Grammar of the Language of the Lenni Lenape Or Delaware Indians

Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827 edition. Excerpt: ...form of this verb which may be called Adverbial. Pluperfect. Singular. I Plural. Matta achpiwakpanne, if I had not been there Matta achpiwenkpanne, if we had not been there Matta achsiwonpanne, if thou hadst not been j Matta achpiwekpanne, if ye had not been there there Matta achpichtikpanne, if they had not been Matta achpikpanne, if he had not been there ' there. Future. Singular. Matta achpiwaktsch, when or if I shall not be there Matta achpiwonnetsch, when or if thou shalt not be there Matta achpiquetsch, when or if he shall not be there Plural. Mattatsch achpiwenque, when or if we shall not be there Mattatsch achpiweke, when or if ye shall not be there Mattatsch achpichtique, when or if they shall not be there. Note by the Translator.--It will be observed that tsch, the sign of the future, is here affixed in the singular to the adverb, and in the plural the verb is inflected by it. It will be found, in the preceding page, combined in both numbers with the adverb ta, which signifies, where. 1 have been informed by Mr Heckewelder, that either form may be adopted, whether in the singular or plural, and that the ear is the best guide in such cases. So the negative may be expressed by atta or matta, as the ear directs. JVote by the Translator.--The verbs ending in si and in are conjugated according to this rule, and have generally, though not always, w prefixed and u or o suffixed to the third person of the singular. Examples: achpin, to be there--w'dappin or achpo he is there; palsin to be sick--palsu, he is sick; mikemossin, to work--mikemossu, he works, &.c. &c. Pluperfect. Singular. Plural. Elsiyakpanne, if I had been or done so Elsiyenkpanne, if we had been or done so Elsiyanpanne, if thou hadst been or done so Elsiyekpanne, ..