New Zealanders.
Note.—This form is often also used when the speaker wishes to propound some remark which would appear harsh if too personal; e. g., he aha keia maua ko Hone,what is with me and John; i. e., oh, never mind John: of what importance is he?
Connected with this is a mode of phrase which we have been surprised to hear questioned by some who claim a high character as Maori scholars.
§ 5. A pronoun in the singular will often be made to refer to a noun in the plural; ko nga tangatatenei,nananga tikaokao,this are persons,hisare the fowls; nga tangatanonate kainga,the menhisis the settlement, i. e., whose is, &c.; nga tangatananai patu,the menhiswas the having struck; i. e., who struck.Tenei matou tenoho atu nei,this is we, whoam sitting towards you.
§ 6. It is a very common thing in Maori to put into the third person a pronoun which has reference to either the first or second; e. g., hei rama aha?tanakoke noa atu,—nana tanarakau,a light for what purpose?—hisstumbling away—hisishisownstick, i. e., "What do I want of light?—I can stumble out my way—I am accustomed to that kind of work;" ko te rangi mahi kai tenei matonatinana,this is the day for procuring food forhisbody; i. e., for ourselves; keitenatangata pea,it rests perhaps with that individual; i. e., with you;tonatangata kaha ko koe,you are his strong man; i. e., what a very strong man youare! (ironically); haere korua, e Hone,rauako Hemi,go you (two) John, they two and James; i. e., go you and James.
This last form is, perhaps, peculiar to the Waikato District.
§ 7. When two or more individuals are connected in English by the conjunctionand, they will very frequently be denoted by the dual or plural, of the personal pronoun of the more worthy person. For example,heandIare denoted bymaua, John and James by Honerauako Hemi, John, James, and Luke, by Hone,ratouko Hemi, ko Ruka.
In this construction the latter noun will be in the nominative, even though the preceding be in an oblique case; e. g., te atawhai o te Atua,raua ko tana tamaiti, ko Ihu Karaiti, the mercy of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Here, thoughAtuais in the possessive case,rauaand tamaiti, and Ihu Karaiti are in the nominative.
This strange, though in Maori very common, mode of construction cannot, we believe, be explained in any other way than by an epanorthosis. (Vide page 114, § 3.)
§ 8. The noun belonging to the pronoun is often omitted, especially in talking of garments; e. g., keihea toku?Where is mine; i. e., my garment. Tikina atu te tahi ki a koe,fetch some for you; i. e., fetch some garment. Ko wai toku?—Who is mine?—i. e., my helper.
§ 9.The relative pronouns.—Following are some of the ways in which the defect of the relative pronoun is supplied in Maori:—(1) Te tangatanananga kakanothe man whose are the seeds; (2) te tangatainga kakano,idem; (3) te tangata i patuneii a Hone, the man (who) struck John;or(4) te tangata i patuaai(by whom, on account of whom),he was beaten; (5) Keihea, he porakahei toi te rakau?Where is there a block (with which) to drag the log?(6) Keihea he haerenga?where is there a place on which (they, the cows) may run?(7) Ko teneitakui mate nuiai,this isminedesired, i. e., this iswhatI wished for; (8) te poaka i patua e koe, thepig(which) was killed by you; (9)kei reirate pakaru,kei reirate paru,you must coat(with raupo)all parts of the house that are broken.
It will be seen in the preceding examples that the most common means by which the want of the relative is supplied are by the preposition, as in example 2; (2) by the particlesnei, &c., andai, as in examples 3 and 4; (3) by the verbal noun, as in examples 5 and 6; (4) by the possessive case withai, as in example 7; (5) by the passive voice, as in example 8. Occasionally, also, the personal pronouns, as in example 1, or the adverbreira, as in example 9, &c., are used for the same purpose.
§ 10.Demonstrative Pronouns.—(1) These, like the primitive pronouns of Hebrew, are often used for the verb of existence; (2) and the time will frequently be denoted by the pronoun used; i. e., Tenei will mostly be used for the present tense; tena, (and most frequently) tera, for the future, or past, and sometimes for the imperative mood; e. g., e haere anateneiahau,thisI am going; i. e., I am going;teneiau,here I am;terae mate,that will die, i. e., he will die;tenataku pu maua mai,that my gun bring here; i. e., bring my gun.
