MIYA-ENGLISH-HAUSA DICTIONARY - Leonard Arueyingho

MIYA-ENGLISH-HAUSA

DICTIONARY

[Draft version, 2010; corrections and comments welcome]

Russell G. Schuh with

Vaziya Ciroma Tilde Miya

UCLA Department of Linguistics

2010

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About the Dictionary1

The basis of this dictionary is a vocabulary which R.G. Schuh assembled together

with Vaziya Ciroma Tilde Miya in 1982-83. Other speakers contributed words. In particular, I thank Yakubu Sarkin Miya for a detailed history of Miya that he narrated. The data was all entered into a FileMaker Pro database, from which is was exported to an MS Word file for editing and converted to PDF. In order to make this version available with any more delay or procrastination, it has undergone very little proof-reading. Most grammatical formatives have been entered, but no personal pronouns are entered in the dictionary. All pronouns can be found in the Appendices. In a future edition, entries will be much more thoroughly exemplified from texts and from examples in Schuh (1998).

Every entry has a Miya head word, indication of grammatical category, indication of underlying tone pattern, and English and Hausa glosses. Every verb has an entry for verbal noun, and all nouns for which plural forms were collected have their plurals entered. Many entries have grammatical information and/or examples of use. Noun entries

Gender: Miya has grammatical gender, shown by pronoun agreement, demonstrative agreement, and agreement on adjectives. The gender of all nouns is given as n.m. or n.f. for masculine and feminine respectively. A few nouns are basic plurals, as shown by their agreement patterns. These are marked n.pl.

Number: Every noun for which a plural was provided has a plural entry. Tone: The tone pattern is provided for every noun. See below for a sketch of the

Miya tonal system and the tone marking in this dictionary. Verb entries

Verb class: Every verbal entry lists the verb class, with the tone subclasses for each class in parentheses. The Appendix presents the entire verbal system, showing diagnostic patterns for all classes in all Tenses/Aspects/Moods (TAMs). The basic classes are those that the late Johannes Lukas originated in his work on Bole, but generally speaking, the same classification can apply to Miya. The headword of verbal entries is the form the verb would take in the Completive. The classes are as follows: A1: CVC or CVC” A2: all other verbs with more than one consonant and ending in no vowel or ” B: CVCa C: C” (Miya has only one Class C verb, namely b” ‘come’—other Chadic languages

have several such verbs) D: Ca V.bor.: Miya has borrowed verbs, especially from Hausa, that do not fit any of the

regular verb classes. There are marked V.bor. The way that borrowed verbs should be classified needs more study.

1 I conducted this research when I was a Visiting Professor in the Department of African and Nigerian

languages at Ahmadu Bello University. The research was supported in part by a grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research.

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Verbal tones: Each verb class has several tonal subclasses. Classes A1, A2, B have classes L, HH, and HL. Class D has L and H. These classes undergo distinct tonal alternations in various contexts. Unlike non-verbs, the tone classes do not necessarily indicate citation tones because of many contextual tonal alternations special to verbs. See below for an explanation of tone marking, and see Schuh (1998) for details of verbal tones.

Verbal nouns: Every verbal entry includes one or more verbal nouns. Verbal nouns, like all other nouns, have grammatical gender. This is marked as “(m)” or “(f)” for verbal nouns where gender was checked. I did not check gender on verbal nouns left unmarked for gender. Other categories

Categories and entries for categories of word and morpheme classes other than nouns and verbs should be relatively self-explanatory. See the list of abbreviations below for the meanings of the category labels. Definitions

Entries have definitions in both English and Hausa. Every word has one or more English definitions. These definitions are as complete as possible, given current data. More study of texts may bring out additional meanings and/or functions. Some entries lack a Hausa definition. These are cases where neither Vaziya nor I could readily find a good Hausa equivalent. Rather than make something up, I felt it was better to leave the Hausa blank. Examples

