The Arawack Language of Guiana in its Linguistic and Ethnological Relations. Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison) Brinton

ba, la, ta, wa, ha, na. The latter are used chiefly where the negative prefix m, ma or maya is employed. Examples:

hallikebben, to rejoice

      hallikebbéde, I rejoice.

      hallikebbébu, thou rejoicest.

      hallikebbéi, he rejoices.

      hallikebbên, she rejoices.

      hallikebbéu, we rejoice.

      hallikebbéhü, you rejoice.

      hallikebbéje, they rejoice.

majauquan, to remain

      majáuquada, I remain.

      majáuquaba, thou remainest.

      majáuquala, he remains.

      majáuquata, she remains.

      majáuquawa, we remain.

      majáuquaha, you remain.

      majáuquana, they remain.

      Moods and Tenses. Their verbs have four moods, the indicative, optative, imperative, and infinitive, and five tenses, one present, three preterites, and one future. The rules of their formation are simple. By changing the termination of the infinitive into a, we have the indicative present, into bi the first preterite, into buna the second preterite, into kuba the third preterite, and into pa the future. The conjugations are six in number, and many of the verbs are irregular. The following verb of the first conjugation illustrates the general rules for conjugation:

      ayahaddin, to walk.

Indicative Mood

      Present tense:

      dayahadda, I walk.

      bujahadda, thou walkest.

      lujahadda, he walks.

      tüjahadda, she walks.

      wayahádda, we walk.

      hujahádda, you walk.

      nayuhádda, they walk.

      First preterite – of to-day:

      dayaháddibi, I walked to-day.

      bujaháddibi, thou walked to-day.

      lijaháddibi, he walked to-day.

      tujaháddibi, she walked to-day.

      wayaháddibi, we walked to-day.

      hujaháddibi, you walked to-day.

      nayaháddibi, they walked to-day.

      Second preterite – of yesterday or the day before.

      dayahaddibüna, I walked yesterday or the day before.

      bujaháddibüna, thou walked yesterday or the day before.

      lijaháddibuna, he walked yesterday or the day before.

      tujaháddibüna, she walked yesterday or the day before.

      wayaháddibüna, we walked yesterday or the day before.

      hujaháddibüna, you walked yesterday or the day before.

      nayaháddibüna, they walked yesterday or the day before.

      Third preterite – at some indefinite past time:

      dayaháddakuba, I walked.

      bujaháddakuba, thou walked.

      lijaháddakuba, he walked.

      tujaháddakuba, she walked.

      wayaháddakuka, we walked.

      hujaháddakuba, you walked.

      nayaháddakuba, they walked.

      Future:

      dayaháddipa, I shall walk.

      bujaháddipa, thou wilt walk.

      lijaháddipa, he will walk.

      tujaháddipa, she will walk.

      wayaháddipa, we shall walk.

      hujahaddipa, you will walk.

      nayahaddipa, they will walk.

Optative Mood

      Present:

      1

      Since reading this article before the Society, Prof. S. S. Haldeman has shown me a copy of a work with the title: “Die Geschichte von der Marterwoche, Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesu Christi. Uebersetzt in die Aruwackische Sprache und erklärend umschrieben. Philadelphia: Gedruckt bey Carl List, 1799,” 8vo. pages 213

1

Since reading this article before the Society, Prof. S. S. Haldeman has shown me a copy of a work with the title: “Die Geschichte von der Marterwoche, Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesu Christi. Uebersetzt in die Aruwackische Sprache und erklärend umschrieben. Philadelphia: Gedruckt bey Carl List, 1799,” 8vo. pages 213, then one blank leaf, then 40 pages of “Anmerkungen.” There is also a second title, in Arawack, and neither title page is included in the pagination. The Arawack title begins: “Wadaijahun Wüüssada-goanti, Wappussida-goanti baddia Jesus Christus,” etc. The remarks at the end are chiefly grammatical and critical, and contain many valuable hints to the student of the language. I have no doubt this book is the Life of Christ mentioned in the text. The name of the translator or editor is nowhere mentioned, but I have no doubt Mr. Schultz wrote the “Anmerkungen,” and read the proof, as not only are his grammatical signs and orthography adopted throughout, but also we know from other sources that he was in Philadelphia at that time.

2

Brett, The Indian Tribes of Guiana, p. 117 (London, 1868).

3

Etudes Philologiques sur quelquee Langues Sauvages de l’Amerique, p. 87 (Montreal, 1866).