Part 2

An batà nagbahása han surát ni Pedro (the boy reads Peter’s letter). Hirá Carlos ng̃an hi Juan naghátag (Charles and John gave flowers canda Tomás ng̃an hi Pedro hin mg̃a to Thomas and Peter). bucád

The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, the genitive, dative, accusative and ablative cases.

RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.

2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:

An nagtótoon, nahabábaro (He, who studies, learns). An mg̃a nagtututdò ha aton (They who teach us.)

3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”; hi is needed, and it must be: “hi Pedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).

EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:

An iní ng̃a baláy (this house), or an maopay ng̃a batà (the good boy or girl).

The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:

an batà ng̃a maopay.

2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:

Mariano, cadí dao (Mariano, come, please). Pamatì, Juan (listen, John).

3. In the objective case of hi, can is used before the verb, and ni after the verb. Examples:

An can Juan guinsurát (what John wrote) An guinsurát ni Juan (what John wrote)

N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not say

in batà nacánhi cacolop; but usá ng̃a batà nacánhi cacolóp.

This phrase usá ng̃a is not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefinite in and the phrase usá ng̃a may be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:

Nacánhi cacolóp in usá ng̃a bata (a boy came yesterday).

NOUNS

These are substantive and adjective. Both may be grouped in the following classes: primitive, diminutive, figurative, verbal, compound, derivative, proper, common, positive, comparative, superlative, cardinal, ordinal, partitive, distributive and collective. Nothing particular needs be said about the primitive.

DIMINUTIVE

Examples:

PRIMITIVE DIMINUTIVE

baláy (house) balaybálay saróual (trousers) sarouálay carahà (frying-pan) caraháay balóto (little boat) balotóhay

As is seen, the diminutive is formed by the repetition of the primitive or by adding to the latter the affix ay or hay.

The primitive is repeated when it has not more than two syllables. As,

from

dáhon (leave), dahondáhon, cáhoy (tree), cahoycáhoy.

The affix ay or hay is added when the primitive has more than two syllables; ay being used in cases where the noun ends with a consonant, or a vowel with a grave or angular accent; and hay being employed when the primitive ends with a vowel otherwise accented or non-accented or a vowel that is pronounced separately from the consonant preceding it, or is preceded by more than one consonant. As,

from

sacayán (boat), sacayánay, habobò (low), habobóay, balicô (crooked), balicóay, [11]

abacá (hemp), abacáhay, babaye (woman), babayéhay, banat-i (a tree so called), banat-ihay, malacsi (fast), malacsihay.

But the dissyllabic primitive is not repeated when its first vowel is followed by more than one consonant, or when the last vowel has an acute accent or is pronounced separately from the consonant preceding it. In such cases the affix ay or hay is employed, the rules established for the use of these affixes being applicable to such diminutives. As,

from

támsi (bird), tamsíhay, not tamsitamsi, túl-an (bone), tul-ánay, not tul-antul-an, pulá (red color), puláhay, not pulapula, [12] sagpò (plug), sagpóay, not sagposagpò, sab-a (a kind of banana), sab-áhay, not sab-asab-a, bungto (town), bungtóhay not bungtobungto.

Generally, as it has been observed in the preceding examples, the adjectives follow the same rules. As,

from

matám-is (sweet), matam-isay, malomó (soft), malomóhay, halípot (short), halipótay.

But in must of the adjectives formed with ma (a particle bearing the idea of abundance) and ha [13] (a particle that bears the idea of place), like maopay, mabusag, mapulá, hatáas, halabà, the prefixes ma or ha are disregarded in the formation of their diminutives, their abstract roots being the only elements taken into consideration, as if such adjectives were dyssillabic. Thus, opay, busag, pulá, táas, lubà, being the abstract roots of the last mentioned adjectives, their diminutives will be:

from

maópay (good), maopay-ópay mabuság (white), mabusagbúsag mapulá (red), mapulapulá hatáas (high), hataastáas halabà (long), halabalabà [14]

There are some adjectives that have irregular diminutives. Such are the following:

DIMINUTIVE from REGULAR IRREGULAR dacò (large), dacòdacò dacolaay [15] gutì (small) gutigutì gutirurù [16]

FIGURATIVE

We call those nouns figurative that are applied to the objects which, not being of the same nature as that which is expressed by their roots, show nevertheless analogy or similarity with those represented by the corresponding primitive, in their meaning, form, use, or application.