The leading distinctions between tenei, tena, and tera, and also the distinction between them and their resolved forms te—nei, &c., have been mentioned, page 30. Instances, however, are not rare, in which those distinctions seem to be disregarded; and others will occur which it will require some experience and ingenuity to classify; e. g., Iteponeiimplies that it has been already dark for some time; iteneipo may mean The night of this day. In the following, Kei heateawanei? (where is the channel that we are seeking for?) it is clearteneicould not be employed.
(2.) Sometimes onlyneiwill be admitted into connexion with the first person; (i. e., when the speakeris denoted as the person looking at the object spoken of;) andnainto connexion with the second.Rahas for the most part a vague or general application.[37]Thus a person, calling to a settlement, will say, Kahore he tangata i te kainga nei?Is there no one at that settlement?(at which I am looking.) If addressing another who belongs to, or has seen, the settlement, he will say, i te kaingana, (orra)at the settlement which you see there, or to which you belong, &c. Again. Keihea nga kau? where are the cows? Keikonaano,They are there near you. If he had said, Kei ko, we should have understood him to mean, "They are off, away, in that direction;" nakonamai,come by that direct path, in which you are; nakomai,come by that circuitous one away there.
(3.) Nei, &c., in composition will frequently supply the place of the relative; e. g., te taua i muruneii a Hone.
(4.) Sometimes they will imply a conjunction, or will otherwise limit the sentence in which they occur, by implying a connection with a previous sentence or thing. Thus, kahore au i pai, meansI am not willing; kahoreneiahau i pai will mean,the reason was because I was not willing; or,you know I was not, &c., &c. Again, I a koutouetatarianawill denote a mere general remark,while you are waiting, I a koutou e tatarineidenoteswhile you arethuscontinuing to wait; te wahine i whakarerea,the woman who was divorced; te wahine i whakarereanei, (orra),the woman who was divorced under these(orthose)particular circumstances, or,on that particular occasion, &c., &c.
The Interrogative Pronouns.—Waiandahaare often used to add intensity;ma waie noho, e au?that I should remain is for whom?i. e., I won't remain.Ko waihoki ka kite i te hoenga o tenei taua,maua nei?who saw the departure of this hostile party, we two?i. e., we did not at all see this party's departure to fight with you; heiahamawai?For what purpose is it, for whom?i. e., what good at all is that for? kahore i rongo, kahore i aha,he did not attend, he did not what; i. e., he did not at all listen; kahore aku kupu,me he aha, me he aha,I did not utter a word, if a what, if a what; i. e., I did not at all speak; ka hua ahauhe aha,I thought it was a what; i. e., I imagined it was something very important you were going to talk about. Sometimes a personal pronoun will be associated with an interrogative; e. g., kowaihokitauaka kite atu?Who, we two, can see it?i. e., who knows?
[37]Forraas an adverbial particle, vide page 92.
[37]Forraas an adverbial particle, vide page 92.
Of the Verbal Particles.—The consideration of the verbal particles, and of the other means by which a verb is modified in Maori, has been reserved for the Syntax; chiefly because the investigation of those subjects will involve also that of compound propositions, and of other constructions which belong to this part of Grammar.
E(a) is sometimes used for the present, e. g.,enoho mai,he is sitting there close at hand. (b) Most frequently it is joined withnei, &c.; e. g.,eririnei,who is angry with me, &c. (c) It is sometimes used to denote the future; e. g., ko wai maehaere?who willgo? He tokomahaemate,many will die. (d) It is chiefly employed to denote contingency, or some future act on which something else depends; e. g.,Eriri ia,if he be angry;Etae mai a Hone tonoa ake,If John comes here send him after me;Ehau,if there be a wind.
