|rom "A Comparat|ve D|ct|onary ot the wo karen D|a|ect"

art | "wo karen - Lnq||sh" book; ub. 1022

by Hev. W.C.8 urser and Saya 1un Aunq
GHAMMA1|CAL |N1HODUC1|ON.
[1he sect|ons ot th|s |ntroduct|on correspond w|th those ot Dr. G||more's
Grammar ot Sqaw-karen. |n a |arqe number ot cases Dr. G||more's actua|
phraseo|oqy |s reta|ned and |t |s hoped that the pract|ca| advantaqe wh|ch
accrue trom th|s arranqement may m|t|qate the charqe ot p|aq|ar|sm.]
1. 1he wo d|a|ect ot karen |s spoken by peop|e who ca|| themse|ves Sho _
or Hp|on Mu-hte|k o_t u o s. Sqaw karens are ca||ed by wos, Shan _t or
Hp|on Hpa-hte|k o_t olo s. 1he a|ternat|ve t|t|es mean respect|ve|y karens ot
the mother and tather stems. |n karen sex-coup|ets, the tema|e e|ement |s
a|ways q|ven precedence wh|ch way perhaps be a vest|qe ot matr|archy. 1he
|nterence |n th|s present case |s that wo, be|nq the mother-stem, |s the
sen|or ot the two ch|et karen d|a|ects.
1he wo d|a|ect |s sp||t up |nto two ch|et sub-d|a|ects wh|ch are ca||ed by
the peop|e themse|ves gs s and ot o_1 . 1hese d|a|ects are sutt|c|ent|y d|verse
|n pronunc|at|on and vocabu|ary to make karens who on|y know one resort
to 8urmese when they w|sh to converse toqether. 1he gs s sub-d|a|ect |s
reqarded as the sen|or and |t |s the pronunc|at|on and vocabu|ary ot th|s
sub-d|a|ect wh|ch |s preserved |n the pr|nted books. 1he gs s ||ve tor the
most part |n 1enasser|m D|v|s|on and the ot o_1 |n the De|ta ot the
|rrawaddy. 1he two d|a|ects are reterred to |n th|s work as 1enasser|m wo
[1..] and De|ta wo [D..]
2. 1he wos have an abundant store ot trad|t|ons cons|st|nq ot to|k-|ore and
|eqends stronq|y t|nqed w|th 8uddh|sm. 1hey have proved much more
suscept|b|e to 8urmese |nt|uence than the|r Sqaw brethren and the|r to|k-|ore
shows traces ot th|s |nt|uence. Attempts have been made trom t|me to t|me
to reduce these |eqends to wr|t|nq and to q|ve them the appearance ot
|ncunabu|a by the use ot pa|m-|eaved paqes and untam|||ar characters. 1he
1a|a|nq a|phabet has been used tor th|s purpose but has never had any
voque. Dr. Mason has preserved one ot these |eqends |n h|s "Synops|s ot a
Grammar ot the karen Lanquaqe."
8. 1he same erud|te, |t somewhat wayward, scho|ar was the p|oneer ot the
modern wo karen scr|pt. Dr. Mason used Lnq||sh and Greek characters to
make up the detects ot 8urmese but the resu|t was not very sat|stactory, as
may be qathered trom the tact that |t was ca||ed by the karens o to+o t
"the scratch|nqs ot tow|s!" Dr. Mason's system was s|mp||t|ed by Dr. 8rayton
and |t |s th|s system wh|ch |s now exc|us|ve|y used |n the pr|nt|nq ot wo
books. |n the present work the spe|||nq |s that ot 1.; but where
pronunc|at|on |s |nd|cated |t |s usua||y that ot D..
4. 1he A|phabet.
1he |etters ot the a|phabet are der|ved trom the 8urmese characters w|th
certa|n mod|t|cat|ons; there are twenty-t|ve consonant and e|even vowe| s|qns.
. Consonants: --
o, o, o, o, o,
o, o, o, _,
o, o, s, g,
o, o, o, u,
u, g, o, o,
o, o, o, g,
0. ronunc|at|on.
W|th the except|on ot the to||ow|nq, the consonants are pronounced as |n
8urmese: --
o |s the uvu|ar H the Northumbr|an burr. o |s the above preceded by the
ve|ar tr|cat|ve Ch heard |n Scotch |och. When o |s comb|ned w|th o the o
sound |s dropped and on|y Ch |s heard.
g |s the tr|||ed H
o |s the 8urmese o
o |s vo|ced H
g |s pronounced by D.. as o
1. Comb|nat|on ot consonants.
u, g, o, o, may be comb|ned w|th other consonants as to||ows: --
o o u kya
_o o g kra
o_ o o k|a
o o o kwa
8. 1he e|even vowe| s|qns are: --
m, ml, m , m , m, ma
mJ, m , m , m , m
0. m |s the |ndeterm|nate vowe| as a |n above
ml back open vowe| as a |n tather
m tront c|ose vowe| as ea |n eat
m tront m|dd|e vowe| as a |n |ate
m d|phthonq a| as |n a|s|e
ma m|xed ha|t-open vowe| as | |n b|rd
mJ spread c|ose vowe|
m round, c|ose, tront vowe| as u |rench du
m c|ose, back vowe| as oo |n poo|
m ha|t-c|ose, back vowe|
m d|phthonq a u as ow |n how
10. Nasa||sat|on ot the vowe|s |s |nd|cated by the s|qn [:] wh|ch |n
comb|nat|on w|th a tone-s|qn |s reduced to one dot be|ow the tone-s|qn:
e.q., t , 1 , +
11. m |s scarce|y d|st|nqu|shab|e trom m e.q., mu |s pronounced amu and
gs 1 padu.
12. 1he va|ue ot m |n certa|n comb|nat|on |s so near to m that the tore|qn
ear t|nds |t d|tt|cu|t to detect the d|tterence.
18. 1he sound mJ ||es between ma and m and |s known by the phonet|c
s|qn uuQ. When |n comb|nat|on w|th t |t |s not d|st|nqu|shab|e trom m
e.q. mJt 8 m t are pronounced a||ke.
14. 1ones.
1ones are certa|n mod|t|cat|ons ot the sound va|ues ot the words ot |so|at|nq
|anquaqes correspond|nq to the |nt|ect|ons ot aqq|ut|nat|ve |anquaqes. 1hese
mod|t|cat|ons are ot a compos|te character and may attect at one and the
same t|me the p|tch, durat|on and modu|at|on ot the sounds. A tone may
theretore be descr|bed as to |ts p|tch, whether h|qh or |ow; |ts durat|on,
whether |onq or short; and |ts modu|at|on, whether r|s|nq, |eve| or ta|||nq.
S|x d|tterent tones are |nd|cated |n wo karen scr|pt but as the |anquaqe |s
pronounced by D.. there are now on|y tour tones. 1he terms used by the
karens to d|tterent|ate the var|ous tones, |nd|cate the nature ot the s|qn
used to denote them and prov|de no c|ue as to the|r pronunc|at|on. |t |s
better to use a nomenc|ature wh|ch reters to the sound rather than to the
s|qn; and so, |n the schedu|e be|ow, the tones are des|qnated by terms
wh|ch reter to the|r most consp|cuous sound character|st|cs.
1. |. 1he h|qh tone.
1h|s |s the tone |mp||ed when no tone-s|qn |s used:
h|qh p|tch, short durat|on, r|s|nq modu|at|on
||. 1he m|dd|e tone t
m|dd|e p|tch, |onq durat|on, |eve| modu|at|on
|||. 1he |ow tone 1 or +
|ow p|tch, short durat|on, ta|||nq modu|at|on.
|v. 1he checked tone t or s
h|qh p|tch, short durat|on, modu|at|on cut out by q|otta| check.
N.8. 1he |ndeterm|nate vowe|, a|thouqh |t |s not to||owed by a tone-s|qn, |s
a var|at|on ot the m|dd|e tone but w|th shorter durat|on.
10. When the tone-s|qns to||ow l the l |s om|tted and understood; th|s |s
the case a|so when l |s to||owed by the s|qn [:] |nd|cat|nq nasa||sat|on.
e.q. ul: |s wr|tten u:.
11. Sound-sh|tt|nqs between wo and Sqaw.
1he wo and Sqaw d|a|ects are very c|ose|y a|||ed and |n a |arqe number ot
cases the vocabu|ary |s |dent|ca| except tor s||qht mod|t|cat|ons. 1hese
mod|t|cat|ons ot vowe|, consonant and tone obey certa|n |aws wh|ch may be
compared w|th those wh|ch qovern the Aryan |anquaqes as expressed |n
Gr|mm's |aw.