Examples:

from

bobón (fountain), mobonbóbon [17] (fontanel); cabáyo (horse), carocabáyo, (objects that are like a horse or cloud). dámpog (cloud), darodámpog,

When the primitive has not more than two syllables, the formation of its figurative follows the same rules as those for the dissyllabic diminutive. As,

from

hadì (king), we have hadihadi (a person who, by his vanity or harshness, resembles the figure of a king).

But when thy primitive has more than two syllables, or its last vowel is preceded by more than one consonant or is pronounced separately from the consonant—preceding it, its figurative is formed by adding to the root a prefix composed of its first syllable if it begins with a consonant or of its first vowel if it begins with a vowel and the syllable ro (a particle that bears the idea of imitation, repetition, or collection). As,

from

sacayán (boat), sarosacáyan ulalahípan (centipede), uroulalahipan isdà (fish), iroisdà can’on (cooked rice) carocan’on [18]

NOTE.—Many of the figurative nouns have the same forms as the collective. There are few figuratives among the adjectives; of these, those having the form of figuratives are really comparatives. [19]

VERBAL

These are formed from the verb-root transformed by particles referring to the agents or the objects of the roots.

Examples:

from

sáyau (to dance)

parasayáu (dancer), tigsayáu (person who sometimes dances), magsarayáu (person appointed to dance) sarayauán [20] (place designed for dancing). sarayauón (dance or musical piece to be danced) [21];

from

umá (to farm)

paraúma (farmer), tig-úma (person used to do farming), mag-urúma (person in charge of farming), urumáhan, contracted urúmhan (place designed for farming), urumáhon, contracted urúmhon (ground or plant to be cultivated);

from

surat (to write), the similar verbals as above, so far as the idea of the root and the use permit, with this variant:

susurátan, not sururátan, susuráton, not sururáton;

from

toóc (to weep), the similar verbals, so far as the root and the use permit, and this besides:

matóoc (weeper);

from

bóong̃ (to break), the similar verbals, and this:

maboroóng̃ (liable or expected to be broken);

from

inóm (to drink), the similar verbals, and the following:

mainominóm (an inviting drink);

from

sosón (to correct), the similar verbals, and this:

hinóson (person fond of or bold in correcting);

from

útang̃ (to borrow),

hing̃útang̃ or hing̃ung̃utáng̃ [22] (person fond of or bold in borrowing).

It may be observed that not all of the verb-roots produce the same number of verbal nouns. It depends on the particular character of every idea conveyed in the root, and mainly on the use.

From the preceding examples, it is seen that the transformative particles of the verbal nouns are various, the said particles being the prefixes para, tig, mag, ma, hi, the interfixes [23] r, ro, um or the affixes an, on. These particles are very important in Bisayan as they greatly help to enrich the limited vocabulary of this tongue.

For the sake of clearness, we shall see first the affixes.

AN, ON.

These particles refer to the complement of the verb-root, an to the indirect object of the action (generally regarding the place where the act occurs), and on to the direct object (generally referring to the termination of the action).

An or on is used when the root ends with a consonant or a vowel with a grave or angular accent.

An h preceds them when the roots ends with a vowel otherwise accented or non-accented, or pronounced separately from the preceding consonant or consonants.

The particle an or han is simply added to the root, as,

from

catúrog (to sleep), caturogán (sleeping place); sing̃ba (to adore), sing̃báhan (church); taclob (to cover), taclóban [24] (covering place); tan-ao (to see at a distance), tan-aoan [25] (watching place);

or is employed either with the interfix r combined with the first vowel of the root or with the first consonant and vowel of the root instead, as

from

cáon (to eat) caraonán

from

tíroc (to assembly) titiroeán (meeting place);

or with its first vowel if the root commences with a vowel, as

from

aro (to ask) aaroán (place designed for asking).

The particle on has the same use as an, as

caturogón, siringbahon, lilibácon (from libác, to backbite), aaroon.

NOTE.—The affix an is sometimes doubled, as,

from

lohód (to kneel down), lodhanán [26]

from

tambò (to lock out), tamboànan, from tambóan (window).

PARA, TIG.

Para bears the idea of habit, custom or occupation. Tig conveys the idea of a repeated, but not frequent, act.

They are simply prefixed to the root without any other complementary particle, as,

from

cánhi (to come).

paracánhi, tigcánhi.

MA, WITH ON, WITH RO, OR WITH R.

The particle ma conveys the idea of fondness, desirableness, or passive potentiality or possibility.

When, it means fondness, it is employed either by putting it at the beginning of the root without any other particle, as

from

cáon (to eat), macáon (glutton),

or by combining it with the affix on or hon, according to the case, as

from

catúrog (to sleep), macaturogón (sleepy head),

from

arába (to moan), maarabahón (person fond of moaning).

