The Pronouns are divided into Personal, Possessive, Relative, Indefinite and Interrogative. What are generally termed “Demonstrative Pronouns” will be found under the Adjective Chapter VI.
The personal pronouns are as follows, their forms differing according to the context.
THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR.
K, Ku, Kuani, Kani, Anokai and Chokai, “I.”
(a.) K, is particularly used with verbs commencing with a vowel as:—
Kek, “I come.” Koira, “I forget.”
(b.) Ku, is probably the original word whence K is contracted. It is better to use Ku than K, for the contraction K is not always understood whereas Ku is known all over Yezo.
(c.) Kuani may be derived thus; Ku. “I;” an, “to be;” i a substantivising particle. Kuani and ku are sometimes used together in a sentence; as for instance:—
| Kuani ku nukara, Moi je vois, |
“I see.” |
(d.) Kani is a simple contraction of ku-ani, and is now considered by some to be a somewhat impolite mode of speech.
(e.) Anokai may be derived from an “to be,” and okai, a plural form of an. It is supposed to be only used by superiors to inferiors when speaking of oneself.