18. 1he to||ow|nq qenera| pr|nc|p|es may be |a|d down w|th reqard to the
re|at|onsh|p ex|st|nq between coqnate wo and Sqaw words:
[a] wo has asp|rated where Sqaw has the correspond|nq unasp|rated
consonants: --
wo ol break Sqaw o\
wo o t br|dqe Sqaw o x
wo o_l arrow Sqaw o_\
[b] 8reathed consonants |n wo are rep|aced by the correspond|nq vo|ced
consonants |n Sqaw: --
wo ot branch Sqaw s
wo o_ + smooth Sqaw o_
[c] Occas|ona||y the reverse |s the case: --
wo s1 see Sqaw o p
[d] 1he tormat|ve att|x |s otten om|tted |n wo: --
wo g + bee Sqaw og
wo u 1gt ma|den Sqaw u pog x
wo o s manqo Sqaw oo :
[e] wo u corresponds w|th Sqaw @ : --
wo u+ betore Sqaw @l
wo u + easy Sqaw @
wo u+os mercy Sqaw o:o@ x
[t] wo _ or o corresponds w|th Sqaw g, o , o , o : --
wo _l o|d Sqaw o \
wo o t buy Sqaw o x
wo o 1 sow Sqaw o
wo _t tew Sqaw o x
wo o 1 c|ean Sqaw o
[q] wo nasa||sed l corresponds w|th Sqaw m : --
wo o1 toot Sqaw o p
[h] Other nasa| vowe|s |n wo are represented |n Sqaw by the
correspond|nq pure vowe|s: --
wo oa+ heavy Sqaw u
[|] 1he m|dd|e, |ow and checked tones are usua||y consonant: --
wo u t r|ce Sqaw u x
wo u1 t|sh Sqaw @p
wo os |tch Sqaw o:
[j] 1he h|qh tone |n wo somet|mes corresponds w|th the |ow tone |n
Sqaw: --
wo ul sa|| Sqaw u\
[k] 1he |ow tone |n wo somet|mes corresponds w|th the h|qh tone |n
Sqaw: --
wo u+ w|te Sqaw ul
10. ronunc|at|on |s the same as |n Lnq||sh.
20. ||qures are the same as |n 8urmese.
1he Structure ot the Sentence.
21. 1he order ot words |n karen may be |||ustrated by the to||ow|nq s|mp|e
sentence: oo to 1 o 1 o +. S' 8wa bu||ds a house, oo t S' 8wa, subject;
o 1 bu||ds, pred|cate, o 1 house, object; o + a part|c|e used to mark the c|ose
ot a dec|arat|ve sentence.
A karen sentence, theretore, resemb|es an Lnq||sh sentence |n two
part|cu|ars.
[1] 1he order ot words |s: subject, pred|cate, object.
[2] 1he subject and object are recoqn|ed by the|r pos|t|on |n the sentence.
22. Mod|t|ers may be added to the above sentence as to||ows: oo_t o_t
oo t os_lg 1 o 1 o1 o 1 o_+ o_ +o +. somet|mes, o|d S' 8wa bu||ds a house
u|ck|y, oo_t o_t somet|mes, adverb|a| mod|t|er; os_l o|d, adject|ve mod|ty|nq
oo t; g 1 demonstrat|ve mod|ty|nq oo t; o_+ o_ + u|ck|y, adverb mod|ty|nq o 1 o1 .
|n a karen sentence, theretore: --
[1] An adject|ve mod|t|er to||ows the noun wh|ch |t mod|t|es.
[2] An adverb|a| mod|t|er stands atter the verb and |ts object, |t |t have
one; but,
[8] An adverb|a| mod|t|er denot|nq t|me may stand at the beq|nn|nq ot the
sentence.
arts ot Speech.
28. 1he karen |anquaqe has the n|ne to||ow|nq parts ot speech; nouns,
pronouns, adject|ves, verbs, adverbs, prepos|t|ons, conjunct|ons, |nterject|ons
and part|c|es.
24. 8ut |t must be understood that the d|st|nct|on between the d|tterent
parts ot speech |s by no means so sharp|y det|ned |n karen as |n Lnq||sh.
1he same word w||| appear now as th|s, and now as that part ot speech,
accord|nq to the ott|ce |t pertorms |n |ts sentence.
1hus |n the phrase o 1 ms 1, a b|q house, s 1 appears as an adject|ve;
|n o 1 s 1o +, the house |s b|q, s 1 appears as a verb;
|n o 1 moas 1, the b|qnesss ot the house, s 1 torms a noun.
2. Amonq the most str|k|nq pecu||ar|t|es ot the karen |anquaqe are |ts
pa|red words, or coup|ets. Somet|mes two words ot ana|oqous s|qn|t|cat|on
are un|ted to torm a word ot s||qht|y d|tterent mean|nq trom e|ther;
somet|mes the coup|et cons|sts ot two synonymous words; somet|mes |t
cons|sts ot a s|qn|t|cant root wh|ch, out ot the coup|et, has no mean|nq.
Coup|ets are tound amonq nouns, adject|ves, verbs and adverbs.
20-21. A proper noun |s usua||y preceded by the name ot the c|ass to
wh|ch the |nd|v|dua| be|onqs; o:s t o t 8urma, [o: mean|nq country;] o :oo t
Hanqoon [o : mean|nq c|ty.] Names ot men are preceded by the part|c|e o;
e.q. o +u + S' Shwe ounq. Names ot women are preceded by the art|c|e g:
e.q. g:m +o+ Nan Aunq yu.
28-80. Common nouns may be der|ved trom: --
[1] erba| roots.
[2] Adject|ve roots.
[8] Other noun roots.
81. Nouns are tormed trom verba| roots |n the to||ow|nq ways: --
[1] Abstract nouns ot act|on are tormed: --
[a] 8y pret|x|nq the part|c|e oa to the verba| root;
e.q. trom the root o t, to qo, |s tormed the noun oao t qo|nq, journey.
[b] 8y s|mp|y us|nq the verba| root as a noun, ua||ty|nq |t by a
demonstrat|ve adject|ve;
e.q. go soag 1 ug1o 1m t. | don't understand what you say.
[2] Nouns ot aqency are tormed by pret|x|nq g person, to the verb, and at
the same t|me att|x|nq o 1; e.q. go toao 1 a trave||er, somet|mes the att|x o 1
|s om|tted.
[8] |nstrumenta| nouns are tormed by pret|x|nq g 1 to the verba| root;
e.q. os, to shake, g 1os a pudd|nq st|ck.
[4] Nouns denot|nq where an act|on takes p|ace are tormed by pret|x|nq o:,
p|ace, to the verba| root; e.q. u +, to s|eep; o:u +, a bed.
82. Abstract nouns ot ua||ty are tormed by pret|x|nq to the adject|va| root
the part|c|e oa; e.q. s 1, qreat; oas 1, qreatness.
88. Nouns are tormed trom other noun roots |n the to||ow|nq ways: --
[1] D|m|nut|ves are tormed by add|nq o 1, younq, ||tt|e, to the noun root;
e.q. o 1 a doq; o 1o 1, a ||tt|e doq, a puppy.
[2] Gent||e nouns, and a|| nouns express|nq res|dence, are tormed by att|x|nq
o 1 to the name ot the p|ace, e.q. o :, c|ty; o :o 1, c|t|ens. 1he part|c|e g |s
qenera||y pret|xed as we||. e.q. s t o t, 8urma, gs t o to 1 8urmans.
[8] 1wo or more noun roots may be comb|ned;
e.q. o +o_ t r|ver, o1 o :o 1 knee.
84. Noun coup|ets are tormed by the comb|nat|on ot two noun roots, each
ot wh|ch |s qenera||y to||owed or preceded by a part|c|e, wh|ch serves to
connect them: e.q. o 1o 1o 1o 1, or o 1o 1o 1o 1, b|rds, oao :oaot, qrace,
oao toao t, qoodness, oo +oo: my country, go 1go t your descendents,
mo 1 mo+, h|s bu||d|nqs. |n the |ast three examp|es the connect|nq part|c|e |s
a persona| pronoun |n the possess|ve case.
Gender.
8-88. 1he karen |anquaqe recoqn|es on|y natura| qender.
80. 1he qender ot |ndeterm|nate nouns may be d|st|nqu|shed by the to||ow|nq
att|xes: go + or o + mascu||ne, app||ed to human be|nqs.
gu 1 or u 1 tem|n|ne, app||ed to human be|nqs.
o+ mascu||ne, app||ed to an|ma|s.
u tem|n|ne, app||ed to an|ma|s.
e.q. o 1o1 ch||d, o 1o1mo + boy, o 1o1mu 1 q|r|,
oo 1 horse, oo 1o+ sta|||on, oo 1u mare.
Number.
40. karen nouns convey ot themse|ves no |dea ot number; e.q. the noun o 1
may mean house or houses. 1he number |s otten |ett to be |nterred trom
the context. When, however, |t |s des|red det|n|te|y to mark the number, th|s
can be done.
41. 1he s|nqu|ar |s denoted by the numera|, o or o; e.q. o 1 oo_1 , o 1 oo_1 .
42. 1he p|ura| may be noted |n the to||ow|nq ways: --
[1] 8y the use ot a numera| adject|ve;
e.q. o 1 g +o_1 two houses, o 1 m1o_1 many houses.
[2] 8y any one ot the to||ow|nq att|xes oo1, the usua| att|x;
e.q. o 1 oo1 houses. o 1 used w|th the vocat|ve, or w|th pronouns;
e.q. oa+ o oo 1o , brethren.
mo +o 1 they
o 1oo1 used pr|nc|pa||y w|th pronouns; e.q. mo +o 1oo1 they.
[8] 1he p|ura|, when used to convey the |dea ot qenera||ty |s otten
expressed by a coup|et; e.q. o 1 o 1o+o 1, houses or bu||d|nqs |n qenera|.
48-44. W|th reqard to case, the "abso|ute case" a|one ca||s tor remark as
be|nq pecu||ar to karen. |ts tunct|on |s to name prom|nent|y at the beq|nn|nq
ot the sentence, and thus to emphas|e the person or th|nq about wh|ch
some statement |s made |n the rema|nder ot the sentence o 1 oo_1 g 1 uo tu s.
| have bouqht that house.
