_head_ sèrè-_min_.
_eyes_ tchim-_emin_.
_eyebrows_ buruè-_min_.
_nose_ zinjè-_min_.
_moustache_ simile-_min_.
_beard_ ardishè-_min_.
_tongue_ zoanè-_min_.
_teeth_ dildonè-_min_.
_ears_ gushè-_min_.
_fingers_ ingishtè-_min_.
_arm_ paziè-_min_.
_legs_ híngè-_min_.
_father_ pie-_min_.
_mother_ mai-_min_.
_sister_ wai-_min_.
_brother_ brai _min_.
_the back_ pashtiai-_min_.
_hair_ porè-_min_.
_cold_ serdo.
_hot_ auroghermo.
_sun_ rojshwesho.
_moon_ hashmè.
_star_ sterrai.
_mountain_ khoo.
_sea_ aho.
_valley_ derèi.
_eggs_ hoiki.
_a fowl_ kerghi.
_welcome_ tebèxairomè.
_come_ bèiri.
_stay_ rōshè.
_bread_ noan.
_water_ āwè.
_child_ katchimo.
_virgin_ keinima.
_orphan_ lajekima.
_morning_ shaurow.
_tree_ dori.
_iron_ asin.
_hare_ aurish.
_greyhound_ taji.
_pig_ khooz.
_earth_ ert.
_fire_ adir.
_stone_ see.
_silver_ sém.
_strength_ kote.
_sword_ shimshir.
_a fox_ krèvesh.
_stag_ kivè.
_partridge_ zaraj.
_milk_ shut.
_horse_ istor.
_mare_ mahinè.
_grapes_ eshkijshi.
_a house_ kè.
_green_ kesk.
_crimson_ soor.
_black_ siah.
_white_ supèo.
_sleep_ rausume.
_go_ shoori.
The meaning of the termination-_min_ has been explained by Pott and
Rödiger in their _Kurdische Studien_. It is the possessive pronoun of
the first person = _my_ = _meus_ = ἐμὸς, &c.; so that sèrè-_min_ =
caput-_meum_ (or _mei_), and pie-_min_ = pater-_meus_ (or _mei_).
So little was the Zaza who supplied Dr. Sandwith with the list under
notice able to conceive a _hand_ or _father_, except so far as they
were related to himself, or something else, and so essentially concrete
rather than abstract were his notions, that he combined the pronoun
with the substantive whenever he had a _part of the human body_ or a
_degree of consanguinity_ to name. It is difficult to say how far this
amalgamation is natural to the uncultivated understanding, _i. e._
it is difficult to say so on _à priori_ grounds. That the condition
of a person applied to for the purpose of making a glossary out of
his communications is different from that under which we maintain our
ordinary conversation, is evident. Ordinary conversation gives us a
certain number of words, and a context as well. A glossary gives us
words only, and disappoints the speaker who is familiar with contexts.
If this be true, imperfect contexts, like the combinations _pie-min_,
&c. should be no uncommon occurrences. Nor are they so. They are
pre-eminently common in the American languages. Thus in Mr. Wallace's
vocabularies from River Uapes the list run thus:--
ENGLISH. UAINAMBEU. JURI. BARRÈ.
_head_ (_my_) _eri_-bida _tcho_-kereu _no_-dusia
_mouth_ (_my_) _eri_-numa _tcho_-ia _no_-nunia.
&c. &c. &c. &c.
similar illustrations being found in almost every American glossary.
In his Appendix to Macgillivray's Voyage of the Rattlesnake, the
present writer has pointed out instances of this amalgamation in the
languages of the Louisiade. He now adds, that he has also found it in
some of the samples of the ordinary Gipsy language of England, as he
has taken it from the mouth of English Gipsies.
He considers it to be a personal rather than a philological
characteristic, certain individuals having a _minimum_ amount of
abstracting power, and such individuals being inordinately common
amongst the American Indians.
ON THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND
NUMERALS OF THE MALLICOLLO AND
ERROMANGO LANGUAGES.