When the prefix ma, bears the idea of desirableness, it is placed before the doubled root, when the root has not more than two syllables and its last vowel is preceded by not more than two consonants or is not pronounced separately from its preceding consonant or consonants, as

from

cáon, macaoncaón (thing inviting to be eaten) [27]

from

oná (to commence), maonaoná (provocative, quarrelsome),

and in cases where the root has more than two syllables, or if not, where its last vowel is preceded by more than two consonants or is pronounced separately from the consonant or consonants preceding it, then this prefix is employed in combination with the interfix ro preceded by the first consonant and vowel of the root or by the vowel only if the root begins with a vowel, as

from catúrog, macarocaturóg, ,, bányac, (to kick), maharobányac, ,, síd-ap, (to look at), masirosíd-ap, ,, arába, maaroarabá, ,, ígham, (to grunt), mairoígham, ,, ós-og (to draw near from afar), maoroós-og.

When the particle ma conveys the idea of passive potentiality or possibility, it is used with the interfix r combined with the first vowel of the root. The r with its complementary vowel is put after the first syllable of the root. As,

from bóong (to break), maboroóng (brittle) ,, abót (to reach), maarábot (attainable).

The particle ma is frequently replaced by the prefix ig or i combined with the interfix r or its substitutes, as

from tambal (to cure), igtarámbal or (medicine), itárambal ,, surat (to write), isusúrat (thing to write with).

MAG AND THE R.

The prefix mag bears the idea of forcible, necessary, or continuous agency. It is employed with the interfix r combined with and before the first vowel of the root. This combination is placed between the first and the second syllable of the root. But when there is an r in the root, the interfix r is replaced by the first consonant of the said root. If the root begins with a vowel, the interfix r is sometimes suppressed, the said first vowel being used instead of the interfix. As,

from sódoy (to stroll magsotodóy (one who strolls about), about) ,, bilíng̃ (to seek or magbiríling̃ (searcher), search), ,, siríng̃ (to request), magsisíring̃, (petitioner), not magsiríring̃, ,, ósoc (to set up), mag-orosóc (person designed to set up), ,, arót (to cut the mag-aárot (barber). hair),

The particle mag is frequently contracted into ma, in which case the root is considered as having an r, as

from suláy (to tempt), manunúlay (tempter), ,, tábang̃ (to assist), mananábang̃ (helper).

HI

This particle conveys the idea of boldness. When the root begins with a labial consonant, except the m, the said consonant is transformed into m, as

from bása (to read), himása (person bold in reading), ,, pitíc (to leap), himític (person bold in leaping).

When the root begins with an m, the prefix hi is not commonly used but the prefix para ma, or tig, as

from múlay (to teach), para-, ma-, or tigmulay, not himúlay, ,, mogó (to observe), para-, ma-, or tigmógo, not himógo.

When the root begins with a vowel, ng̃ is [28] appended to the prefix; ng̃ is also appended when the root begins with a guttural consonant, but then the said consonant is suppressed. As,

from ásoy (to refer), hing̃ásoy (garrolous), ,, cáon (to eat) hingáon (bold in eating), ,, gúbat (to invade), hing̃úbat (bold in invading).

When the root commences with the nasal consonant ng̃, the prefix hi is ordinarily replaced by the prefix para, ma, or tig, or the first syllable of the root is made long, as

from ng̃isi (to laugh, para-, ma, or (person fond of showing the tig̃ngisi, or grinning). teeth), ñgisi

When the root begins with any other consonant, except l, n, r, the said consonant is suppressed and the letter n is appended to the prefix, as

from dolóng, (to struggle), hinólong (bold in struggling), ,, sosón (to correct), hinóson (bold in correcting), ,, tápod (to confide), hinápod [29] (bold in confiding)

In all of these cases, the syllable following the prefix hi is sometimes doubled, according to the use, as,

from himític, himimític, ,, hing̃ásoy, hing̃ang̃asóy, ,, hinóson, hinonoson, [30] etc.

UM.

This particle bears the idea of option. It is used among the verbs for the subjunctive mode. It is always combined with the interfix r or its substitutes, and is placed between the first consonant and the first vowel of the root. When the root begins with a vowel, the interfix is placed immediately before the vowel. Examples:

from cáon (to eat), cumaraón (person going to, or expected to, eat),

,, abót (to arrive), umarábot (person expected to arrive), ,, arò (to ask), umaarô (person expected to ask).

Some roots without r follow the rule as if they had an r, as,

from sacá (to go up, to board), sumasáca (boarder).