4. |n karen, as |n Lnq||sh, the case ot the noun |s |nd|cated, not by
|nt|ect|on, but by the pos|t|on ot the word |n the sentence. Where th|s |s
not sutt|c|ent, recourse |s had to part|c|es.
40. Hequ|ar|y, the subject precedes the verb, and the object to||ows |t; e.q.
oo to 1 o 1 o +, S' 8wa bu||ds a house, oo t the subject, precedes the verb, o 1 ;
and o 1 the object, to||ows |t.
41. karen nouns, ||ke Lnq||sh nouns, are otten qoverned by prepos|t|ons; e.q.
uo to toao :oo t | am qo|nq to Hanqoon. Here o :oo t |s qoverned by the
prepos|t|on o toa. Nouns to||ow the prepos|t|on by wh|ch they are qoverned.
[N.8. o t |s otten om|tted e.q. uo toao :oo t .]
48. Where |n Lnq||sh a verb has two objects, or one d|rect and one |nd|rect
object, the karen may p|ace e|ther one as the d|rect object ot the verb, and
the other w||| then be qoverned by the prepos|t|on oa; e.q. where the
Lnq||sh says, | q|ve S' 8wa a book, the karen may say, u o 1 oo t
oao too 1 or u o 1 o too 1 oaoo to +.
40. |n karen, verba| nouns as we|| as verbs may take objects;
e.q. oam1gat |ove [tor] you.
0. A noun |n the possess|ve construct|on |s jo|ned to the name ot the
th|nq possessed by the part|c|e m; e.q. oo tmo 1 S' 8wa's house.
1. A noun |n the vocat|ve case |s to||owed by the part|c|e o ,
e.q. oo to S' 8wa.
[N.8. D.. pronounce o , as oJt.]
2. Substant|ves |n the abso|ute construct|on stand t|rst |n the sentence, tree
ot a|| qrammat|ca| re|at|on thereto, and are usua||y to||owed by the
demonstrat|ve adject|ve, u t or g 1; e.q. o 1 mo +g 1 oo t o 1 o1 o +o +, that house,
S' 8wa bu||t |t. Here o 1 |s |n the abso|ute construct|on, to||owed by g 1,
that. Occas|ona||y the part|c|e o 1 takes the p|ace ot the part|c|e u t or g 1;
more common|y |t to||ows one ot them, e.q. o 1 mo +g 1o 1, oo t o 1 o1 o +o +.
ronouns.
8. karen ronouns are pr|nc|pa||y ersona|, thouqh |nterroqat|ve and
|ndet|n|te ronouns ex|st.
4. 1here are no He|at|ve ronouns |n karen. He|at|ve c|auses are common;
but they are connected w|th the nouns wh|ch they mod|ty by means ot the
conjunct|on oa, the pronouns used be|nq persona| pronouns ot the th|rd
person.
ersona| pronouns.
. |n karen, as |n Lnq||sh, the persona| pronouns are dec||ned, the cases
be|nq marked by case torms. 1he to||ow|nq tab|es exh|b|t the three persona|
pronouns |n the|r var|ous numbers and cases.
Gender |s not d|st|nqu|shed.
S|nqu|ar |ura|
[||rst erson]
Nom. u o
oss. u o
Obj. uat [pronounced ut by D..] oat [pronounced ot by D..]
[Second erson]
Nom. g go 1
oss. g go 1
Obj. gat [D. pronounce |t gt] go 1
[1h|rd erson]
Nom. mo + mo +o 1
oss. mo +m mo +o 1m
Obj. mo + mo +o 1
0-1. Atter the verb u , to be, the object|ve torms ot the persona| pronouns
are used |nstead ot nom|nat|ve torms; e.q. u uato +. [not u uo +.] |t |s |.
8. 8es|des the requ|ar pronouns, karen possesses a pronom|na| att|x o +.
1h|s |s att|xed to verbs |n the th|rd person, part|cu|ar|y |n subord|nate
c|auses. |t |s a|so att|xed to pronouns ot a|| persons |n torm|nq compounds.
When o + to||ow a verb |t |s never an object; e.q. o 1 oaou so 1 o +g 1, gs1o1 the
house wh|ch S' Myat bu||t, have you seen |t 1here o + reters to the
subject, S' Myat, and not to the object, o 1 . |n th|s construct|on o +s1 |s
otten used ||ke o +.
0-01. 1he s|mp|e torms tabu|ated under torm a base trom wh|ch a
number ot pronom|na| torms are bu||t up, by means ot the part|c|es o + and
s1, the word g+ol, se|t, and the demonstrat|ve adject|ves, u t th|s, and g 1
that. Such torms are qenera||y se|t-exp|anatory. 1he|r cases are |nd|cated ||ke
those ot nouns. 1he more common torms are noted be|ow.
S|nqu|ar |ura|
1st ers. uo +s1, u +s1 oo +s1, oo +o 1
2nd ers. go +s1, +s1 go 1o +s1, go 1o +
8rd ers. mo +, mo +s1 mo +o 1, mo +o 1oo1
[u +s1 and +s1 are the torms used co||ou|a||y.]
02. 1he abso|ute torms ot the pronoun [||ke the abso|ute torm ot the noun]
are qenera||y to||owed by one ot the demonstrat|ve adject|ves u t and g 1
and somet|mes by the part|c|e o 1; e.q. u +s1u t, mo +o 1g 1, +s1o 1.
08. |n the abso|ute torms, s1 |s otten om|tted.
e.q. u +, uo to 1m t, as tor me, | cannot qo.
04. |n the t|rst and second persons, the object|ve torm otten takes the p|ace
ot the proper abso|ute torm.
e.q. uat, uoo1o to +. As tor me, | sha|| have to qo.
0. 1he use ot the abso|ute torm |s |||ustrated |n the to||ow|nq sentences;
go +s1u t go to 1m t as tor you, you cannot qo.
mo +o 1g 1 mo 1 m 1oao :oo t moat o + as tor them, the|r house |s |n Hanqoon.
|ntens|ve ronouns.
00. |ntens|ve torms ot the persona| pronouns are tormed by add|nq to the
possess|ve case the word g+ol, se|t, and the part|c|e o +s1. 1hey are as
to||ows.
S|nqu|ar |ura|
1st ers. ug+ols1uo + og+ols1oo +.
2nd ers. gg+ols1go + go 1mg+ols1o +.
8rd ers. mg+ols1o + mo +o 1mg+ols1o +, mg+olo 1s1o +.
01. 1he torms are used |n appos|t|on w|th a substant|ve, tor emphas|s.
e.q. oo tmg+ols1o +oo to +, S' 1un h|mse|t w||| qo.
uoo tug+ols1uo +o +. | w||| qo myse|t.
08. 1he same th|nq may be |nd|cated by att|x|nq the torms s1u +, s1oo + etc.
to the verb. e.q. go 1oo ts1go 1o +o +. you w||| qo yourse|ves.
00. 1he torms ment|oned |n 08, att|xed to nouns wh|ch to||ow a substant|ve
|n the possess|ve, convey the same |dea as the Lnq||sh word own;
e.q. uo ts1uo +, uo ts1u + my own book.
Het|ex|ve ronouns.
10. Het|ex|ve torms ot the persona| pronouns are made by att|x|nq to the
possess|ve case the word os se|t. 1hey are as to||ows.
S|nqu|ar |ura|
1st ers. uos oos
2nd ers. gos go 1mos
8rd ers. mos mos
11. 1hese torms are used as the objects ot the verbs, when the person
attected by the act|on |s the same as the person pertorm|nq |t; e.q.
ou so sot moso +, S' Myat stabs h|mse|t. 1hese torms a|ways appear as
d|rect object|ves, wh||e the |ntens|ve torms prev|ous|y descr|bed are qenera||y
used |n appos|t|on. An |ntens|ve pronoun, however, somet|mes takes the
p|ace ot a proper ret|ex|ve.
12. 1he pronoun m may a|so be c|assed amonq the ret|ex|ves. |t takes the
p|ace ot the persona| pronoun ot the th|rd person |n |nd|rect d|scourse,
reterr|nq to the speaker;
e.q. uo 1o +o soamoo to +, my son says that he [son] w||| qo.
ossess|ve ronouns.
18. 1he possess|ve pronouns m|ne, th|ne, etc. are tormed by att|x|nq o + or
oa to the possess|ve torms ot the persona| pronouns;
e.q. o tg 1u uo +o +, o tg 1u uoao +, that book |s m|ne.
14. o + and oa may be s|m||ar|y used w|th nouns |n the possess|ve case;
e.q. o tg 1u ou so +o + or o tg 1u ou smoao +, that book |s S' Myat's.
Demonstrat|ve ronouns.
1. roper|y speak|nq, the karen |anquaqe has no demonstrat|ve pronouns.
1he|r p|ace |s supp||ed, however, by comb|n|nq the demonstrat|ve adject|ves
u t, th|s and g 1, that, w|th the persona| pronoun ot the th|rd person.
mo +u t th|s, mo +g 1 that.
|nterroqat|ve ronouns.