Note.—(1.) In such constructions as the last, it will be found that the latter verb will generally, except when it is in the imperative mood, be in the second person. In the following sentence, for example,Emuri ka puta mai nga kuri ka puhia,henceforward if dogs come here they will be shot,eis wrongly used; puhia being in the third person. To this rule, however, there are exceptions.(2.) There is a difference betweeneandka, as particles of the future;kabeing of much more extensive use; i. e., being usedwith all persons, and in all senses, whether absolute or contingent; vid.ka.(3.) There are, however, some constructions in whicheis always preferred; chiefly, we believe, when the verb is preceded by some word with which it is in connexion; i. e., when it is preceded by the negative adverbkore, and sometimeskahore; e. g., kakoree pai,if he is not willing;kahore etangishe did not at all cry,—by the prepositionma; e. g.,mawaiehanga?who is to build it?—and byno(sometimes),nohea e wera?Whence, i. e.,why should it take fire?—by the pronounsteraandehea; e. g.,tera emate, he will die perhaps, koehea epatua,which are to be killed?—by the noun or pronoun in the possessive case (sometimes); e. g.,taku epai aithat which I like, he aha tau e tohe? what are you importuning about?—bytaihoaandtaria; e. g.,taihoa ehaerewait going; i. e.,don't go for a while.N.B.—For the distinction betweeneandka, when prefixed to numerals; vid., numerals, chap. 17, sec. 5.
Note.—(1.) In such constructions as the last, it will be found that the latter verb will generally, except when it is in the imperative mood, be in the second person. In the following sentence, for example,Emuri ka puta mai nga kuri ka puhia,henceforward if dogs come here they will be shot,eis wrongly used; puhia being in the third person. To this rule, however, there are exceptions.
(2.) There is a difference betweeneandka, as particles of the future;kabeing of much more extensive use; i. e., being usedwith all persons, and in all senses, whether absolute or contingent; vid.ka.
(3.) There are, however, some constructions in whicheis always preferred; chiefly, we believe, when the verb is preceded by some word with which it is in connexion; i. e., when it is preceded by the negative adverbkore, and sometimeskahore; e. g., kakoree pai,if he is not willing;kahore etangishe did not at all cry,—by the prepositionma; e. g.,mawaiehanga?who is to build it?—and byno(sometimes),nohea e wera?Whence, i. e.,why should it take fire?—by the pronounsteraandehea; e. g.,tera emate, he will die perhaps, koehea epatua,which are to be killed?—by the noun or pronoun in the possessive case (sometimes); e. g.,taku epai aithat which I like, he aha tau e tohe? what are you importuning about?—bytaihoaandtaria; e. g.,taihoa ehaerewait going; i. e.,don't go for a while.
N.B.—For the distinction betweeneandka, when prefixed to numerals; vid., numerals, chap. 17, sec. 5.
(e.) Foreas prefixed to the imperative mood, vid. page 40 (c). It is generally omitted in that mood, when the verb is followed byatu,mai,ake,iho,&c.
Anais a particle corresponding, in many particulars, withka. It is most frequently employed, however, in the continuation of a narrative, and does not often except in abrupt and animated discourse, occupy a place in the leading clause of the sentence.
The following examples illustrate this last remark. Ki te kahore e homai, inahaere anaahau, ka riro.If it is not given, certainly going I will depart; ko nga tangata o Taranaki,aia anae matou ki te maunga,the men of Taranaki, driven were they by us to the mountain. It will be seen that the verb preceding in the above clauses gives a larger measure of emphasis than if another word had gone before it. In such animated sentences, as the above, the speaker will generally preferanato any other verbal particle. But another leading use ofanais to denote a continuance of action. The following extract from a translation of the first eight chapters of Genesis, made some years since by the Church Missionaries, will serve as an illustration of this, and our other remarks on thisparticle. We may add that, though we suggest a few trifling alterations in the part quoted, yet, considering the time in which it was made, it is very creditable to the Maori knowledge of the translators.
Ch. 1, v. i. I te orokomeatanga i hanga e te Atua te rangi me te whenua.2. A kihai whai ahua te whenua, i takoto kau; a ngaro ana i te pouri te mata o te hohonu. Haerere ana te Wairua o te Atua ki runga ki te mata o nga wai.3. Mea ana te Atua, Kia marama; a kua marama.4. A kite ana te Atua i te marama, pai ana; wehea ana e te Atua te marama i te pouri.5. A huaina ana e te Atua te marama, hei ao.
