A HAND BOOK oF ONGE LANGUAGE D. DASGUPTA S.R. SHARMA ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY OP INDIA GOVERNMENT oF INDIA 27, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ROAD CALCUTTA-700 016Linguistic Series No, 5 Published by Director Anthronoloateat Survey of Ind Government ot tout 21 Jawaharlal None Rose Caleutta-700 016 Published ix march, 1952 Printed by Mis. The Retixice Printing Works 210%, Old Ching Bazar Strom stcuta-i00001 lon from the Dirceton "Antihopolog cr wn 289 ortin of hl poppe aduicedt amt oe the Without the expiecar ber Survey of Tndiar occa SUNIL be FeACKNOWLEDGEMENT DEN. C. Chowdnury, Deputy Director, Anthropologi- eal Survey of India, initiated the Project on the Hand Book of the Onge tanguage, Shri 7. N. Pandit, Officer-in Ghatge, Andaman and Nicobar Region, Anthropological Survey of India, took special interest in this project ana Made all Possible arrangements to facilliate the work, ‘The Andaman & Nicobar administration and the officers Posted in Little Andaman extended their holp end oo. gbsration in every possible way during the field work Shri D.K. Bose, Assistant Anthropologist, did extensive field work onthe Onge; he was with us in connection with his own project; he rendered immense holp and Provided us with valuable anthropological information Shei B.C. Roy, Assistant Anthropologist, who did subs- {antial exploratory field work om the Onge in tho fifties, Provided us useful information on the Onge, prior to ou, Feld wtp. We express our gratitude to all of then, We are also thankful to Shri §. K, Sharma, Research Associate (Publication) and Shri s. R. Barua, Publication Clerk-cum-Proof Reader of the Printing and Publication Seetion of Anthropotogivel Survey of India for going through the press. D, DasguptaCONTENTS Acknowledgement Ivtronverioy Ctturrm 1+ Srecu Sounps or Oxct Gtiprea 2: Sow Invouravt Fearnes oF Over Wonw Fomsextros: Oxce Vocanonany® Bionosnapny Page iti 10 198 “Semo of the tems enisted in the vocabulary are abort sentences,INTRODUCTION Tae Handbook of the Onge language has been pre- Pared primarily on the basis of the published languago ‘material (Radelife-Brown, 1814, Nigam, 1955-56, Ganguly, 1961) with a view to providing the non-linguists with some basic working knowledge of the language to enable ‘hem to intoract with the Onges in a better way, since the Onge language is hitherto unintelligible to the ou‘siders A short linguistic field work was conducted in Little Andatnan in April, 1976, to check up some of the published language materiel and to collect additional data, As Ganguly's material is comparatively exhaustive and the Variations were found to be negligible during the field investigation, his-meterial has been incorporated in the Present handbook as much as possible. Some important rules of word formation with examples have been given repeatedly in the various sections of the handbook to erable the leaner to memorise and use the handbook easily. {tis to be noted that though few Ongos can commune cato in Hindi with the outsiders to some extent, ihoir areas of interaction with the outsiders are very much restricted with the result that the Onges, by and large, are still monolingual, Ganguly's languago material viriu. ally Sorved as a basis for the fleld work among the Onges in Lite Andaman, ‘The Onge is a small tribe inhabiting in little Andaman which is the southernmost island -of the Andamena tise hoo oF onaE taNavAGE Archipelago. The group of Andaman islands consists of about 263 islands (vide, Staticsical Abstracts, Andaman ‘Administration, Port Blair) big or small in the Bay of Bengal ‘stretching betwoen 10°13N—19°30N Latitude and 92'19E— 93°10 Longitude. ‘The total area of little Andaman is 28248 square miles and is covered with dense tropical forest, ‘The Onges call themselves éie which means ‘man’. They ere nomadic hunters and food gatherers, The tribe appears to be dwindling very fast and the present number of individuals would hardly be little above one hundred, No detailed descriptive study on Onge ianguage has yet beon done. On the basis of available language material no genetic relationship could have been esta- blished with any family of languages spoken in the main land of Indi ‘The present handbook has been prepared under the supervision of Shree Krishan, Senior Linguist, Anthro- -pological Survey of India, ‘The data were collected mainly from the following informants who were camping at Dugong Creek. 