There are examples of usage, idioms, and special grammatical properties for many

entries. These could, and should be expanded by drawing more examples of usage from texts and from example sentences in Schuh (1998). This would be a long term project, however, so the dictionary is produced as is for the time being. Alphabetical order

The first letter of the alphabet is taken to be ’ (glottal stop), the second letter is ”. The only vowel that can begin a word is a. There is a contrast between ’a and a at the beginning of a word. As far as I know, there is no phonetic difference between ’a and a, but the difference shows up in context and in morphology. A word beginning in /’a/ is always pronounced with an initial [a], whereas initial /a/ disappears under some circumstances and is lengthened under others (see Schuh (1998) for details). Words beginning in [”] and [i] all begin in underlying /í”/ and /’i/ respetively (no words begin in initial [u]). Following these two letters, ordering is the normal Roman alphabetical ordering, with the “hooked” letters ordered after their non-hooked counterparts. Sounds represented by digraphs, such as ts, tl, sh, are treated as the sequence of letters for purposes of alphabetization.

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í g (including gh) p ” h r a i s (including sh) b j t (including tl and ts)

k u c l v d (including dl and dz) m (including mb) w

n (including nd, ndz, ng, nz) y e o z (including zh) f

Tone system and tone marking

Miya has what is called a “terraced level” tone system (a term that I believe was coined by the late Wm. E. Welmers). In such a system, there are three contrasting tones: high (H), low (L), and downstepped high. Downstepped high is a step down in pitch after a H that does not drop as low as a L. This is not called “mid” (M) tone for at least two reasons. First, in a language with a true M, it is possible to drop from a H to either a M or a L AND to rise from a L to either a M or a H, i.e. going up or down in pitch from syllable to syllable is symmetrical. In a terraced level system, it is possible to drop from H to downstepped H or to L, but rising in pitch from a L, there is only one possibility, which is to rise to a pitch that is lower than a preceding H (i.e. a downstepped H). Moreover, once one has dropped from a H to a downstepped H, one cannot then rise back to the level of a preceding H (i.e. the downstepped H is now the “new” H). Second, in a language with a true H, M, L distinction, one can only go up or down on these three pitches. In a terraced level system, since a downstepped H sets a new pitch level for H, one can again downstep from that H. In fact, there is no limit in principle in how many downteps may follow one after the other, and it is quite easy to construct utterances that downstep four or five times.

The description of the tone system adopted in Schuh (1998) and used in this dictionary has three possible lexical specifications for tone: L = low tone; domains marked for L bear L pitch in all contexts H = (downstepped) H; in sequence HH, the second H is downstepped from the first.

Strangely, /H/ at the beginning of a phrase is pronounced on a low pitch and is indistinguishable from /L/, but the difference shows up when the /H/ vs. /L/ come after anything—the /L/ stays [L], the /H/ become downstepped [H].

2

T = “toneless”; ironically, a T domain is pronounced on a H tone at the beginning of a phrase, but when following anything, it has no distinct tonal identity, but rather copies the preceding tone.

The following table may help in understanding this system:

2 A possible explanation for pronouncing phrase-initial /H/ on low pitch is that “H” always represents

downstepped H. At the beginning of a phrase it does’t following anything to be downstepped from, so it gets the “ultimate downstep”, namely all the way to L.

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Citation tone (Lexical tone)

Following high pitch ákyar ‘back (of …)’

Following low pitch v na ‘mouth (of …)’

‘Nile monitor’ g z”m (L) [ _ _ ]

kyar g z”m [ – – _ _ ]

v na guz”m [ _ _ _ _ ]

‘castrated goat‘ m ” (H) [ _ _ ]

kyar m ” [ – – – – ]

v na m ” [ _ _ – – ]

‘jackal’ l h” (T) [ – – ]

kyar l h” [ – – – – ]

v na l h” [ _ _ _ _ ]

Lexical tone indications: Every entry is followed by its lexical tones in parentheses,

as in the second column from the left in the table above. Note that although the words have two syllables each, there is only one tone marking. Miya very strictly follows what linguists call (for better or worse), the OBLIGATORY CONTOUR PRINCIPLE (OCP). This principle says that a single tone is associated with the entire domain that bears the same pitch.