Ch. 1, v. i. I te orokomeatanga i hanga e te Atua te rangi me te whenua.
2. A kihai whai ahua te whenua, i takoto kau; a ngaro ana i te pouri te mata o te hohonu. Haerere ana te Wairua o te Atua ki runga ki te mata o nga wai.
3. Mea ana te Atua, Kia marama; a kua marama.
4. A kite ana te Atua i te marama, pai ana; wehea ana e te Atua te marama i te pouri.
5. A huaina ana e te Atua te marama, hei ao.
In the first verseanacan have no place, it would give an unpleasant jerk, as well as the appearance of levity, to a commencement so methodical and dignified. Our translators, therefore, with good taste, employedi; I te timatangaihanga, &c. In the second verse, however, in the clause commencinga ngaro ana, &c., it is very correctly used; because there is a close connection betweenthat clauseand the one preceding. In the third verse it is, we think, injudiciously used, because a new subject is now commenced. We should, therefore, have preferrednakameate Atua. So also in the commencement of the fourth verse,A kite ana te Atuai te marama, pai ana. We should prefer, akakite, &c. Paianais, we think, objectionable. It is too abrupt, and unconnected, and makes thepairefer to theatua, rather than tomarama.Epaiana, perhaps, orhe mea pai, would be preferable.E—anais strictly the sign of the present tense; e. g.,ekaiana,he is eating. Sometimes when it follows a past time its meaning will also be past; as may be seen in our remarks onana(vid. also page 38, and our remarks on compound times).
Kais a particle of very extensive use. It is sometimes employed to denote the present tense; e. g., ka pai,it is good. It is the particle most frequentlyused in historic presents (vid. John iv., 1, 3, and N. T.passim). It is very frequently used to denote future events, and is often employed in hypothetic, or contingent propositions; e. g.,kamate koe i a au;you will be killed by me,kahaere ahaukariri a Hone,ifI go, John will be angry.
Note.—Ka, as a particle of the present, will often differ in meaning frome—ana. For example, ka tere te waka may signifythe canoe will drift, orthat itdrifts;etereana, thatit is drifting.
For the distinctions betweenkaandevid.e. Occasionallykais followed byte. Vid. two examples page 57.
I, a particle of the past time; vid.kua.
(a.) Sometimes, however, it is employed to denote the present; e. g.,koiai ririai,for that cause is he angry?nate aha koeitoheaikia haere,why do you persist in going?Ka tahi ano to hangangaipai,this house (which I am now roofing) is now, for the first time, properly done.
(b.) Sometimesiis employed where contingency is designed; e. g., he aha koa i pono he titaha, he titaha; i pono he hate, he hatewell, it won't signify.If an axe happens to be (my payment) let it so happen(lit. let it be an axe).If a shirt, &c.
Ka whiua to tahi wahi ki tahaki, hei whakahere i tona Atua.Iwhiua ranei ki te wahi tapu ranei;iwhiua ranei ki te wahi noa ranei,he throws a portion to one side as an offering to his God.It may have been thrown(i. e., it matters not whether it is thrown)upon a sacred spot, or upon a spot not sacred.
Kua, the sign of the past tense; e. g.,kuakorero atu ahau ki a ia,I have spoken to him.
(a.) The leading distinction betweenkuaandiis, we believe, thatkuais unlimited (i. e., will not admit of limitation), andilimited in construction; and that the former, when it precedes in the sentence, will beoften found to correspond to the perfect, the latter to the imperfect of English; e. g.,kuakitea te meaikimihia e koe?hasthe thing been found thatwassought for by you?Kuaora koe? Kahore, I ora ano au; a, hoki mai ana te mate;have you recovered? No, I did recover, but the sickness has returned.
N.B.—It would, however, be very incorrect to affirm, as have some good Maori scholars, thatkuaalways corresponds to the perfect, andito the imperfect.