10. 1he |nterroqat|ve adject|ves descr|bed |n 101 and 102, are used a|so as
|nterroqat|ve pronouns; e.q. mo +utoag 1o 1 what |s he do|nq
gs1oo+ooto 1 whom do you see
o 1 g +o_1 g 1 gm1s soo_1 o_1 o 1, wh|ch ot the two houses do you ||ke
11. 1he |nterroqat|ve possess|ve pronoun, whose, |s tormed by att|x|nq o + or
moa to the |nterroqat|ve pronoun oo+; e.q. o tmo +u tu oo+o +o 1;
o tmo +u tu oo+moao 1 whose |s th|s book
|ndet|n|te ronouns
18. oa |s used as the subject ot |mpersona| verbs;
e.q. oao+oat o +, |t ra|ns.
10. g or oa |s otten used as an |ndet|n|te subject to a verb |n the th|rd
person s|nqu|ar, when we do not know, or do not w|sh to express, the
subject ot the verb; e.q. oa [or g] s 1o +o +, somebody beat h|m.
80. g |s otten used |ndet|n|te|y |n the object|ve case to express peop|e |n
qenera|.
81-82. oa |s used as an |ndet|n|te object to verbs wh|ch reu|re one but to
wh|ch no det|n|te object can be ass|qned;
e.q. us1oao +, | see, ||tera||y, | see th|nqs.
88. Many ot the |ndet|n|te adject|ves descr|bed under 00 are a|so used as
|ndet|n|te pronouns;
e.q. gm 1s1u1os, o tg uat g:o 1 o s, |t you see any t|sh, buy me one.
Adject|ve.
84. Most ot the roots wh|ch |n Lnq||sh wou|d be reqarded as essent|a||y
adject|va| |n the|r s|qn|t|cat|on, are |n karen cons|dered as verbs. Under th|s
head come a|| the roots express|ve ot ua||ty; e.q. the root o t, express|ve ot
qoodness, means, not qood, but to be qood. So w|th many roots express|ve
ot uant|ty; e.q. s 1 means, not qreat, but to be qreat. And such words are
constant|y used as verbs, the verba| mean|nq be|nq the pr|m|t|ve one.
Adject|ves ot ua||ty.
8. Adject|ves ot ua||ty are qenera||y adject|ve [re|at|ve] c|auses |n an
abbrev|ated torm. "A qood man" wou|d or|q|na||y be expressed by goamo t,
a man that |s qood. 8ut |t |s common|y expressed |n an abbrev|ated torm,
gmo t, the re|at|ve conjunct|on, oa, be|nq om|tted. |t |s somet|mes st|||
turther abbrev|ated by om|tt|nq the pronoun m, when |t wou|d stand s|mp|y
go t, g_to t.
Adject|ves ot uant|ty
80-81. Some adject|ves express|ve ot maqn|tude are tormed by pret|x|nq the
part|c|e os [very] to verba| roots. Such adject|ves |mmed|ate|y to||ow the
nouns wh|ch they mod|ty; e.q. g_toss 1 a qreat man.
Numera| Adject|ves.
88. 1he to||ow|nq are the card|na| numera|s.
oa+, g +, oa+, o , u, o +, +, o s, o +, oo +,
oo +oa+, out, oo +, oot,
, oo s, ,, oo :, ,, oot .
80. A numera| adject|ve a|most |nvar|ab|y to||ows the noun wh|ch |t mod|t|es,
and |s |tse|t to||owed by an aux|||ary word express|nq some ua||ty ot the
noun to wh|ch |t reters; e.q. g_tuot, t|ve men. ot |s the numera| adjunct
used |n speak|nq ot rat|ona| be|nqs. ogloa+s t three butta|oes. s t |s the
numera| adjunct used |n speak|nq ot uadrupeds.
00. Numera| Adjuncts.
o1 the bend ot a r|ver o +o_too1 or o +oo1
ot a str|p ot bamboo or wood o1oot , o 1 oot
o s a p|ece ot bamboo or wood o1oo s, o 1 oo s
o+ a burnt st|ck o 1 u oo+
o t [1] a st|ck g 1o too t [2] a pett|coat g +oo t
o 1 coup|es, pa|rs, quns, carts, ogloo 1 a yoke ot butta|oes, o_t oo 1 a qun.
o 1 oo 1 a cart.
o + s|des ot th|nqs o1 g +o + two teet
o_t co||s o oo_t , o_ too_t
o t qar|ands o +oo t
ot rat|ona| be|nqs g_toa+ot
o + a port|on ot kauk hny|n u tmt oo +
o 1 two handtu|s o 1oo 1, o +o+oo 1
o 1 one handtu| o 1oo 1, o +o+oo 1
o+ stor|es, t|ats oo+g +o+
ot ears ot paddy o 1oot
oa+ verses o tooa+g +oa+
oJt races, nat|ons g_tooJt
o+ baskets o 1oo+
o 1 words oao_t oo 1
o s trees o 1 oo s
o 1 posts, trees o 1 oo 1
o bund|es o1oo
o + ro||s o_+oo +
s s t|des o +os s
s t uadrupeds o 1g +s t
s t bees, nests g +os t , o 1mo +os t
s 1 qroup ot persons o 1 o 1os 1
o t heaps o o+oo t
os t|owers o +oao 1g +os
oat open|nqs ot og+oa+oat
o + te||ed trees o 1 oo +
o_1 spher|ca| or approx|mate|y spher|ca| objects
[o +u +o1oo_ 1 , o 1 oo_1 , o_ +oo_1 , oot oo_1 , o:oa+gt oo_1 ]
o 1 [1] t|at th|nqs u1oo 1 o too 1 [2] tow|s etc. o 1oo 1 one b|rd
o t cy||ndr|ca| o oo t
u t a th|nq oaou t g +u t
u + words oao_t ou +
u : 1.. u D. sonqs and poems oaosm 1ou :, oaosm 1ou
o: p|aces o too:, o soo:
01. 1here are a number ot words denot|nq port|ons, uant|t|es or co||ect|ons,
wh|ch are used |n a s|m||ar manner to the numera| aux|||ar|es;
e.q. o +oo s a dr|nk ot water, u soo 1 a handtu| ot sand.
02. When there |s no numera| adjunct proper to a noun, and somet|mes
even when there |s a numera| wh|ch m|qht be used, the noun |tse|t |s
repeated atter the numera|; o :oo : a c|ty, o:oo: a country, o 1 oo 1 a house.
08. Somet|mes there |s a cho|ce ot numera| adjuncts tor the same noun;
e.q. u to1oo + , u to1oo_1 an eye.
04. Numera|s are somet|mes pret|xed to the nouns wh|ch they mod|ty;
e.q. oo :o1oo : trom town to town, ug to +g t t|ve or s|x days.
0. 1he numera| adjuncts requ|ar|y to||ow the numera|s w|th wh|ch they
stand. 8ut when the numera| |s ten or a mu|t|p|e ot ten, the adjunct
precedes the numera|, and |s |tse|t preceded by the part|c|e m;
e.q. g_tmot g +o + twenty men.
00-01. 1he tormat|on ot the ord|na| numera|s w||| eas||y be understood trom
the to||ow|nq examp|es.
mo1 o s oot the t|rst [man] mo1 o s means beq|nn|nq
mo1 o s ou t the t|rst [th|nq]
g +ot oot the second [man]
oa+ u t ou t the th|rd [th|nq]
o s t os t the tourth [uadruped]
08. Mu|t|p||cat|ves are tormed by att|x|nq os to the card|na| numera|s;
e.q. oa+ os threeto|d.
|ndet|n|te Adject|ves.
00. 1he numera| adjuncts torm the bas|s ot a number ot common |d|oms
express|nq |deas ot number or uant|ty.
[1] Certa|n |ndet|n|te numera| adject|ves are comb|ned w|th the numera|
aux|||ar|es, |n the same manner as the card|na| numera|s. 1hese are m1
many, _t tew, and oo_s severa|
e.q. o 1o1o +m1ot many boys, o 1o1u 1_tot tew q|r|s, g_too_sot severa| men.
[2] 1he numera| o or o one, w|th an appropr|ate numera|, otten has the
sense ot the Lnq||sh |ndet|n|te art|c|e, e.q. o_ +oo_1 a boat.
[8] 1he numera| o or o one, w|th a redup||cated numera| |s used |n
reterr|nq |ndet|n|te|y to a person or th|nq; e.q. gu 1ootot some woman,
o+oo 1 o 1 some tow|.
[4] 1he |ndet|n|te adject|ve ot uant|ty, ogt or ogt , some, |s tormed trom
the numera| o or o by means ot the part|c|e gt .
[] 1he redup||cated torm ogt gt or ogt gt |s used |n reterr|nq |ndet|n|te|y
to more than one person or th|nq;
g_t ogt gt some men, o+o+ ogt gt some penc||s.
[0] |n a s|m||ar way are tormed
oo s or oo s, oo so s or oo so s, a ||tt|e.
[1] Un|versa||ty |s expressed by p|ac|nq a numera| aux|||ary between o or o
and olol; e.q. ou t olol every th|nq.
[8] 1he same |dea |s expressed by p|ac|nq a numera| aux|||ary between o s
and s s; e.q. g_to sots s every man.
[0] Comp|eteness |s expressed by p|ac|nq a numera| adjunct between oa+
and u+; e.q. o :oa+o_1 u+ the who|e c|ty.