1, Nabikutai, 2 Bara Raju 3. Chota Raju 4, Borogegi 5. Ramu and other members of the group,Neto: > indicates |} indicatoa ~ indicates > indivates snalysed forms alternative forms or meanings alternative forms or allomorphs ‘beomes? English gloss followed by an interrogative mark (?) indicator that the moaningris not ceztain,CHAPTER ONE Speech Sounds of Ongo Vowels ‘| Lower-mid, back, rounded, pronounced somewhat Uke “o" in English “hot”, Bengali @ in qaaq (anek) “many -Oage, onne “want something! teki “night” gibbo “his cheek"" ‘sf Low, central, unrounded, pronounced somewhat Uke Hindi ar in gre (kat) “to cut", Bengali a in af (ami) « Onge. agente s'sand” fabe “wife having no child (term of address)" cEla“latox’! ‘Riga, front, unrounded, pronounced somewhat like i" im Baglish a", Hindi g in gue (imi) “tamarina”, Onge, icele “path ; way" lisya “here” uli “stone, (My High, back, rounded, pronounced somewhat tke English “'a" in “put, Hindi gz in ame (amar) vago”, Onge, ueme "dog tofkulu sun" jou dark",Jef EE} Jof fa) Steece SOUNDS OF OsGE 8 Higher-mid, front; unrounded, pronounced some- what like English “'o" in “pen, Bengali «g in @eiB (ekti) “one” Onge, ecele “child” inene “foreigner (male)” we "clay" Lower-mid, front, unrounded, pronounced some- what like English "a" in Mair", Hindi @ in g (nai) "is", Onge, Entoge “grown up unmarried boy" bEja_—"“daik cloud (which rains)” eJelek urinate” Higher-mid, back, rounded, pronounced some- what like Hindi st in air (05) “dew”, Bongali ‘@ in “eal (ora) “thoy”, Onge, oto “fruit koone “snake” coybo “rai” Higher-mid, back, unrounded, pronounced some- what like Gorman 0" in “Sohn” but Germen 0 's higher-mid, front, unrounded, whereas Onge “e" is nigher-mid, back, unrounded. To produce ‘his sound, pronounce’"'o" keeping tho lips spread. This cound has no equivalent in English or in wellknown Indian languages, Onge, te "man"* Jeune “there (not far away)”4 max 800K oF once LANGUAGE ke “harpoon (for hunting Dugong and ture)” Consonants MK) Volceloss unaspirated velar stop, pronounced Somewhat like English in "akin", Hindi om in aye (kamal) “lotus Onge, kue “pig” maika “at me” (91 Voiced unaspirated velar stop, pronounced somewhat like English "g" in "ago", Hindi y in #a (Gi) “song. Onge, gea “lang: eoge ‘fish I Velar nasal, pronounced ike "ng in English “ring” Hindi = in vaozeq (rag) “colour” Onge, ai you" (ag,) datiie “wee ; canoe” fie water” fel Voicotess unaspirated palatal atfrcate, pronoune ced somewhat like English “ck” in “ohurch”, Hindi 3 in eq (cay) “tea”, Onge, cileme “moon” ico "now" Onge, “'e" is nearer to Hinai = than English "ol '3/ Voiced unaspirated palatal altricate, pronounced Somewhet like English +" in “judge”, Hindi‘sPeeeH SomNDs oP oNGe 2 in srr (janem). Onge "J" is nearer to Hindi than English 4", Onge, jiwaye “a variety of orab” gejale “his face” 8) Palatal nasal. Tongue position is same as it is made to pronounce Hindi q but the air-siream is released through the nose only, It is somewhat like Sanskrit 3. Onge, fata prawn" taija_ “honey” MM Voicoless unaspirated alveolar stop, pronounced somewhat like English “‘t" in "material", Assamese © in eft (lini) “three", Onge, toga “naked” toikute “ashes” ‘Gl Voiced unaspirated alveolar stop, pronounced somewhat like English ‘q % in Wa (din) “day, Onge, datikale “a kind of trex titdeme “husband having no child (term of address)," in “date”, Assamoze /n/ Alveolar nesal, pronounced somewhatlike English “n" in any", Hindi a in mq (navi) “new”, Onge, narema “not"/“no" bini “to speak; throw” fb] Voiced unaspirsted bilabial stop, pronounced4 io ood oF once Lakowide somewhat like English “b” in “bite, Hindi a in Fz (band) “close”, Onge, bEra “communal hut'' ebara “small girl” {m bilabial nasal, pronounced somowhat like English “min man", Hindi = in wer (makin) “house, Onge, mip umuge “pigeon"* 'y1 Palatal semivowel, pronounced somewhat like English “'y" in "yes", Hindi y to me (yid) ‘memory, Onge, yama "burn (something by fire)" Gebaye “son; daughter (term of address)" 4} Alveolar trill, pronounced somewhat like English, “7” in "ib", Hindi < in cy (rit) “night, Onge, uentayra "puppy" gira "brown"? Korele “temporary hut” My Alveolar tateral, pronounced somewhat like English “I" in “Like”, Hindi @ in eget (ar a) “boy”, Onge, le “honey wekala “white ; white clay | Bilabial semivowel, pronounced somewhat like English "w" in‘water”, Hind qin amg (vipasySPEECH SOUNDS OF once 9 ‘retum". Ongo “w" is nearer to English than Hindi q , Onge, we “clay” “ewe “keep (pork in the basket)" /?) Glottal stop, “To pronounce this sound the air stream is stopped St Ge glotis and released abruptly, This souna Tesembles Mundari "7" in "da?" "water", Onge, datie “tree, cance”, ko? “take” (imp.)CHAPTER TWO Some Important Features of Onge Word Formation Structurally all Onge words fall undor two main categories: (1) Independent froms and (ji) Dependent forms.