THE NOUN.
85
instead of saying michi ku goro, “I possess a father,” one says, en otta michi an, “to me there is a father,” the word “father” is no longer a possessed object, but a subject who indicates his possessor. Compare the Russian, French, and Latin constructions: У нею́ оте́цъ есть; tibi est pater, mihi est uxor; and ce livre est a moi, and so on.
| Dat: | by otta or orun. As:—Satporo orun karapa, “I am going to Sapporo.” Seta otta tore, “give it to the dog.” |
| Abla: | by orowa and orowa no. Thus: Habo orowa no, “from mother”; Michi orowa, “from father”; Moruran orowa ku ek na, “I have come from Moruran.” |
| Instru: | by ani or ari. As: Op ani chep raige, “he killed a fish with a spear”; makiri ari koro ashikipet tuye, “to cut one’s finger with a knife.” |
There are certain prepositional particles such as e, o, ko, (each in its turn always retaining its own special definite root-meaning—for in the Ainu language there are no expletives) which in a way, may be regarded as indicating case. Thus:
Pishne, “the sea-shore,” epishne, “to the sea-shore.” Pishne, “the sea-shore,” opishne, “from the sea-shore.” Kira, “to run away,” kokira, “to flee to.” Kira, “to run away,” ekira, “to run away with.”
When, addressing relations the words po and tonoge and nishpake are sometimes heard used in a complimentary or carressing way. Thus:—
| (1) | Ak-po, “dear younger brother.” Turesh-po, “dear sister (younger).” |
| (2) | Aak-tonoge, “my dear younger brother.” Apoho-tonoge, “my dear child.” Anish-tonoge, “my dear master.” Ayupo-tonoge, “my dear elder brother.” Aturesh-tonoge, “my dear younger sister.” Asaha-tonoge, “my dear elder sister.” Amichi-tonoge, “my dear father.” |