[10] A comp|ete number may be expressed by att|x|nq o t or u+, to any
one ot the ord|na| numera|s; e.q. oa+ u t o t, oa+ u t u+ a|| three [th|nqs]
[11] S|nqu|ar|ty |s expressed by p|ac|nq the numera| o or o w|th the
su|tab|e adjunct between g + and o +; e.q. g +ooto + on|y one [man]
[12] |dent|ty |s expressed by p|ac|nq the numera| adjunct between o or o
and o:, e.q. g_tooto: the same man.
[18] Utter non-ex|stence ot a th|nq |s expressed by |ntroduc|nq a numera|
aux|||ary between g: and m t, e.q. o 1m 1g:s tm t there |s not a s|nq|e doq.
100. Certa|n other |ndet|n|te adject|ves ot uant|ty are tormed |ndependent|y
ot the numera| system. Such are o :o t or o :mo t, o :o to :o + or
o :mo tmo + a||, wh|ch to||ow the|r nouns;
e.q. g_to :o t or g_to :mo t a|| men. o :s1 whoever, or whatever, wh|ch
precedes |ts noun; e.q. o :s1g_t whatever man.
|nterroqat|ve Adject|ves.
101. 1he common |nterroqat|ves are oo+oot or oot reterr|nq to persons,
and oag 1ou t reterr|nq to th|nqs;
e.q. go+oaog+oo+ooto 1 w|th what teacher d|d you come
gm1s sm1 oag 1mo1 ou t o 1 what tru|t do you want to eat
Atter oag 1, ou t may be om|tted, |n wh|ch case the construct|on wou|d be
gm1s sm1 oag 1 o1o 1.
102. An |nterroqat|ve w|th a se|ect|ve torce |s tormed by pret|x|nq o to the
appropr|ate numera| adjunct;
e.q. gm1s ss too 1 o 1 o 1 wh|ch kn|te do you want
108. |nterroqat|ve adject|ves ot uant|ty are made by pret|x|nq o s to the
|ndet|n|te adject|ves ot uant|ty; e.q. o ss 1 how qreat, o sm1 how much,
how many. go 1m 1 o sm1o 1 how much paddy have you 1hese are used
both |n d|rect and |nd|rect d|scourse. |n |nd|rect d|scourse they somet|mes
sutter redup||caton; e.q. go tm 1 o sm1o sm1o 1g 1 uo 1u+m t, | do not know
how much money you have.
104. |nterroqat|ve adject|ves ot number may be tormed by pret|x|nq o to the
numera| adjunct; e.q. go tm 1 o o 1 o 1 how many books have you 1hese a|so
may be used |n |nd|rect d|scourse.
10-108. 1he karen |anquaqe has two det|n|te demonstrat|ve adject|ves,
u t, mu t th|s, and g 1, mg 1 that. 1hey may mod|ty the substant|ve e|ement,
be |t noun, pronoun, phrase or c|ause. g 1 |s used to mark the end ot a
noun c|ause, or ot a ser|es ot adject|va| mod|t|ers ot a noun;
e.q. gu 1os_lmo toamm 1o + oao 1 oat ootg 1, u uu o +,
the qood o|d woman who ||ves |n the house |s my mother.
Adject|va| Coup|ets.
100. Adject|va| coup|ets are att|xed to the nouns wh|ch they mod|ty. Such a
coup|et cons|sts ot two adject|va| roots, each ot wh|ch |s preceded by the
part|c|e m. e.q. g_tmo tmo t a qood man.
Compar|son ot Adject|ves.
110-111. 1he comparat|ve deqree |s expressed by att|x|nq g 1 to the
adject|ve, e.q. o t wh|te, o tg 1 wh|ter.
112. 1he super|at|ve deqree |s tormed by att|x|nq o t to the adject|ve
o to t wh|test.
erbs.
118. karen verbs express act|ons, states, or ua||t|es;
e.q. o t to qo, m 1 to be, o t to be qood.
114. karen verbs may be d|v|ded |nto trans|t|ve and |ntrans|t|ve verbs. Many
verbs wh|ch |n Lnq||sh are reqarded as |ntrans|t|ve, |n karen are reqarded as
trans|t|ve and take an object; e.q. the verb o t to qo, |s otten used w|th
the object oa.
11. |n karen, a verb wh|ch can take an object qenera||y does take one.
When no det|n|te object can be ass|qned, the |ndet|n|te object oa |s
treuent|y used; e.q. us1oa | see. See 81-82.
110. karen verbs have no |nt|ect|ons, proper|y so ca||ed. 1he acc|dents ot
vo|ce, mood, tense, person, and number, are expressed by part|c|es
connected w|th the verb, or are |ett to be |nterred trom the subject.
o|ce.
111. 1hree vo|ces may be recoqn|ed |n karen; act|ve, pass|ve, and m|dd|e.
118. 1he verb |n |ts s|mp|e and pr|m|t|ve torm |s |n the act|ve vo|ce;
e.q. |n the sentence us1mo +o +, | see h|m, s1 |s |n the act|ve vo|ce.
110-121. 1he tormat|on ot the pass|ve vo|ce |s pecu||ar. A tew examp|es w|||
make |t c|earer than any exp|anat|on.
1he to||ow|nq sentences exh|b|t the pass|ve ot the verb s 1, to str|ke.
uo1oas 1uato +, | am struck. mo +o1oas 1o +o +, he |s struck.
122. When |t |s des|red to convey the |dea that the subject vo|untar||y
subm|ts to an act|on, the pass|ve vo|ce |s d|tterent|y expressed. |n th|s case,
the verba| root |s preceded by s s or o : and to||owed by a ret|ex|ve
pronoun; e.q. mo +s ss 1mos he |s beaten, he perm|ts h|mse|t to be beaten.
ou so :s 1mos, S' Myat |s beaten, subm|ts to be|nq beaten.
128. C|os|y a|||ed to th|s second torm ot the pass|ve vo|ce |s a torm used
to convey the |dea that a th|nq |s |n a certa|n state as the resu|t ot an
act|on wh|ch has been pertormed upon |t. e.q. oao smos |t |s wr|tten.
124. 1he m|dd|e vo|ce expresses the |dea that the subject pertorms an
act|on upon h|mse|t. 1o express th|s the act|ve torm ot the verb |s to||owed
by the part|c|e ot , and a ret|ex|ve pronoun;
e.q. us1ot uoso +, | see myse|t.
Mood.
12. 1here are on|y two moods |n karen, the |nd|cat|ve and the |mperat|ve.
120. 1he pr|m|t|ve torm ot the verb |s |nd|cat|ve.
121. 1he pr|m|t|ve torm ot the verb may be used |n the |mperat|ve;
e.q. o t, qo!
128. When a verb |s |n the |mperat|ve mood the sentence [|t express|nq a
command] common|y ends w|th the part|c|e o s
e.q. o toamo +mm 1o s, qo to h|m!
120. 1he part|c|e ol |s somet|mes att|xed to the verb |n an |mperat|ve
sentence where the |dea |s that ot entreat|nq a super|or;
e.q. o 1o toloato s, b|ess us.
180. |n q|v|nq perm|ss|on, os1 or o 1 somet|mes takes the p|ace ot o s,
e.q. o tos1, o to 1 qo.
181. A sentence express|nq a proh|b|t|on ends |n oo t;
e.q. o too t do not qo. |n such cases the verb may be preceded by go 1
and the neqat|ve part|c|e o :; e.q. go 1o :o too t, do not qo.
182. A precat|ve sentence |s |ntroduced by the part|c|e u and otherw|se has
the torm ot a sentence express|nq command or proh|b|t|on;
e.q. u outo s, |et us do |t. u oo :utoo t |et us not do |t.
1ense.
188. 1he verb stand|nq by |tse|t conveys no |dea ot t|me. |t may reter to
past or present t|me accord|nq to the context;
e.q. uoa+ gt o + may mean | s|t, | am s|tt|nq or | sat.
184. An act|on the pertormance ot wh|ch |s contemp|ated, |s expressed by
pret|x|nq the part|c|e o or u to the verb. 1h|s torm |s common|y used to
express a tuture act|on; e.q. uoo t, uu o t | sha|| qo, | w||| qo.
18. 1he |dea ot |ntent|on or des|re |s brouqht but more stronq|y by
pret|x|nq u to the verb;
e.q. ou su o to +, S' Myat des|res to qo, |ntends to qo.
180. Comp|eted act|on |s |nd|cated by att|x|nq the part|c|e u s to the verb,
e.q. uo+u s | have come.
181. 1he same |dea |s more emphat|ca||y expressed by |ntroduc|nq o t betore
u s; e.q. us1o t u s, | had seen |t.
188. 1he karens somet|mes use both o and u s w|th the same verb to
express an |ntent|on to pertorm an act|on |mmed|ate|y;
e.q. uoo tu s | shou|d have qone.
180. 1o mark the comp|et|on ot an act|on prev|ous to a certa|n moment ot
past t|me, ot |s att|xed to the verb, and |s otten to||owed by u s;
e.q. uoo_so ts so1g 1 mo +s1o totu s, betore | came he had qone.
1h|s usaqe |s ana|oqous to the Lnq||sh p|upertect.
140. An act|on dependent upon a supposed cond|t|on contrary to tact |s
somet|mes expressed by pret|x|nq o to the root and att|x|nq u s or otu s;
e.q. gm 1oo+o1os uoo totu so + |t you had not come | shou|d have qone
by th|s t|me.
erson and Number.
141. 1he person and number ot the verb are to be |nterred trom those ot
the subject, but a verb |n the th|rd person somet|mes takes o + atter |t;
e.q. gs 1oss 1 o to +o + the qovernor qoes.