* Independent forms can occur independently, e.g. kue “pig’, wekala “white”, ebara “small girl”, inene “foreigner (maley", The Independent forms may begin either with @ vowel or with a consonant, Dependent forms do act occur alone—they always ocour with personal prefixes., e.9., goticu “his head” g- is third person singular prefix “his” -otiou “head” (Dependent form), Dependent forms begin with « vowel and generally include kinship terms, forms denoting Parts of a whole, names of body parts, some verbs and attributes, postpositions denoting location, direction etc. The dependent forms take noun or pronoun as Profi which shows possession in noun forms and subject OF object relationship in verb forms, e.g. uemegioticn “the dog's head" (ueme'dog" gi “the"*-oticu “head”) molagebe “I danced” (m- “Ist, person singular prefix" functions as subject+olage “dence” -be “tense sufix”), keolegi gitebe “tho anake hit him" (koone “sneke"+gi “the"--g- "rd person singular suffix” functions as ite “bite""Hbe “tense suffix”) obje ‘ependent forms are marked with a— (ayphen) before the form in the vocabulary.Sone mmrowraye FEATURES OF ONCE WorD FoRMATON Pronominal Prefixes Onge has the following pronominal prefixes which are added 10 the dependent forms: (@ m- first person singular, eg., moticu “my head”. is gy -oticu “head” (ii) et- ~ ot- Ist person plural, @) et- occurs with the forms beginning with ieE,a, €.g., etejalle “our faces". et. “our” -ejalle faces" (-9jalo4-pl, suifix-1e) (2) ot occurs with the forms beginning with 4% @g., Oloticule “our heads’ ot- "our -oticule "heads" .otien+pl. sutfix-le) 1 ds observed in the speech of some Onges that et freely varies with ot- : etoticulen ototiculs. (i) 4 second person singular, e.g., fioticu “your head”. "your, (eg.)" oticu “head” (iv) n- sevond person plural .g.,noticule “your heads”, a “your (pl.)" -oticule “heads"'1a A mem. noo cP oxGr uaGuAGE (%) g- third person singuler. ©-9-, goticu “his head.” g “his sotion “head” (Wi) ek-~ ok wekw- "3rd. person plural” (@) ek. ccours with the forms which begin with U, ©.G.,ekuenle “their dogs", ek: “thetr"’ uenle ‘dogs" (b) ok- occurs with the forms having 0, 9 in the beginning, '2.g., ekotioule “their heads", ek: "their" -oticule “‘heads" Itis observed in the speech of some Onges that ek. freely varies with ok- : okoticule~ ekotioule, (0) ekw-orenrs with forme which begin wiih 1,0, E,a, e.g, ekwejalle « ekw- “their” ejalle “faces” heir facos” (ii) on. ~ én- indefinite third person (ag, pl.) whenever Placed before a noun, indicates possession by some one (human) (2) on- occurs with those forms which begin with © end a,e.g,, onoticu “some one's head"SOME natoxsas rearUnEs OF ONGE WORD ToRMAMON 13 on- “some one (humen)"* -otiou "head" enoticule “someone's heads", ompiigole 4 jome one fails to get" on- "someone" -oligele “fail to get” () én- occurs with other forms énejale “some one’s face (human face)” ; -ajale “face” énejebo "some one's eye (human oye)" ; -ejebo “eye” Number There are three numbers in Onge, viz., singular, dual and plural, Generally, following suffixes are added to the nouns, For Singular — -da or -ra is addad, for dual— -dena or -rena is added, for plural— ‘le is added But some nouns take -di or -ri for singuler -deni or -reni for cual snl for plural. Some examples are given showing tie use of number suffixes, Onge . English singular dual. plural inens “Moreigner” inenda inendena_inenie datie — “eanoe"" de?nda da?ndena —dataleu 4 MUD 100K OF ONG LAncoiee Onge English singular dual plural ueme "dog" uenda uendena ~—_uenle kue “pig’ kuera kuerena ule. umuge —“pigson" wmudda umuddene umulle ale “chila” aleri alereni —alenni wawa — “orow"" wawara wawerona wawale Number sutfix seems to be ciosely attached to certain Kinship