Gumawana Verbs

Gumawana has an interesting verb system. They use numerous prefixes to convey meaning that other languages do through prepositional phrases. As an example, in Gumawana they can do the following with one verb mata 'die'.

1. kimata 'kill by use of hand'. Literally 'cause to die by hand'. This one can be used of someone killing another person with his hands. Or it can refer to turning off something (extended use of 'kill by hand').
2. samata 'kill with water'. Literally 'cause to die with water'. This can be over watering something to the point of killing it. The subject can be rain in that too much will kill certain plants in a garden.
3. kaumata 'kill with stone/force'. Literally 'cause to die by stone/force'. This one most likely originally meant only to kill by stone but is used more often now with the idea of 'force'.
4. kalimata 'kill with pointed instrument'. Literally it is 'cause to die with a pointed instrument.' So if someone spears someone, this is the verb to use to describe that action since a spear is pointed.
5. vamata 'kill with foot'. Literally 'cause to die by foot.' So if I squash a bug on the ground, I can use this verb to describe the action.
   
6. tumata 'kill with the buttocks'. Literally 'cause to die by buttocks'. Sounds funny, does it not? But if a person sits on a small insect or even a puppy and kills it, this is the word you want to use to describe that action.
   
7. kanamata 'kill by lying down.' Literally 'cause to die by lying down.' Another somewhat humorous one considering that we normally don't think of killing someone or something by lying on them. Yet if someone rolls over and kills something this is the way to describe it.
   
8. didmate 'killing by strangling or choking'. Literally 'cause to die by strangulation.' This could be considered a compound verb except that the verb didi is being used to describe the manner in which the killing occurs. It is used of a vine wrapping around another plant and choking it off.
   
9. sapimate 'kill by slapping.' Literally 'cause to die by slapping.' This is really a compound verb since technically sapina can occur by itself. However, in this case it appears to function like the other prefixes in giving the manner in which the killing is accomplished. It is heard often with respect to putting out a fire since the action of slapping is perceived as the means of putting the fire out. I have not heard it used for anything else, though it could.
   
10. kamata 'kill by teeth'. Literally 'cause to die by use of teeth.' This one is typically used with dogs who kill by biting. But it can be used of any animal killing another.
    

Now in the book of Exodus God's commandments are listed. One which we all know is "You shall not kill." The one that is really the only appropriate one to use is number 3 kaumata 'kill with force'. This one is somewhat generic and can be used in most instances. In other words, the prefix kau- has come to be so vague that the word as a whole can mean just 'kill' in most cases.

Another example is the word upa 'break' which can take a variety of prefixes to describe how something is broken. This verb refers to the breaking of something long and thin. That would include things like, rope, twine, string, wire, etc. It does not refer to breaking of glass or clay pots. That is another verb.

1. taopa [ta+upa becomes topa] 'broke'. The prefix ta- here indicates that the action happened on its own. So this would be the generic way of saying 'it broke.' By using this form the speaker is saying that no one is to blame. By using any other form, the speaker is saying the subject intended to break it. In other words, if you want to say that it was an accident, you have to use this form to convey that information.
2. kiupe 'break with hands.' If I break string with my hands, this is the one to use.
3. kauupe 'break with stone/force.' Using extreme force or a rock on a wire or vine would require using this one.
4. vaupe 'break with foot'
5. kaliupe 'break with pointed instrument.'
6. kaupe 'break with teeth'. Very common there. I've seen people cut fishing line with their teeth (also fish cutting a line) and use this term.
   
7. saupe 'break with water.' Again the water is the means by which someone breaks or cuts through something long and thin.

You get the idea. The language has many, many verbs that work this way. So once I figured out the different prefixes, I could create words fairly easily. However, Gumawana speakers tend NOT to want to create new words. In fact, as I have tested them, they tend not to recognize these parts of the word. They view kaumata 'kill by force' as a whole. So if I try to create a word using the various parts I have identified, unless someone in the language has said the word and it is being used, they reject it. They would rather borrow a word than create one.

Yet other language groups in the same province will create words easily and accept them. In fact, it becomes almost a game. Every language is different. It never ceases to amaze me how they function.

So this is just to give you a little glimpse into how people on the Amphletts organize their world.