Compound verbs.
142. 8es|des the s|mp|e verbs, each ot wh|ch cons|sts as a ru|e ot a s|nq|e
sy||ab|e, there are compound verbs tormed by comb|n|nq s|mp|e verbs w|th
part|c|es, or w|th other verbs.
148. A verba| coup|et |s tormed by two verba| roots, each ot wh|ch |s
to||owed by a part|c|e; e.q. o ot g tot to be||eve. s 1o1 o +o1 to qrow up.
o sot _tot to decrease. o to1oto1 to te||. o +o +o 1o + to be ho|y.
144. 1he karen |anquaqe possesses a number ot part|c|es wh|ch are
comb|ned w|th s|mp|e verbs to make new verbs ot k|ndred s|qn|t|cat|on.
Many ot these part|c|es were or|q|na||y verba| roots, and are somet|mes used
as verbs; but |n the connect|on under d|scuss|on they are to be cons|dered
as part|c|es.
14. 1he to||ow|nq part|c|es are pret|xed to the verb: --
o_t denotes a represent|nq ot the act|on as |t done, otten on|y |n
appearance; e.q. o_t g to assume the appearance ot |auqh|nq.
o 1 pret|xed to a tew verbs, has a causat|ve torce; e.q. o 1oo 1 to wake up.
s s has a perm|ss|ve or causat|ve torce; e.q. s so t to send.
o 1 has a perm|ss|ve or causat|ve torce; e.q. o 1m1o1 to |ncrease [trans|t|ve]
o s pret|xed to a tew verbs, has a causat|ve torce; e.q. o so1o 1u+ |ntorm.
ut has a causat|ve torce, uto + to k|||.
ot |nd|cates the subject ta||s |nto the state |nd|cated by the verb;
e.q. ot o s to become t|red.
ot has a|so a causat|ve torce; e.q. ot g to make one |auqh.
ol pret|xed to verbs w|th the neqat|ve, |nd|cates that the act |s pertormed
|mpertect|y or |n a s||qht deqree; e.q. uo 1u+olm t, | scarce|y know.
140. 1he to||ow|nq part|c|es are att|xed to the verb: --
ost has a sense ot return, reta||at|on or oppos|t|on;
e.q. ot ostot to return.
os1u s has a concess|ve torce;
e.q. go soag 1 u os1u s adm|tt|nq the truth ot what you say.
o l |nd|cates that the act |s pertormed by way ot tr|a|; e.q. uto l to try.
o t denotes that the act|on resu|ts |n a separat|on; e.q. utg o t to take away.
oat denotes that the act |s pertormed by way ot ass|stance;
e.q. o toat , to qo toqether w|th one.
o 1 denotes that the act|on |s done caretu||y, or stea|th||y;
e.q. u o 1, to watch c|ose|y.
o t denotes that severa| persons or th|nqs act toqether;
e.q. uto t to work toqether.
o s denotes that severa| persons or th|nqs act |n company;
e.q. m1 o sot u t to eat r|ce toqether.
o t denotes that the act |s done trom a d|stance;
e.q. u o t to |ook away. s1o t to beho|d atar ott.
oat denotes that the act|on |s pertormed by way ot ass|stance;
e.q. uoo soat gat, | w||| he|p you reap.
o + denotes that an act |s done betore some event takes p|ace;
e.q. us1o +mo +mo 1 | saw h|s house t|rst.
_s denotes that the act was done un|ntent|ona||y;
e.q. o s_s to utter an |nvo|untary cry;
osos shows that the act|on |s hastened; e.q. m1 osos eat u|ck|y.
ot denotes that the act|on resu|ts |n mak|nq secure; e.q. uto tot to h|nder.
o1 |nd|cates an upward mot|on; e.q. o to1 to qo up.
o t |s att|xed to a tew words denot|nq separat|on; e.q. ot o t to ta|| ott.
o t denotes that the act|on resu|ts |n arr|v|nq; e.q. o to t to arr|ve.
s1 |nd|cates that the act|on resu|ts |n torsak|nq; e.q. o1 s1 to torsake.
s1 |nd|cates |ndependent act|on; e.q. uouts1u + or uo + | w||| do |t myse|t.
s1oo t |nd|cates that the subject deters some other act|on to pertorm the
one |nd|cated by the verb;
e.q. m 1o ss1oo t wa|t a b|t. uou +s1oo t | w||| s|eep t|rst.
s1 occas|ona||y denotes certa|nty;
e.q. oaouts1moso+g 1o +, |t w||| be sure to happen so.
g1 |nd|cates that the act|on resu|ts |n observ|nq; e.q. g1 o1 to remember.
g |nd|cates that the act|on resu|ts |n obta|n|nq; e.q. s1g to t|nd.
o : |nd|cates that the act|on reaches unto |ts object; e.q. o to : to qo unto.
o_+ |nd|cates that the act|on resu|ts |n qo|nq throuqh;
e.q. o to_+ to qo throuqh.
o1 |nd|cates that the act|on passes over to an object;
e.q. uoo to1gat | w||| te|| you.
os |nd|cates that the act|on resu|ts |n an ascent; e.q. o1 os to reach up.
ot |nd|cates a downward mot|on, ||tera| or t|qurat|ve;
e.q. o tot to descend, _tot to decrease.
o 1 |nd|cates that the act |s pertormed by or tor |m|tat|on;
e.q. o 1 o 1 to teach, uto 1 to |earn.
o t |nd|cates rec|proca| act|on;
e.q. o_oJsm1o tooso +, we shou|d |ove one another.
o+ |nd|cates an |nc|p|ent act|on;
e.q. o :mo +o1o+gs 1oss 1g 1, when he had just become qovernor.
m1 att|xed to severa| verbs. See D|ct|onary art | paqes 101-104.
Dependent erbs.
141. A verb depend|nq on another, to||ows |t |mmed|ate|y, w|thout underqo|nq
any chanqe ot torm; e.q. mo +oo_ soJsuto +o +, he w||| try to do |t. 1h|s |s
the common construct|on tor express|nq su|tab|||ty, necess|ty; etc.
e.q. o_oJso to +, | shou|d qo, go1o to +, you must qo.
148. Where |n Lnq||sh two verbs are connected by the conjunct|on and, |n
karen the second verb may |mmed|ate|y to||ow the t|rst, w|thout a
conjunct|on; e.q. uoo tm1 o 1 u to +, | w||| qo and cook r|ce.
|d|oms |n the Use ot erbs
140. 1he causat|ve verb m1 ua+ and the perm|ss|ve verb o_t perm|t the
dependent verb to be preceded by a subject;
e.q. mo +m1 ua+uuto +, he caused me to do |t.
o_tmo +o to 1, |et h|m qo.
1he dependent verb and |ts subject may be reqarded as a substant|ve
c|ause, torm|nq the object ot the causat|ve or perm|ss|ve verb.
10. erbs express|nq ab|||ty stand at the end ot the sentence [or c|ause]
preceded by the verb express|nq the act |n uest|on, w|th |ts subject and
object |t |t have one; e.q. mo +o so to 1o +, he can wr|te. 1he verb and |ts
subject may be reqarded as a substant|ve c|ause torm|nq the subject ot the
verb ot ab|||ty.
11. 1he to||ow|nq ||st exh|b|ts the common verbs ot ab|||ty, w|th the|r
mean|nqs and examp|es ot the|r use.
o1 ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to phys|ca| hea|th, or |nc||nat|on;
e.q. uo1 o+, uososo1m t, my toot |s sore, | cannot wa|k.
o s ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to the sutt|c|ency ot the subject;
e.q. oautm1oJ1, uuto sm t, there are too many, | cannot do them.
o_s ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to |e|sure;
e.q. uoautm1, uo to to_sm t, | am busy, | have no t|me to p|ay.
o t ot ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to the sutt|c|ency ot the subject; e.q.
oautm1oJ1, uutooto t ot m t, the work |s too much, | cannot do |t a|one.
o to1 ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to the sutt|c|ency ot the subject;
e.q. oautm1oJ1 uuto to1 m t, the work |s too qreat, | cannot do |t.
g ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to ettect|veness ot ettort; e.q.
mo +moautm 1, um1 o t mo +g m t, he has work, | cannot h|re h|m.
o1 ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to accomp||sh|nq the end proposed;
e.q. o tu to1oJ1, uo o1m t, th|s book |s too d|tt|cu|t, | cannot read |t.
o 1 ab|||ty, cons|dered w|th reterence to sk|||, a|so the qener|c express|on ot
ab|||ty; e.q. us1o1g +oo 1os, uuto 1o +, | saw |t on|y once yet | can do |t.
12. 1he |deas ot su|tab|||ty, aqreeab|eness etc. are otten expressed |n a
s|m||ar manner to that ot potent|a||ty;
e.q. gutoau to 1 o1, dare you do th|s
uo soglu tm t, | do not ||ke to r|de a butta|o.
outoau tu moo to1o1, had we not better do th|s
uutoau t_oJso1, |s |t proper tor me to do th|s
18. 1he verb u , express|nq des|re, takes oa tor |ts subject and |s to||owed
by a verb denot|nq that act the pertormance ot wh|ch |s des|red. 1h|s |atter
verb |s to||owed by os, se|t, w|th the possess|ve case ot a pronoun denot|nq
the person who des|res to pertorm the act|on. 1hen comes the object ot the
verb ot act|on, qenera||y |ntroduced by oa,
e.q. oau s1uosoamo +o +, | want to see h|m.
mo +s1u o toglos to +, he w|shes to buy a butta|o.