terms, however, it is aot obligatory. ume “father kay “mother” Yel grand-father” if ssparated from their number, Suffixes, function only as vocatives, whereas umeri keyti Koloddi seems to function in all syntactical relations, eg, Article # definite article) occurs with tho nouns, Tels HOt possible to define the distribution of the article “gi or -i either phonologicelly or morphologically on the basis of the present dala, However, wo can list some Words which tako -gi (e.g, bennaie-gi “the sky”) and Some other which take -§ (0.9, toskulu-i “the sun" Words which take «i Words which take " % matibe borogegi “my name is Borogegi" 4, gatibenene “tell hisname 9" 8. gatibe (e)raju_ “his namo is Roju'* 6. kwaycore nikoraleke "where is yourtemporary but 2” 7, oti Ibanarea koraleke ‘'wa have temporary hut in Dugong creck” Notes. 1. kwa “what” satibe-ia-patibe a “your” Pronominal profiz, singular) -atibe name"Sotie mentite rexiviios OF onot Wor FuRaAHON 4 2, -nene future marker suffix, (here used in tho sense of “tell”) 3, matibe+m- + -atibe m— “my” (Pronominal prefix)* 4. gatibe+g- + -atibe g- “his” (Pronominal prefix)* 5, kwaysore “where” nikoraleke-rni + korale ++ -ke ni “your (plural)” korale “temporary hut” “ke “suffix indicating direction or continuation ofthe action” (see verbal suffixes) 2. eti “we IEbanare+ -a IEbanare "Dugong Crack” “2 (suifix indicating Iocation, instrument) “at” - pw nee 1, kwatibarabe “Are you well 2, mibarobe. “I am well” % wage tamboivbe “Are yowhappy ?” 4, mamborobe. “Iam happy” 8. etiamborobe “we are happy” 6. ekwiamboroboma “they are not happy*” Noves, 1. kwa “what” or question marker, fiborabe-ii 4 ibaro + -be fe "you" (Pronominal prefix) s¢. -tbaro “well” ‘Pronominal prefixes, ase page 114 tin woke oF one Lanisudd “Be “completive verbal sutfiz”, alco. vorbalizer $ kwace “interrogative, “what? mamborobe--ma - + eti- “wor narema etl Kwatitokwagukwaiika nariEle eaiika atikennebe “we take coconut to Hut bay” 2 2 eli da?iiege nariBle kwatitokwagulewaile: atikennebe . “we take coconut to Hut Bay by boat” 3. oti kwatitokwagikata oroti caeta lakonnebs “we bring wheat flour, tea from Hutbay” 4. orotigi gajabebe “The oroti (whoat flour) is good” Notes 1 eti “wer - kwatitokwagukwatke-skwatitokwa --gi-- -! sukuailka ’ ° kwatitokwa "Hut bay” Gi + ukuanka>guluatika gi “article the” (se2 vowel elision miles; p.81 ukuaiika "in the direction of," nariEle ‘coconut’ eatika + ebatikac: = ¥‘A mk BOOK oF OMG LaNGtAGH -© “locational.” -anka “at; to” atikennebe-ratikenne + -be atikenne ‘take away” -be "completive verbal suffix” da?iiege-rdate + ge datiie canoe “ge “by means of” kwatitokwegikata>kvratitokwa’-} -gi 4: -kata’ ~kata “from” | cacta-+cay--eta ca “tea” eta “and” lakonnebe--lakonne+ -ba Jakonne ~ “bring” -be “completive suffix orotigi -+ oroti + -gi oroti “wheat flour” -gi_ “article” gajabebe-+ gajaha +. gajebe “good” ~be "vorbal suffix, completive” bo ee mi hatbeketa jjyebe “1 came from Hut Bay” Kwace tamborobe “hallo | are you happy 7 faigi “yoo etlamborobe “we are heppy” migeaye ulecebe “Tam thirsty” mine injonene “I shall drink water” ma ifegitenene “give me the water”SoME INFONTANE FEATURES OF ONGE won YoRMATex 45, 8, minlea “I shall feteh (water)” 9. ‘afndeki “give mere” 10, ko? “take, hold (imp.)” LL. likeibaro “this is gooa” Notes 1, mf "I" hatbekata + hatbe 4- kata hatbay (Hatbay, narie of a township, Onge place namo io kwatitokwa) ekata= "from = ijyebe + ijye+ -be ijye “come” -be “completive verbal suffix” 2 kwace “hello” “while meeting, a term of greeting” slamborobe -> fi + -amboro +. -bo Ai you" (og) -amboro - "heavy" 3. faigi “yes! . Stiamborobe + eti- + -amboro + -be ei “wer 5. migeaye— mi + geaye mi “1” ulecebe+ ulsce + -be ulece “thirst” -be completive vorbal euffix. -Geaye (meaning could not be-ascertained)1. SS 1 4 WK D0OK oF omer Lanavaas ijonene -+ mi + ite + -injo +-nene the “water”, -injo “to drink" -nene “future suifix'. ma “me” jhegitenene — iio +-gi + -iie+nene, cgi “article” ite “to drink minlea—+ mi + -inle + -« vinle “fetch water” a “immediate future tense suffix” likeibaro— likai+-ibato kai "his!" -ibero "good" Takai beruleke “who has fever 7” mi berulobe “Ihave fever" Gi uletebe “he has ache” ma ecele berulebe “my child has'fever.” miabanene “I shall cae.” mi goli belenene “1 shall give medicine” (tablet, eto.) s likai goli Ko? “take this medicine (tabj)" tbtikiba goli allokwanene “at night you oat the tablet” (imp.) cBla tesinjonene “later you drink water” (imp,) cElail omokanene “ater you sleep’ (imp.)