In accordance with the preceding remarks, it may be observed, 1st, thatkuais seldom used when the verb is preceded by thecause,time, or other qualifying circumstance of the action; i. e., when the verb is followed byai. For example, we might saykuapatua,he was killed; but we could not say, te takekuapatuaai,the cause for which he was killed; neither would it be correct to say, koiakuaririaiia,for that cause was he angry. 2dly. It will also, we believe, be found that, in secondary clauses, in which the relative is understood,iobtains a much more general use thankua. For example, in the following sentence,—"enei meakuakorerotia e koutou," we should preferikorerotia. 3dly.Kuawill seldom, when denoting the perfect or imperfect tenses, be found associated with the particleko; e. g., we very seldom hearkoHonekuahaere,it was John who went. In the following sentence, we disapprove of the use of both of these particles:—e pai ana matou ki a ia, no te meakoiakuaatawhai mai ki a matou,we love him, because he was kind to us. We should have preferredmona iatawhai, &c.[38](4.) When a prepositionimmediately precedes,kuawill seldom be employed to denote the tenses; e. g., nonaheaimate ai;Since what time, or,at what time did he die?Nana anoihaere noa mai,he came of himself.
(5.)Kuais never used after the negative adverbs kahore, kihai, and kiano; e. g., kahore ahau i rongo,I have not heard; kianoimate noa,he has not yet died.
(6.) The following, also, are constructions in whichkuawill be found to give place toi:Mekoutou hoki i whakarereito koutou kainga,as ye also left your country;me ikahore koe,if it had not been for you,&c.
In the following constructions, however,kuais prefixed:penei kuaora,in that case he would have lived;ano kuamate,as if he were dead;me temeakuawaruhia,as if it had been planed;Mei kahore koekuamate au,if it had not been for you, I should have died. In the following, however,iis preferred:mei kahore koeiora ai ahau,If it had not been for you, (the cause) why I was saved; i. e., I should have been lost, but for you.
(b.)Kuais sometimes employed where a present would be used in English; e. g.,kuamate,he is dead;kuapo,it is dark, or, is past sunset;kuariro,he is gone.
(c.) In animated narrations of past events,kuais sometimes employed to give variety; e. g., te taenga atu o Hone,kuamau ki te hamanu, e tatua ana, te tino haerenga,so John goes, hehastaken (his) cartouch box, (he) is girding it on; the instant marching.
(d.) Sometimes, also, when the speaker wishes to convey the idea of a certain, and speedy accomplishment, he will (as did the Hebrews) employ the past tense; e. g., E pa, he aha i kaiponuhia ai to waru?kuawhakahokia mai apopo,Father why do you withhold your plane? It willsurelybe returned to you to-morrow; E hoa, reia atu;kuahoki mai koe,Friend, run (and tell them) you will be back (in quite time enough); e noho ana tenei;kuapata iho te ua, e rere ana ki rote ki te whare,we are sitting here, but, immediately as soon as it rains, we run into the house.
(e.) Kua is often prefixed to denote an action which is to take place, or has taken place previous to something else—in which latter use it will sometimes correspond to the pluperfect of English; e. g.,Ia koekuariro,after you had gone. Mo te ara rawa akekuamaoa,that, exactly as he awakes, it may have been cooked; i. e.,it may be cooked against he awakes. Me i nohokuawha na rakau e toia,if I had remained, four logs would have been dragged. Akuanei mau nga riwaikuakainga,presently, the potatoes that have been first eaten will be yours; i. e., your crop will be the soonest ripe. Huatukotenakuangakia,no, but let that be first dug.
Vid. our remarks onko, when associated withkua(note toa) (3).
Note.—The student will see, in the above examples, thatkua, when employed in this sense, will often enter into combinations which would not be admitted under other tenses.
KIA.—This particle has been already considered, as far as it is connected with the imperative mood (vid. page 40). There are, however, other uses of it, which are both varied and important.
(a.) It may, in asking a question, be used for the future; e. g., Kia haere ahau? Ne? Shall I go? shall I?