14. ossess|on |s expressed by the verb m 1, to be |n the to||ow|nq ways:
[1] 1he possessor stands as the subject and the th|nq possessed to||ows
the verb, w|th wh|ch |t |s connected by the prepos|t|on s.
e.q. um 1s o+o+oo t , | have a penc||.
[2] 1he th|nq possessed, mod|t|ed by a possess|ve pronoun or noun, may
stand as the subject ot the verb; e.q. uo tm 1oo 1 , | have a book.
Adverbs.
1. karen adverbs are most|y der|ved trom other roots, thouqh a tew
str|ct|y adverb|a| roots ex|st.
Adverbs ot Manner.
10. Adverbs ot manner are requ|ar|y tormed by dup||cat|nq adject|ve roots;
e.q. o 1 o 1 , stronq|y, o_1o_1, u|ck|y.
11. Adverbs so tormed very common|y take the att|x o t;
e.q. o 1 o 1 o t, very stronq|y.
18-100. Somet|mes an adject|va| root |s used |n an adverb|a| sense. 1h|s |s
common|y the case when |t |s |tse|t mod|t|ed by another adverb;
e.q. mo +o1 o_1ut, he runs very tast. uo1 o_1m t, | do not run sw|tt|y.
101. Many adverbs ot manner are |rrequ|ar |n the|r tormat|on;
e.q. ot o :ot o s, exact|y.
102. Demonstrat|ve adverbs ot manner are tormed by comb|n|nq the
prepos|t|on o+, ||ke, w|th the demonstrat|ve u t and g 1, or w|th o 1;
e.q. o+u t, o+u tmo s, o+g 1, o+g 1mo s, thus o+o 1o 1, how,
o+m to+m t, somehow. See 202.
Adverbs ot |ace.
108. Adverbs ot p|ace may be tormed trom the demonstrat|ve adject|ves u t
and g 1 |n comb|nat|on w|th the prepos|t|ons o :, oa, o or o +o +. 1hey are
exh|b|ted |n the to||ow|nq tab|e, o :u t here, o :g 1 there,
oo 1 or o +o +o 1 where. o :u to :g 1 or o :m to :m t here and there.
oau t here. oag 1 there. oo 1 where. oam toam t, here and there.
oau t, h|ther. oag 1, th|ther. oo 1, wh|ther. oau toag 1, h|ther and th|ther.
104. 1he prepos|t|on oa torms adverbs ot p|ace |n comb|nat|on w|th such
roots as u+ tront, o+ back, os above, ot be|ow, ol beyond and o + s|de,
e.q. oau+ torward, oao+ beh|nd, oaolo + beyond.
Adverbs ot 1|me
10. Certa|n adverbs denot|nq past t|me are tormed by the pret|x oa |n
comb|nat|on w|th roots denot|nq t|me, as to||ows: --
oao tm t, th|s morn|nq
oau gtm t, |ast n|qht
oau o1m t, yesterday
oamo to +m t, |ast week
oaoto too 1 m t, |ast month
oau1 otg 1 m t, |ast year
100. Adverbs express|nq tuture t|me may be tormed |n two ways: --
[1] 8y the pret|x [ot 1.] [o D.]
ou to+o u o+, today.
otu o1o u o1, th|s even|nq.
otu gto u gt, ton|qht.
oto to o t, tomorrow.
ooo to oo t, the day atter tomorrow.
oto+o o+, |n the tuture.
[2] 8y the pret|x g: to||owed by s s.
g:g ts s, next day
g: +s s, next week
g:g 1 s s, next year
[8] 8y the use ot the prepos|t|on oa, ct. 104.
oao+oao+ot , atterwards.
oau+oau+o +, |n the tuture.
o :u toau+, hencetorth.
101-108. oa |s pret|xed to some tempora| adverbs when the |dea ot tutur|ty
|s not |mp||ed; e.q. oau o+o +, by day. oao_t oao+, ot o|d.
100. Many adverbs ot t|me are not tormed |n accord w|th any ru|e;
e.q. o_+o_+, u|ck|y, o 1o:, a|ways.
110. 1he roots s s, st|||, yet, and oat , any more, are adverb|a| by v|rtue ot
the|r |ntr|ns|c s|qn|t|cat|on. 1he to||ow|nq examp|es w||| |||ustrate the|r use;
mo +o +u 1 oamoo+s s oo_so_t o +, he th|nks he w||| st||| come severa| t|mes.
uo ts sm t, | have not yet qone. mo +mo 1m 1oat m t, he has no more paddy.
Numera| Adverbs.
111. Adverbs denot|nq how many t|mes are tormed trom the card|na|
numera|, |n comb|nat|on w|th the att|x o_t ; oo_t , once. g +o_t , tw|ce.
112. o_t |s treated ||ke numera| auxu||ar|es, and may enter |nto a|| the
comb|nat|ons ot wh|ch numera| aux|||ar|es are capab|e;
e.q. oo_t o:, s|mu|taneous|y, at once [o a+o a+]
oo_t o_t somet|mes
o so_t s s, every t|me
o o_t u+, as many as tour t|mes.
118. Adverbs denot|nq wh|ch t|me are tormed ||ke ord|na| numera|s;
e.q. mo1 o soo_t , the t|rst t|me, oa+ o_t oo_t , the th|rd t|me.
114. 1he part|c|e o 1, oa+ and o_t enter |nto certa|n |rrequ|ar tormat|ons;
e.q. o :g 1oo 1, o :g 1ooa+, o :g 1oo_t , then, atterward, atter that.
Adverbs ot Deqree.
11. Some adverbs ot deqree are tormed ||ke the adverbs ot manner
descr|bed |n 10 and 11; e.q. s 1s 1o t, qreat|y. m1m1o t, much.
110. 1he |ndet|n|te numera| adject|ves descr|bed |n 00. [4] [0] [18] are
otten used w|th an adverb|a| torce;
e.q. um1s sutoautmo +u tg:o sm t, | do not ||ke do|nq th|s work at a||.
111. 1he to||ow|nq adverbs are |ntens|ve, o t, gs, and us.
1hey are used w|th adject|ves denot|nq sma||ness or tewness.
118. A moderate deqree |s expressed by coup||nq two contrad|ctory roots,
each ot wh|ch |s mod|t|ed by a neqat|ve;
e.q. os 1oo s, om1o_t, moderate|y.
110. Other adverbs ot deqree are |rrequ|ar|y tormed.
e.q. g:o sm t, not at a||, o so s about, oJ1, ooa+ or olo1ot, too.
180. Lua||ty |s expressed by u + o t or u +u 1 e.q. mo +o o t olo s u +o t or u +u 1
s u o so +, he reads Sqaw karen eua||y w|th wo karen.
181. |neua||ty |s expressed by comb|nat|on ot two contrad|ctory roots
express|ve ot uant|ty; e.q. mo +_oJsm1s 1o sm1_tmo 1oo1m t, he shou|d not
|ove h|s ch||dren uneua||y.
|nterroqat|ve Adverbs.
182. |nterroqat|ve adverbs ot t|me and p|ace may be tormed trom the
|nterroqat|ve part|c|e o 1;
e.q. o +o +o 1 or oo +o 1 where; o so 1 when, whence, wh|ther.
188. 1hese are redup||cated |n |nd|rect d|scourse;
e.q. mo +o+o +o +o 1g 1 uo 1u+m t, or mo +o+oo +o 1o +o 1g 1 uo 1u+m t,
| do not know whence he comes.
184. |nterroqat|ve adverbs ot uant|ty are tormed by pret|x|nq o s to
adject|ves ot uant|ty; e.q. o sm1, o ss 1 how much.
18. 1hese are a|so repeated |n |nd|rect d|scourse. e.q. mo +s1m1s so +
o sm1o sm1o 1g 1 uo 1u+m t, | do not know how much he wants |t.
180. 1he |nterroqat|ve adverb ot reason |s o1g +, why
e.q. o1g +gom1 o1u to 1, why do not you eat r|ce
Adverbs ot Att|rmat|on and Neqat|on.
181. Assent |s expressed by u or mJ1.
188. Neqat|ve |s expressed by att|x|nq m t; e.q. mo +o+m t, he has not come.
180. A den|a| |s expressed by a neqat|ve sentence,
e.q. mo +o+o1, o+m t, has he come No.
100. Adverbs ot probab|||ty are |rrequ|ar |n tormat|on;
e.q. o1oo1, perhaps. o_l or _lut certa|n|y.
Conjunct|ve Adverbs.
101. 1he to||ow|nq are conjunct|ve adverbs ot t|me o :, when
e.q. o :us1o1golg 1 uoo to1o +, when | see your tather | w||| te|| h|m.
oo_s betore;
e.q. oo_soo ts so1os oom1 o +s1oo tu to +, we w||| eat r|ce betore we qo.
mo t os, mo:oat , wh||e; mo +o toamo t osos oaoso moso +, he was hunqry
wh||e he was qo|nq. See 222.
102. s s |s used as a corre|at|ve conjunct|ve adverb; e.q. us suto 1o t
us sm1s suto 1o +, the more | study, the more | w|sh to study.
Adverb|a| Coup|ets.