(Sa fone wseoenine rxafunes oF ovee won Foastinon 47 Notes 1. Takai who, bernleke-+borule + ke berule “fever” Ke "verbal suffix (verbalizier)” 2 mi "1" burulebe-+betule'+ -be *be “‘completive aspect suffix” " 8 gi “ho” uletebe-ulete + -be ulete “ache” 4, ma "my" ecele “child” ! 5. miabanene mij + -iaba + -nene, -laba see” c ~nene “future tense suffix” (also imp) belenene + bele + nene.,” bele “give” 1 likeli “this” ko? “take (imp) toikiba “atnight" Allokwanene-ni- + ilokwaley: -nene, i “"you(sg.)” ilokvrale “eat” cEta “later — ainjonene-ral- + -injo+ -nene jie “water” -injo “drink” nene “imperative suffix” 10. omokanene > + nene omoka “sleep” snene "(imp, Suffix)" Kwant omokabe “did you sleep ? (sg.)" 2 iaigi “yes” 3. mi omokabe I slept?6 4 ato Book oF ence ian 4. mi omokabe ma "I did not sleep” 5. kwece ice damborobé “are you happy now.” 8. faigi "yes" 7. narema “no,” goli a’ndeki “give more medicine” & migoli geakaba belenene “I shall give medicine tomorrow. 9. gi da?fekatitekabe “he foll down from the tree.” 10. gakwanea “the is feeling pain” I. mi gakwaikwelenene “you bind it (witha piece) of a cloth on the aching part)” 12, siromamokake “you will be cured” Notes i 1. kwa “what” question marker Ai “'you (g.)" omokabe -> omoka + -be., omoka “sleep” -be “‘completive” 2. waigi “yes” (3) mi "1" (4) ma “not” 5. kwace “question merker, hello for greeting or calling” ' ice, “now” fiamborobe ~ ni + - amboro + - he ab “you” -amboro “happy” 7. naroma "No." goli “tablet or medicinis atndeki “give more” (@) geakeba “tomofrow" belenene > bele + -nene, bele “give” -nene “future tense markera ee 10, SOME Kmoniavt ratuiEs OP ONGE wasio roneizion gi “he” : daPiioketitokebo — datie + -kata + iteka 4 be dafie “tres” “kata “from” viteka “fall down'" (“a” of ata is elidea) Siromamekeka + ~ + -romame + -kaka Hie "yon ‘you’, ag.)”” -iromame ‘to be cured” “kaka “‘distant future tense marker” a ee Sr oe Kwace ti onnea “what do you want 2” sti oroti, ca, juke Sunebe “we want wheatifloir, tea and tobacco." ekwikue onnebe "they want pig" kuele gajabe “pigs are good" babulei etati?kebe “Babug aro bad” onerera “why” ? ekwi kuele gaikwabe “they killed pigs” koligaba “where”? gaiboralea “in the forest" boaleta kuele gaiboralea kutu Were many in the forest" Previously’ pigs4 tas Boor oF over LaYGuAGE Notes 1, fi "you (og.)* onnea-ronne + -a onne “want? “2” “verbal suffix indicating Continuation of the action 2 eli “they”, roti “wheatjfour” ca “tec, juka “tobacco leaves” onnebe-anne ++ -be “be “completive verbal suffix” 4, Kuele kue+ slo kue "pig", le “plural suffi" gajabe joa” 5. babulei “Babu term is used to designate the outside workers/labourers who go there for work. They do make distinction between thoso workers and government officials.” etati?kebe-retati?ke + -bo, etati?ke “baa” Gaikwabegaikwa +-be. gaikwa “killed” 8. galboralea-gaiborale + “2. gaiborale “forest” -a “in” "locative marker” 10. bealeta “previously” gaiboraleakutu-»gaiborale + -a + -butu -kutu “many”, imuch. 1. kwace A bEigunene “will you stay in the forest?” 2 faigi, mi bEigunene "yes, 1 will stay in the forest” $. mibEigunenema “I will net stay in the forest"Jo uarosane vestuRES OF ONGE Wond ronmsrion SI 4. ekwibBigunene “they will stay in the forest” 5. naoya ii une?a “where are you going 7” 6. kanjimurinjotekata oti kuo torokanane “after taking tea we will go for pig hunting” 7. koligaba kue gaikwabe “where did you kill pig’ Notes, 1. kwace"'question marker," ai "you (s¢.)” bEigunene ~ bEigu + -nene, bEigu “to tay in the forest” -nene ‘future tense marker” 2, taigi “yes” mi “I” 8, bEigunenema ~ bRigi-+ -nene + ma. ma “negative marker" 4. kwi “they” 5, i@oya “where, which place” unefa> une? +-a, une? to go. | -a “continous tonse suffix” a 6, kuijimurinjotekata > —rkunjimuri + -injo 4+ -te + -keta ( of kunjimuri is elided), kunjimuri “tea” ~injo “to drink ~te “verbal suffix indicating direction or location” -kota “from”, et ‘wel! { torokanene + toroka -} -nene,62 ‘4 Mas OOK OF oxGE tANEYACE foroka “to gofor hunting”, chene “future tenso suffix" 7. ksligaba “where” kue “pig”, gaikwabe-~ gaikwa + -be gaikwa “to Kill,’ -bo “completive* SOO 8 gaiborales “in the forest” 9. ice kue gaiboralealutn “now pigs are planty in the