(b.) It may, also, be found where an hypothetic statement is made, or an expectation, or other reference to some future event, is implied—a use in which it will sometimes be found to correspond to the second future indicative and perfect potential of English; e. g., E noho ki konei;kiahoki mai ra ano ahau,stop here until I shall have returned;Kiatitiro atu matou, ka patua to matou hoa, hei reira ka whakatika atu matou,let us have seen(i. e., if we had but seen)him strike our friend, we should then have risen; me nohokiaora, ka haere,you had better remain, and when you are well, depart; e hoe katoa ana ratou,kiaoti te waka o Nini,they are all going when Nini's canoe is finished; I raro ahau e whakarongo mai ana,kia mate, kiamate; a ka ora noa ano,I was at the northward waiting for news from here of his death; but he has recovered.
(c.) Often, when intensity ofnegation,doubt,&c., is intended, it will be used instead of the proper particles of the present, past, and future; e. g., hore rawakiatika,by no means is it correct; kahorekiakotahi,not even one; Ko aukiamate, ko iakiaora?must I (by feeding this pig) starve, while he has food?Kahore anokiahaere noa!not yet gone!
(2.) It is often found, also, in exclamations of wonder; e. g.,Kianui!How large!
(3.) In the same sense, also, it is used where an infinitive would be employed in the learned languages; particularly wherecontempt,disregard, &c., are denoted; e. g., Kia whakarongo atu ahau ki o korerohei aha? why should I listen to your talk? lit.that I should listen to your talk is for what?Kiaho atu taku poaka mo tena!that I should give my pig for that!i. e., I will not give it.
(d.)Kiais frequently employed to denote the infinitive; e. g., haerekiakite,go to see.
(e.) It will also be employed when the latter verb is an amplification of the meaning of a preceding one; e. g., ahea hanga ai tou whare,kia oti?When will your house be built, that it may be finished?Te tangata e whiuwhiu ana i ana tikaokao,kia wawe te mate!The man who is pelting his fowls that they may be soon dead!Tanutanu rawakiangaro,bury, bury deep, that it may be concealed; (a song.) Whiua,kiamamae,beat it that it may be pained; na koutouiaki maikiatata,it was you who pressed forward so as to be near.
Note.—There is a distinction betweenkiaandki te, when prefixed to a verb in the infinitive, which should be noticed.Kiais very seldom prefixed to a verb in the active voice,—ki tealmost always; e. g., Haereki teto i te waka. We could not saykia to.
(2.)Kiais almost always prefixed to the passive verb;ki tevery seldom; e. g., Tikina atukiatirohia isfetch it to be seen. Tikina atuki tetitiro isfetch him to look at it. The following sentence is erroneous:—arahinaki tepatu, led to be killed. It should bekiapatua, or e arahina e patua ana.
Sometimes, before neuter verbs, eitherkiaorki tewill be employed; e. g., I mea ahau kia, (or ki te) haere.
Kia will most frequently be used when the former of the two verbs is in the passive voice. Verbs following adjectives, by whichability,habit,&c., are denoted, will takeki te; e. g., uauaki temahi,strong to work; e kinoki tetahae,is displeased at thieving.
Between the uses ofkiaandki tethere may be often a very material difference; e. g., e riri anaki teata nohomeansthat he is angry at the stopping quiet,—i. e., that he wishes for war; e riri anakiaata noho, means thathe is repressing (them) that they may stop quiet; ka tohe ki a mauakiawaru i te kai i te ra tapu,they pressed us to scrape food on the Sunday. If it had been, Ka tohe kitewaru, &c., the speaker would have impliedthat they(the persons toheing)persisted in scraping, &c.
Some foreigners seem remarkably careless in the use of this particle. We subjoin a few instances in which it has been omitted, or introduced erroneously. Ko tana hangakiakorero,his custom was to speak, &c.; it should be,hekorero. E kore ahau e aheikiamea atu; it should be, aheitemea atu. Ko te aroha e whakahauhau ana i te tangataheimahi; it should be,ki temahi. Whakatikaheipatu; it should be, whakatikaki tepatu, or whakatika atu,patua.