Observations: 1. There are verbals formed with ma combined with the interfix r or its substitutes. This formation takes place only in the intransitive verbs commencing with the particle ca which then conveys the idea of passivity. As,

from caauód (to be ashamed), macaaráuod (shameful), ,, cabórong̃ (to be confused), macabobórong̃ (confusing), ,, casína (to be angry), macasisína (odious).

2. The infinitives of the verbs, which are always preceded by the particle pag, are frequently employed as substantives. In such cases the particle pag is transformed in the plural, its g being then replaced by the letter ng̃ if the root begins with a vowel or a guttural consonant, except g, or by the consonant n when the root commences with a dental consonant, or by the m if it begins with a labial. In the plural, the roots commencing with a consonant lose said consonant. When the root begins with a nasal or with the guttural g, said consonant is preserved and the g of pag is replaced by n. Examples:

from arò (to ask), cáon (to eat), dáop (to approach) bása (to read), ng̃oyng̃oy (to groan), gábot (to, pull), we have:

SINGULAR PLURAL

pag-arò (asking) pang̃arò, pagcáon (eating) pang̃áon, pagdáop (approaching) panáop, pagbása (reading) pamása, pagngoyngoy (groaning) panngóyagoy, paggábot (pulling) pangábot,

3. The infinitives of roots commencing with the particle ca are also used as substantives, and then with or without the prefix pag.

from cabido (to be sorry), pagcabídò, cabídò, (sorrow).

In such cases, the affix an or on is sometimes employed, as

from casáquit (to be sad), casaquítan (sadness), ,, casína (to be angry), casinahón (anger).

COMPOUND

The use gives the following:

from solód (to enter) and sólodbálay, which means the person who baláy (house), thru his intimacy with the occupant of a house, enters in at any time; from sacá (to go up) and sacálúsad, applied to the person who is lúsad (to go down), very busy or who suffers a great misfortune and goes up and down the house repeatedly. It is also applied to boys or girls who go out the house frequently, especially without permission of their parents; from dosô (to push) and dosô-bótong, [31] applied to a person bótong (to pull), who takes determinations that are contradictory; from cábcab (to scratch) and cábcabtocâ, applied to persons who have tocâ (what a bird does when to expend for their subsistence all it picks up or bites that they gain by their work; something with its beak), from di, contraction of dirì diabotóncalóton, applied to that part (not), abotón, from abót (to of the human back, which our hands reach), and calóton, from cannot reach to scratch when it itches; cálot (to scratch),

from tábag (help), ha, a tabaghaamong̃-ámong̃, applied to those preposition for the objective who maliciously pretend to help a case, among̃ámong̃ (to person in trouble, but injure him. Etc. malign);

DERIVATIVE

We consider under this heading the nouns derived from other nouns. Those originated from a verb are already treated as verbals. Most of the derivatives are adjectives.

The derivatives, like the verbal, are formed with particles, prefixes, interfixes, and affixes.

The usual particles are ca, ma, maca, mag, maqui, hi, pala, tag, as prefixes; r, in as interfixes; and an, on as affixes. As,

from pauà (light), capanà (clearness) ,, áram (wisdom), maáram (wise) ,, bayáu (brother in mabaráyau (brother-in-law-to-be) law), ,, bidò (sorrow), macabibidò (sorrowful) ,, isdà (fish), maquiisdà (fond of fish) ,, púsod (navel), himósod (payment for attending to the navel of a new-born child) ,, bugtò (brother or magbugtò (referring to two sister), persons who are brothers or sisters) [32] ,, bisaya (bisayan), binisaya (bisayan tongue) ,, salâ (fault or saláan (guilty) guilt), ,, búuà [33] (lie), buuáon (liar).

Ca bears the idea of quality, and is used alone or in combination with the affix an. As

from hatáas (high), cahatáas (height), ,, dáot (bad), caraótan, carát’an (badness). ,, pauà (light), capauà (clearness).

It is sometimes combined with the interfix in and the joined affix anon, as

from masúgot (obedient), camasinug’tánon (obedience).

Ma conveys the idea of abundance and future condition. In the first case, it is added at the beginning of the primitive, which is the form of great many adjectives, as,

from ísog (courage, rage), maísog (courageous);

and when it means future condition, it is used with the interfix r combined with the first vowel of the primitive, as,

from asáua (wife), maarasauá (woman betrothed)

The particle ma is frequently combined with the interfix in and the affix on or ánon. In plural, the ma is appended with g. As

from túman (performance), matinumánon (faultless) plural, magtinumánon ,, sugót (obedience), masinug’tánon (obedient)

It is also used without any affix, and then the primitive is doubled as from tubâ (a wine) matubatubâ (person or thing that smells as tubâ).