forest”, 10. taikita gaiboratea ijojidda kuele oti gaikwabe “Yesterday we Killed three pigs in the forest”, 11. bikite etilokwale be kue kutuga “yesterday we ate too much pig”, Notes 8. gaiboralea-» gaiborale |. -a gaiborale “forest"” -a “in” (location marker) 8. {ce “now”, gaiboraleakaty -r gaiborale-fa-+kutu ckutu “much” 10. toikita “yesterday” fielidda “threo” kuele + kue + lo kue “pig". -le “plural sufix" IL. etilokwalebe' et + -itokwale + -be et "wa" (prefix) ilokwale “to eat" ~be “completive suffix”FONE tomonsarT FeATUNS ce ONGE Won soHMUITION 32 Jouokutuga => kus ent + -ga -kutu “much” -ga “definitive” SS 1. geakaba Masya ii une?aeno “tomorrow where will you go?" 2. geakaba geiboralea cici et! benenene "tomorrow we shall dig tuber in the forest” 9, enallei wagilia cendala bene ati ‘tho woman dig tuber by an iron implement)” 4. cendalu etilokwale ati, ‘we eat tubers” 8. oti gaiboralekata gigi lakonne ati "we bring gigi (a kind of tuber) from the forest” inenlel weleweleta kane taca ati “the forignera often eal rice” Notes. 1, geakabe “tomorrow Fasya “where” Ai “you (sg,)" unefnene-rune? +--nene. unc? “to go" -nene “future tense suffix”, 2, gaiboralea-+ gaiborale + -a. gaiborale “forest” “-a in" (locative). gigi ''a kind of tuber”, eti "we" benenene— bene+-nene, bene "to dig tuher™ eiallei + ale +--lo 4 i efiale “woman”. le “phural stiffix” “i “the article” Wagilia + wagili +-a, wagili “iron implement”Ba cendalu “tuber”, bene “to dig” ati “usual aspect of action” etilokwale + eti + -ilokwale. et "we" (prefix) cilokwale “to eat” §, gaiboralekata + gaiborale | -kata -kate “from” lakoane “bring” 0. inenlel + inene + -le + ("'e of inone is dropped)” see p, 58 inene “foreigner” -i article. welewsta “often” kane “rice” taoa “eat” 1. kwaceli “what is this 7” 2, likai da?ie ‘ this is tree/canoe” 3. kwacelé "what is that ?* 4, lékai wagili' “that is iron implement {to-dig tuber ete.)” “Sta ga kéewa? “is it his harpoon 6 Taigi “yes” migilife ma “Ido not know”‘SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES OF ONGE WoRD FoRuartox 68 9, minacclamebe “I forgot” 10. miliagelebe ma “I did not tell lie" Notes, 1, kwaceli > kwace +} li kwace “what”, li ‘this’ 2 kati +-kai -kai “person or thing" datie “tree / cance” 3, kwacelé + kwace + lé e “that” 4, kai 18 + kai wagili “iron implement for digging tube: ete." 8, ta “interrogative” ga “his kéewa? “harpoon” 8. mi", gilite “mow' ma “not” uilnacekamebe ->m- + -inacekame + -he “inecekame “forget -be ‘‘completive suffix’. 10, mifiagelebe-sm- + -inagele + -be m- ~hagele “to tell a lie" i kwace tiomokabe ‘did you sleep? (sg. (prefix) 2 aigi "yes" 8. miomokabe “Islept” 4. Moaomokabe “all sleep here"' 5. miomokabe ma “did not sleop"§6 1: 4 tina 00K oF oNee tanctAge Notes, 1. kwace “question marker", -ai “you” @g) omokabe —> omoka +-be omoka ‘'sleop" -be “completive suifix'' 2. faigi “yes” & mi 8._ma_ “not” (negation) 1. takai ‘who Iaughing 2. ekwietia “they are laughing” 3. mi ehiama “1 em not laughing" 4. gietia “he is laughing” Notes 1. Takai na + -kai, ta “which.” ~kai "person or thing” chia efi + -a e&i “to laugh" “a” “present continuous tense suifix"* 2 ekwi "they" ‘a | 4. gi hes See Some Vowel deletion rules and ‘@ssimilation rules, When number suffixes ~da/-di, (8g,) -dena/-deni Gus), le (plura) are added 10 the adude ending in ‘e’ tho final vowel ‘e! of the noun is elided and the preceding consonant undergoes a change (regressive assimilation), °° Note that all nasal consonants change to alveolar masal ‘n' before ‘q’ and |, and other consonants are assimilated to ‘a’ and“OME TMRORTASE PaRuiGS Or ONE wonm wonton gy Examples ueme+da > uemda > uenda “dog” (g,) wWeme+dena > uemdena > uendena “two doge” (dual) ueme-+le > uemle > uenlo “dogs” (pl.) (more than two) Here when number sutfixes are added, firet, final Vows! ‘e' of the noun weme is elided and. thon Dilabial nasal ‘m’ changes to alveotar * Amuge-+da >-umugda > umudde “pigeon” (ag.) umage-++dena > umugdena > umuddena “two pigeons” (dual) umuge+le > umugle > urmulle “pigeons” (pl.) (mora than two) da?he+da > da?ida > dafnda “canoe, tree" (sg.) darhe+dena > daidona > datndena “Iwo canoes, two trees” (dual) da?ic-He > da?ile > da?nie “canoes, trees(pl)” (‘more than two") inena+-da>inenda “foreigner” (ag.) inene-+dena > inendena “two foreigners (dual)" inene-+le > inenle “foreigners (pi) debaye-+deni > debaydoni > debaddeni “two daughters" (dual) kamotda > kamda> Kanda “mat (eg," 8 a6 4 uAND BOK oP oNGE Laxduage, kame+-dena >.kamdena > kandena "wo mats (dual) kame++le>kamle>kKanle "mats (pl.) (more than two’) 1.1, Genorallyno change takes place when the number suffixes -ri/-ra (eg), -reni/-rena (dual), -nni (plural) are added to the nouns, especially ending in ‘e" or ‘a’. Examples: alo + ti >aleri “child (sg,)” ale + reni > aloroni “two children (dual) ale + nni >alenni “children (pl.) more than two" debaye + nni > debayenni “daughters (pl.) more than two” Wawa + ra> wawara “erow" (sg,) wawa + rena > wawarena “two crows (duel)"* wawa + le > wawale “crows (pl) more than wo" 1.2, Plural suffix -le when added to the verb. X has already been mentioned under verbal sulfixes that some verbs seem to require plural suifie when the subject is in plural form eg., etilokowallebe - ot--+ ilokowale + le ++ be “we ate” (pl) Mt may be noted here tat when plural suffix is added to the verb, only the final vowel of the verb is elided,Sones rmvrontiire-ZATURES Or -onGE WoRD-roRMIATON! G9 Examples ‘ etilokowallea-ret- + ilokowale + le +a “we are eating” nilokowellea + n- + ilokowale + le +a “you are eating (pl.)" etinjloa +ct- + injo + leta “we are drinking” where the plural suffix is -le, the final vowel of the verb is not elided eg, otolagellebe - ot- + olage + lle + be “we danced” . When the words are combined, tho final vowel of the preceding word and the initial vowel of the following word is generally found to be elided ; e.g. ueme "doc" ~iteyera “small ueme + ityara > uomtayora > uontayora puppy" ! of the preceding word Here the final vowel “ueme” and the initial vowel ‘i’ of the following word -tayera, both are elided and the bilabial nasal ‘m’ of tho preceding word (ueme) ie sosimi- lated by the following consonant alveolar ‘t' to its homoorganie nasal i.e, ‘n’ ; other examples are : “bile “arm” ite “bite” -ibilo 4 ite > -ibilte > -ibitte “bite by snake on the arm” -ome “hand”€0 “MAND BOE OF oxce tanatnge “OME +. rite > omte > onte “bite by snake on the nang" “WOE oot” + tte > sugte nutte “bite by snake on the toon However some oxceptiong have alsobeen observed abo “chest” ~abet niteabete/abetio “bite >y snake on the cheat" UMeGi “the dog? UMeGi + atokcebe — atokkebe “barked” | > umegatekkebo “dog barkea'= Here the final vowel of the Preceding word is elided, 11 When the possessea form is independent, the Pesse3s0r lakes tho suliix ‘a! after the article (93, i, the vowel of the article ig elided, e.g. Se + 91+ a> sega «the onge's “Rega Kwelabe “Ongers cloth’ icslegi +e > icelege “through the pathn ESI +a > iBsa “by the Inifo"™ darhegi + © > dariege BY means of canoe"SOME TuPonnue reAzURES OF oNGE won Fenawanoy gy 1.2 When the Postpositions, viz, -ota -atika, sjeka and “onota are added to the nouns or pronouns the final Vowel of the noun or pronoun is Slided. eg. ; mit ota > mota “towards m, Meme ‘+ Ola> aemota “towards tho dog" nl+aika>natka ‘at you, by you" ipl.) \ctekuegl + anka > totakuegaiika “by the iron file" H+ ojeka > tejeka “away from you" KoOlegi + ejeka > kootegeielea ‘away from the snake" 91+ oltota > goat with hinge Beleme + ofdta > pelemotota “with smoker (see more examples under syntactio relations} mita>ma “me, my” ettadeta “our, us" mitakui>makui “myseps Srakui>gakui “nimeeit See more examples under syntactic relations,‘A MND rook oF once uAaUNGe ‘Tense suffixes viz. -be — “completive aspect" “le "verbalizer suffix” “a~E “'present continuous tense!" or immediate future” vaene “future tense, imperative mood, command eto," ~kaka subsequent or distant future" -ba definite future” cmaba~ -ba “conditional” When added to the various forms indicating tonse aspect ete, no elision takes place. examples, une?be “went” omokabe “slept” efibo “laughea"* minjobe "drank tikile “night falls” milokwelea ‘Iam eating!’ ginjoa he is drinking” iE “will go” eniE “laughing” iikenene “will go / go away (order)” etinens “will laugh /laugh (order)” Hinjonene “you will eat / you eat (order) (sg,) ekwilokowallekaka “they will eat"Note Sout marorsatr fxatuites OF ONGE WORD roRwumcy G4 lakonnekaka “will bring" minjoba — “I'shall drink” Jakonneba “shall bring'* Some more sentences : mi kue tocba I pig eat-shall “I shail eat pig” (otikita et kue tacebe yesterday we pig ate “yesterday we ate pig’ Gi bujeyebiakébe he walked-went "he wont away walking” ti cgegantitebe I fish-the-shotarrow ‘I shot the fish with arrow’ ekwejalle abemoibe — their-faces-look-similer “their faces look similar" ai matka ga atigibete belebe you from-me him match-box gave “You gave hiin the match box (taking) from me" Inenogi kueilowebegi kuburaiega foreigner-the pig-shot gun-by-the ‘ihe foreigner shot the pig by the gun'* uemegalekkebe —dog-the-barked “the dag barked Please see verbs for details.64 10, W 12, 18. 