It may be here observed that (1) some verbs have a partiality for certain particles; e. g., huanoaahau, or,kahua ahau,I thought; e koreeaheitepatu. (2.) Some verbs very rarely take any verbal particle into connexion with them. Of this sort are heoi, or heoti, kati, taihoa, penei (in that case), and, sometimes, rokohanga, or rokohina.
(3.) Many constructions will be met with in which the verbal particle is omitted. (a.) A common adverb of quantity or quality following the verb will often cause the verbal particle to be dispensed with. (b.) It is also omitted in constructions like the following:—meakehaere; whano mate; kei te ata haere ai; taihoa maua haere atu; &c. (c.) In animated discourse, the common verb will sometimes be used without any kind of auxiliary; e. g., kaiponu noa ia, kaiponu noa,tangohiae au.Withhold it, withhold it as he might, yet I took it away.
AI.—The Aborigines sometimes appear to vary in their use of this particle; some introducing it intosentences in which others would omit it. These instances, however, may, we believe, be reduced to one class:—viz., to that in whichaiis used in connexion withkia.
Whenkiais prefixed to a verb which is merely an explanation, or some other enlargement of the meaning of a preceding one, it will seldom takeaiafter it; as may be seen in our examples ofkia, (rulesdande). But when theintention,cause,&c., are to be specifically denoted, thenaiwill be used. Thus, in the following sentence, haere kia kite,go to see,kiteis a plainly natural effect ofhaere, andai, therefore, is omitted. If, however, some unusual act is to be done that he might see, thenai, most probably, would be employed; thus, e piki ki runga ki te rakau kia kiteaikoe,climb up the treethatyoumaysee. The distinction is the same as that between the two following in English:—goandsee;climbthatyou may see. Again, in the last example of kia (rulee), na koutou i aki mai kia tata, "nearness" is a natural effect of "pressing forward," even though they had no specific intention of being near:ai, therefore, is not used. If, however, the speaker wished to sayye pressed forwardthatI might be angry, he would employai; kia ririaiahau; because here we have two acts, not necessarily connected, and one specifically performed to produce the other.
The following are a few out of the many instances that might be adduced of the erroneous introduction, and erroneous omission, of this particle:—e kore koe e pohehe me ratou,kiaroaaitaku korerotanga,you are not ignorant (as they are), that I should be long explaining it to you; it should be,e roa ai. As it stands it means,you will not make yourself "pohehe," in order that, &c. Aua e whakaara ake i tetahi rakaukiatuai,erect not any stick that it may stand; it should be rakau,tu ai. Kihai itonoa kia uiaaimatou,he was not sent to question us; it should be,ki teui i a matou. Ko nga mutunga o ia waiata, o ia waiata, kia whakahuatiaaitenei waiata,at the end of each song let this chant be repeated. As this stands, its meaning is,in order that this chant may be repeated; it should be,kiawhakahuatia tenei, &c., orkawhakahuaai. Ka puta te kupu o Honekiahaere atuairatou, when John speaks, let them proceed; it should be, me haere, &c., or ka haere. A wrong use of this particle may often seriously misrepresent the meaning of the speaker. For example, if we were to say, e inoi ana ahaukiamuruaaioku hara, we should mean,I pray that (in consideration of my prayer) my sins may be forgiven. Prayer, here, is made the immediate and effective means by which this end is obtained. If a Native were to say, "E inoi ana ahau kia homaiaitetahi paraikete," absurd as would be the remark, it would mean that the blanket is to be given to him, not as a favor, or as due on other grounds, but simply as arewardforhis asking. The Bible tells us of another consideration, by which pardon is obtained, and prayer answered; and, therefore, in such passages as the above, we must carefully abstain fromai. Koia nga tamariki a Hone i haere tahi me ratou; it should be, i haere tahiai. E kore ia e poka ke i tana i mea; it should be, i meaai; te tangataiheai, the man who had committed the offence. In Waikato this will mean,the man through whom they had erred; it should have been,te tangata nona te he.
(a.)Whaka.—The leading property of this particle iscausative; e. g.,tuisto stand, whakatu isto cause to stand(vid. etiam, page 50, under pai, kau, and kakahu, and Syntax of Numbers, under Ordinals).