3 In the table above the domains for the tones of the respective citation forms are

two syllables, but it is possible for a single tone to be associated with fewer or more syllables, e.g. the monosyllabic word ’íy (T) ‘dog’ and the trisyllabic word lábadi (T) ‘basket’, like l h” (T) ‘jackal’, are marked simply as T (“toneless”) because in contexts like those above, they would continue the preceding tone throughout. Paralleling the single tone indication in parentheses, head words are tone marked only on the first syllable or when there is a change in pitch. Tone marking uses the standard diacritics for African languages: grave accent (à) = L tone, acute accent (á) = H tone. Only the first syllable of a domain is marked for tone; a new tone mark indicates a change in pitch. Here are some examples of entries with more than one tone: gwágúm (TH) [ – –] ‘dove’: initial T syllable has high pitch, H is downstepped g˙r (TL) [ – _ ] ‘kola’: initial T syllable has high pitch, L has low pitch t tel w (TH) [ – – –] ‘corstalk flute’ s rt h” (TH) [ – – –] ‘lake’ b l”nk y (TL) [ – – _ ] ‘hyena’

t kus m (THL) [ – – – _] ‘hedgehog’ vìyayúw (HH) [ _ _ – ] ‘fireplace’: initial H syllable has low pitch, second H raised

Note that no words other than those that have low pitch throughout, e.g. g z”m (L) ‘Nile monitor’, begin with L. All words like vìyayúw (HH) ‘fireplace’ that are cited with initial low pitch and rise later in the word, begin on lexical H tone (cf. nák n víyayúw [ – – – – _ ] ‘this fireplace’ with downstepped H on víya- following H). There are also no lexical HL words, which is understandable. Initial /H/ would be cited on low pitch, and the L would also be on low pitch. A putative “HL” word would thus be cited with low pitch throughout and thus be indistinguishable from simple L and H words!

TONES ARE NOT MARKED ON HEADWORDS OF VERBAL ENTRIES SINCE VERBAL TONES

ARE DETERMINED BY CONTEXT. THERE IS NO “CITATION” TONE.

3 The OCP was first formulated in William R. Leben (1973), Suprasegmental Phonology, PhD dissertation,

MIT (distributed by Indiana University Linguistics Club). “Contour” in this context means “change in pitch”. For there to be a change in tone there must be a change in pitch. Otherwise, obligatorily, there is a single tone.

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SPECIAL TERMS IN ENGLISH DEFINITIONS

Cultural differences make it impossible to find satisfactory English equivalents for a

number of common items found in northern Nigerian cultures and African cultures in

general. This is particularly true of food terms, but also of certain items of material and

political culture. Rather that use English terms that would not convey appropriate

connotations, this dictionary uses Hausa words to express a number of concepts that

come up frequently in definitions. The following terms will be found in English

definitions:

Hausa word Explanation of meaning

tuwo staple food made from guinea corn or maize flour, rice, or

other starch base, cooked to a stiff consistency

miya a “sauce” or “stew”, usually with a vegetable base, such as

okra, sorrel, baobab, tomatoes, etc. and often with meat or

fish, served accompanying tuwo

kunu a “gruel” of finely ground flour, cooked to a relatively thin

consistency, usually with a flavoring such as tamarind or

lime juice

fura millet flour, cooked and formed into balls that are broken

up and mixed into a liquid, preferably cultured milk, but

sometimes water

faifai a round tray woven from grass, often with designs woven

in by using different colors of grass; multi-functional, used

as a pot or bowl cover, a mat on which to place small

object, a tool for separating bran from flour, and,

sometimes decorated with cowries or coins, as decoration

in room

zana a mat made from interwoven heavy grass, used as a fence,

granary liner, and other functions

ABBREVIATIONS

adj. adjective

adj.participle paticiple usable as an adjective, e.g. “broken (pot)”