18. 16, 12, 4 tists 00% oF once tandunde gi ecElletucebe he children-sent “he sent the children" wega gi ga uebe clay-by sho him painted “she painted him with clay” bikita gf tukiriaiega kueitekwatebe yostorday he spear-by pig.pierced"* “yesterday ho bunted pig by the spear'’ gi ukuannaika tatjaibube he bucket-into honoy-poured “he poured honey in the bucker" boaleta gi wayea noralebe previously he both you-shaved-head “previously he saved the heads of both of you" ecelegi flotoa child-the is-sucking “the child is sucking” (rill from breast) lua cilemegi ukitieEge that moon -the rising (-ge indicative suffix) “there the moon is rising" ua toikulni teikkeRgo {hat sun the setting (-ge indicative suttix) “the oun is setting” gi cana ma he ery not “he does not cry16, al. 23, 24, 25, Seite mabbnrie Heatunes or Osez wens fonmiation 6 ice gi nariEleetanegirage now he coconut-the kernel-the eating (-ge indicative suffix) “now he is eating the coconut kernel” geakaba mi likkeronnekaka tomorrow I this-thing-ask-shall “tomorrow I shall ask this thing" éhegi bencamba eFkamame ati Onge - the die - when spirit become (usual aspect of action) "the Onge becomes a spirit afier death" womogi éigamameba bencame ati dog - the old - become - when die (usual aspect of action) "the dog dies after becoming ola” onotagilelemba eti?ade ati Perspire-when we-bathe (usual aspect of action) “we bathe if peropiring™ mai uneba galabukenene I going him-scold-shall "I shall scold him after going to him" mi injobega maiabebe, gimagibe J injobe made-my-wife, she made me husband “I made injobe (name of a woman) my wif, she made me her husband” i gi daiekatitekabe ho troe from fell-down "the fall down from the tree”26, a7, 20, 30, ab 92, 4 HNO wok OF ONGE LaNGtice: ekwanoikwabe they - wrestled “they wrestled” ma likkayabenene me this-thing-give “give me this thing” fahacebegukweconene your wife-the call “call your wife” etaikwa ma us shoot not “do not shoot us (errow)" @iemake galimbe Enene chair like this keep “keep the chair like this" keonegejeka tikenene snake-the away go “go away from the snake", Rabe kwatebalenene wife creek-go for fishing “wife, go to the cresk for fishing” gi Gnotaigale goicta dakegonta bElekwenene he take-photo with it tree-the-on stay “stay on the tree when he takes photo”35, 36, 37. 38, 39, 40, al. Sonse-InaronrAnt TRAIURES OF ONGE WOHD'FORNATION GT ia Kekodditeta takoddonne your grandmother-from pipe ask “ask the (smoking) pipe from your grandmother." i icelege ifkénene Wis path-by go “go by this path" omega gatotalenene your-hand-by it-clean “clean it by your hand”. kinaga gite? totkiba maiiolabeleikaka two give night-in (future) I smoke shall “give two (cigarettes) I shall smoke in the night” debaye, iikénene, fteddi tayewabagi daughter, go, your mother you called. “daughter, go, your mother called you.” kwa takai gawaleteke (question) who peepinto “who is peeping into Takai Gejeka juka tetilebeke who from-you tobacco refuse to give “who refuses to give you tobacco” Tagatkwentalegi where-foreigner-the “where is the foreigner ?”68 42, 46, 46, 41. 48. 4g, ‘A MM BOOK cP oNer taNcrses jokBfabe, nagama keye wile, whore my harpoon “wife, where is my harpoon?" Koma loigotitayera where my mug-small "where is my small mug?” kwa gi onere toro (question) he where gone “where has he gone ?” abu ai onerukua una? ke hey! you which direction go “hoy | in which direction are you going ?” Koligaba tonkulukke whore sun “where is the sun?” ume Ai ta ya bElakweke father you where stay “father, where are you staying?” ouereta gi mayewaba why he me call “why is he calling me >” onereta Ai ane beteke why you again go “why do you go again »”al. 52, SOME TMORtART FRATUEES OF ONEE won FomMuEON GQ kwace exwi ligoreta namebe what they there made fire “did they make fire over there 2” kwa fakealabukeke uenlei (question) whom-bark dogs the “to whom are the dogs barking?” mi giliie £ I itknow “T know it”