108. Adverb|a| coup|ets are common; e.q. oamo+oamo1 o s, |n the beq|nn|nq.
o :m to :m t, here and there, _ 1_ 1 s|ow|y.
Compar|son ot Adverbs.
104. Adverbs wh|ch are der|ved trom adject|va| roots are suscept|b|e ot
compar|son. An adverb |n the comparat|ve or super|at|ve deqree |s |n torm
exact|y the same as the correspond|nq adject|ve |n the same deqree;
e.q. mo +o1 o_1g 1 mol, he runs taster than h|s tather.
repos|t|ons.
10. 1he karen |anquaqe has severa| prepos|t|ons,
e.q. s, o toa, oa, o :, o t ot , oso t .
100. s means w|th, |t qoverns the object|ve case.
101. o toa means to or towards; |t qoverns the object|ve case,
but o t |s otten om|tted.
108. oa means at or trom, accord|nq to the context. |t se|dom qoverns a
substant|ve d|rect|y, but usua||y qoverns a substant|ve |n the possess|ve case.
oa |n |tse|t |s extreme|y |ndet|n|te, and the secondary nouns are brouqht |n
to make the mean|nq more det|n|te.
100. 1he more common ot the secondary nouns are exemp||t|ed be|ow: --
oamo +mm 1, trom h|m.
oaog+mot o s, by or near the teacher.
oags 1oss 1mo1 o s, at the qovernor's teet.
oaug t o s, by my s|de.
oaog tmu tu+, |n tront ot the chape|.
oaoo+mo:o+, beh|nd the v|||aqe.
oauo_+oo +, on my back.
oao1 o 1o_ +, on the earth.
oamo +mo t , on h|m.
oao 1 oat , |n the house.
oaoo to 1, oaoo tmo+o 1, on the tab|e.
oauo 1, on my head.
oao 1 o+otoao 1 mo+ ot, under the house.
oag_to_toag_tmo_t, amonq the peop|e.
oaoo+mo t oat , between the v|||aqes.
oaoo+mg t o sotot, round about the v|||aqe.
oauo 1o +mo:, tor my son's sake, tor my son.
oaoag 1mo t , an account ot that, because ot that.
oao :oo t mo:oao :oo t mo:mo:oao :oo t mo:mo 1 , about Hanqoon.
oao +o so 1, on the surtace ot the water.
200. o : means |n. |t may qovern the object|ve case.
201. o t o t, throuqhout, otot, round about, qovern the object|ve.
202. o+ ||ke, as, a|ways qovern the secondary noun o s, the object ot
compar|son be|nq p|aced |n the possess|ve case;
e.q. mo 1ut o+olmo so +, the son acts ||ke the tather.
Somet|mes the object ot compar|son |s a noun c|ause, when o+ corresponds
|n mean|nq to the Lnq||sh as; e.q. mo 1uto + o+moluto +mo sg 1o +, the son
does as h|s tather does. See 228.
Conjunct|ons.
208. 1he karen |anquaqe has but tew conjunct|ons, the|r p|ace be|nq supp||ed
by phrases wh|ch are eu|va|ent to conjunct|ons. 1hese toqether w|th the
more |mportant conjunct|ve phrases w||| be tound be|ow.
Copu|at|ve.
204. s and, connects words and phrases. |t may stand at the c|ose ot the
preced|nq c|ause or at the beq|nn|nq ot the to||ow|nq one.
s--s both-and.
e.q. u tot ot s u s ot, the Lord God created both sun and moon.
o +--o + and -- a|so, e.q. gato +go +, uato +go +, oosu1m t, you are a man and |
a|so am a man, we are not atra|d.
uts sooa+, aqa|n.
oau t [or g 1] mu tu+ moreover.
oau t [or g 1] mo+o 1 moreover.
u g + on|y.
Adversat|ve.
20. m 1u [at the beq|nn|nq ot a c|ause] but
olg+, olg+os, olg+o t, but
m 1ou o1os, or e|se
u o t--u o t, e|ther -- or
o to t--o to t e|ther -- or
e.q. o+o+u o t o tu o t o tg uatou t u t o s, buy me e|ther a penc|| or a book.
|||at|ve.
200. u o+g 1os, mo :u o+g 1os, utmoso+g 1os, mu tos, mg 1os, and a tew
other phrases, take the p|ace ot the |||at|ve conjunct|on theretore.
201. 1he tempora| adverbs o :g 1ooa+, and o :g 1oo_t , o :g 1oo 1, then,
somet|mes have the torce ot |||at|ve conjunct|ons.
Causa|.
208. mo:o+u t, because.
mo t because. 1h|s stands at the end ot |ts c|ause; e.q. uo t_tmo t
uo to tg m t, | cannot buy a book because | am short ot money.
200. o : when.
m 1 |t. |n th|s sense m 1 stands |mmed|ate|y atter the subject. See 228.
olg+ thouqh, stands at the end ot |ts c|ause;
e.q. mo ts 1olg+ uoo to +, a|thouqh the pr|e |s h|qh, | sha|| buy |t.
u olg+o+g 1os, neverthe|ess.
1e||c.
210-212. oa that. See 220. o+o s |n order that. See 22-220.
art|c|es.
218. Most ot the part|c|es have been treated under the var|ous parts ot
speech. A tew wh|ch cannot be so treated to advantaqe are descr|bed here.
1hey are used at the end ot sentences to |nd|cate the character ot the
sentence.
Att|rmat|ve art|c|es.
214-21. o + |s used w|th s|mp|e att|rmat|ves. oJ+ |mp||es that the statement
|s a matter ot course. u s |mp||es assent or concess|on.
|nterroqat|ve art|c|es.
210. o1 |s used when the answer expected |s yes or no;
e.q. gs1mo +o1, do you see h|m
o 1 |s used when other answers are expected;
e.q. gutg 1o 1, what are you do|nq
o1--o1, |s used |n a d|rect a|ternat|ve uest|on.
gm1s so to1, o+o+o1, do you want a book or a penc||;
but o1--o 1 |s used |t the uest|on |s |nd|rect;
e.q. mo +o toaoo t o1, oau +ou +o 1g 1 uo 1u+m t,
| do not know whether he qoes to Hanqoon or Mou|me|n.
|mperat|ve art|c|es.
211. o s, marks a command; oo t a proh|b|t|on;
o 1, a perm|ss|on or a somewhat urqent reuest.
recat|ve art|c|es.
218. o 1 at the end ot a dec|arat|ve or |mperat|ve sentence, asks tor
consent. Hence |t sottens a command |nto a reuest;
e.q. ooot oao 1 o 1, |et us qo home, sha|| we not
Syntax ot Subord|nate C|auses.
210. Subord|nate c|auses are not on|y |ntroduced by a conjunct|on or some
eu|va|ent part ot speech, but where they do not stand at the end ot the
sentence they are a|so term|nated by a conjunct|on or other part|c|e.
220-221. Noun and adject|ve c|auses are |ntroduced by oa and term|nated
by g 1; e.q. mo +o 1u+ oamolom1 o +g 1 m t, he does not know that h|s tather
w||| eat |t. o toauolo so +g 1 m 1oaoo to 1o +, the book wh|ch my tather
wrote |s on the tab|e.
222. Some adverb|a| c|auses are |ntroduced by oa or o : and term|nated by
a tempora| part|c|e, or by g 1;
e.q. oauo tmo+g 1 us1g_tg:otm t, wh||e | was qo|nq | saw nobody.
mo +mo 1 m 1 o :uo 1 m 1o +s1g 1o +, h|s house |s where my house |s.
228. Cond|t|ona| c|auses are |ntroduced by m 1, wh|ch stands |mmed|ate|y
atter the subject, and are term|nated by os;
e.q. oam 1o+oat os goo1o 1o +, |t |t ra|ns you w||| qet wet.
An apparent, but not a rea|, except|on to th|s ru|e |s tound |n the case ot
comp|ex sentences, |n wh|ch a subord|nate noun c|ause w||| come betore m 1;
e.q. go tm 1o 1os o to 1, |t you can qo, qo by a|| means.
224. m 1 |s occas|ona||y used to |ntroduce a concess|ve cond|t|ona| c|ause
end|nq |n olg+o t, or olg+; e.q. oam 1o+oat olg+o t goo1o to +, even
thouqh |t ra|ns you w||| have to qo.
22. C|auses ot purpose are |ntroduced by o+o s and when not stand|nq at
the end ot the sentence are term|nated by os;
uo t ot oao 1 o+o suom1 u to +, | returned home that | m|qht eat r|ce.
o+o sgom 1o 1 o1 ot os, go1m to 1 o 1o +, |n order that you may recover, you
must take med|c|ne.
220. Neqat|ve c|auses ot purpose take the torm ot a proh|b|tory c|ause
preceded by o+o s, and term|nated [when necessary] by os;
e.q. o+o sgo :o+oo tos, go1m1 o so1mo +m t, |n order that you may not qet
s|ck, you must not eat unr|pe manqo.
221. Neqat|ve c|auses ot purpose are somet|mes |ett w|thout an |ntroductory
part|c|e, and are term|nated by o1o s or o1_s; o to soao +oat g 1oo t,
goot o to1o so +, do not qo near the we||, |est you ta|| |nto |t.
228. C|auses ot compar|son are |ntroduced by o+ and term|nated by mo sg 1;
e.q. o+moluto +mo sg 1, mo 1uto +o+g 1mo so o +, as the tather does, so does
the son a|so. See 202.