adv. adverb

adv.loc. locative adverb, such as “outside”, “there”)

adv.man. manner adverb, such as “with difficulty”, “thus”

adv.time time adverb, such as “today”, “last year”

aux. auxiliary particle indicating verb tense and the like

clitic a form added at the beginning or end of a word

conj. conjunction, such as “and”, “if”, “until”

det. determiner, including esp. articles and demonstratives

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det.def. definite determiner, such as “the”

det.dem. demonstrative, such as “this”, “those”

det.indef. indefinite determiner, such as “a”, “some”

f. feminine

existential word meaning “there’s...”, “there’s no...”

gen.linker particle meaning “of”, as in “ear of a sheep”

id. ideophone-a large class of words that emphasize actions or qualities

id.adj. ideophonic adjective-ideophone-like words than can modify nouns

idiom an expression whose meaning is not predictable from its parts

interjection all types of exclamations, expressions, greetings, etc.

interr. interrogative word, such as “who?”, “how?”

interr.adv. interrogative adverb, such as “how?”, “when?”

interr.det. interrogative determiner, such as “which...?”

interr.pro. interrogative pronoun, such as “who?”

m. masculine

n. noun

n.mass mass noun, such as “water”, “millet”

num.card. cardinal number, such as “five”, “six”

num.ord. ordinal number, such as “fifth”, “sixth”

part. particle, added to reinforce meaning, such as Hausa dai, ma

pl. plural

plac. pluractional verb indicating multiple action, such as Hausa firfita

prep. preposition

presentative word meaning “here’s...” when offering something

pro. pronoun

pro.1 pl. first person plural pronoun, “we, us”

pro.1 sg. first person singular pronoun, “I, me”

pro.2 pl. second person plural pronoun, “you”

pro.2 sg.f. second person feminine pronoun, “you” (to a female)

pro.2 sg.m. second person masculine pronoun, “you” (to a male)

pro.3 pl. third person plural pronoun, “they, them”

pro.3 sg.f. third person feminine pronoun, “she, her”

pro.3 sg.m. third person masculine noun, “he, him”

quant. quantifier, such as “all”, “a few”

quant.univ. universal quantifier, such a “everything”, “whoever”

stat. stative derive from verb, such as “seated”

v.A1 class A1 verb (CVC or CVC roots)

v.A2 class A2 verb (roots roots ending in Ø or longer than CVC-)

v.B class B verb (verbs ending in -a)

v.C class C verb (C verb—there is only one such verb in Miya)

v.D class D verb (Ca verbs)

v.ext. verbal extension, showing action done this direction, etc.

v.irreg. irregular verb, verb not fitting one of the regular classes

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REFERENCE Schuh, Russell G. 1998. A Grammar of Miya. University of California Pulbications in

Linguistics, Volume 130. Berkeley and Los Angeles: UC Press.

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CONTENTS About the Dictionary i SPECIAL TERMS IN ENGLISH DEFINITIONS vi Abbreviations vi REFERENCE viii CONTENTS ix MIYA-ENGLISH-HAUSA DICTIONARY 1 APPENDICES APPENDIX I: PRONOUNS 51 APPENDIX II: VERB CLASSES 54

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MIYA-ENGLISH-HAUSA

DICTIONARY

í

í f = í n (LHL) prep. (imposes low tone on noun complement) 1. with (comitative)

ex j nga-y y r í f t y they spoke in (ther native) language with him. 2. and (conjoining nouns) ex j tluws í f í n tuws í f wutl m y nuwas” then he arose with his wife and his children | da (mutum)

í”fa (HH) v. B (v.n. fak ) peel, shell (peanuts) | bxare í”ma (HH) v. B (v.n. í man (m), í mak (m)) cut off guinea corn heads | yanke kan hatsi í n = í f (LHL) prep. (imposes low tone on noun complement) 1. with (comitative)

ex í n m n/fw y/m c /t y/nj /m y/h n/tl n with me/you (m)/you (f)/him/her/us/you (pl)/them; ”m c m í n m y he did work with us. 2. and (conjoining nouns) ex d

”h n tl n wr í f w ciya he and so-and-so have been married (one has tied them marrieage with so-and-so (f)); d” zatla kak”r í”n azurfa t k”nza she put on her shoes and silver rings | da (mutum)

í s” (T) n.f. locust beans used for kalwa | orawa, kalwa í”s” (HL) v. A1 (v.n. í sh shi (m), í s k”) be sated, have enought to eat | oshi í”say (HL) v. A2 feed ex m n í s v”rk”n z I fed her child | osar da, ciyar da í ía (T) n interjection no | aía íadz”ma (L) v. A2 (v.n. í dzadzam (m)) grunt, groan, moan | nisa í fuw (T) n.f. (pl. c w, c waw w) goat | akwiya í m (T) n.f. (pl. t vam) woman, wife | mace, mata í ns (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. í ns k”) answer ex m n íans s w ts yak” tuwsay I answered

his question | amsa íar (HL) v. A1 (v.n. í r k”) 1. put (away), place. 2. set a time. 3. cherish, consider

special | ajiye; yanke (lokaci); ke e í r w (TLH) n.?, adv.loc. north | arewa í r‰ (T) n.f. loan (of thing to be returned) ex tsan arawa duwak” tuws” he lent me his

horse | aro í ts” (H) n.m. shame, embarrassment ex d”k y s tsay she was embarrassed | kunya í yaba (L) n.f. banana (Musa sapientum) ex í yaba gy rya plantain | ayaba í z h r (LHL) n.?, adv.time early afternoon | azahar í z r (TLH) n.? beam | azara íic” (HL) v. A1 (v.n. í c k” (f)) sneeze ex í c ic w he sneezed | yi atishawa í ji (T) n.m. (pl. í jaj w) mortar | turmi í man (T) n.m. cutting heads off guinea corn | yankan kan hatsi í r (H) n.m. (pl. í rar w) Nile perch (Lates niloticus) | ariya í shashi (T) n.m. being full after eating, being replete | oshi í tli (T) n.m. (pl. í tlatl w) coughing | tari íitli (HL) v. A1 (v.n. í tli (m), í tl k”) cough ex íitl íitl w he coughed | yi tari í y (T) n.m. (pl. í y w) (f. t y) dog | kare

Miya-English-Hausa Dictionary 2

íiy (L) v. A1 (v.n. í yak”) be able | iya í y Ö = Ö (H) rel.loc. 1. the place that …, where … ex í y gaf k íiy b w n where

you go is where I go. 2. (with nominalized purpose phrase) in order to ex M ngila bat suw íiy nd”m k” Mangila went out to have a look around | inda .

í y l y (LHL?) n.? family | iyali í yka (H) det.loc. 1. there ex t k”m íiyk ! go over there!. 2. (in í yk ) there upon ex t˘,

í yk Mazang m yt say well, thereupon Mazanga died | can í yk”n (H) det.loc. here ex w shashanf” m n jiyk n buw hiy f yk”na? how many

year has it been since you came here? | nan í ykwa = y kwa (T) interr.loc.adv. where? ex f y baf ykwa? where are you going?; f

ts”gaku í ykwa? where did you sit?; t˘, f y f b”kw í ykw ? well, you where have you come from? | ina?

A

See ’a- at the beginning of the dictionary for words with initial a- not found here. a- (T) prefix (lengthened when not post-pausal) 1. prefix vowel with no meaning, found

on many root words and derivatives such as verbal nouns. 2. see ía- for words where the a is a root vowel. 3. prefix on ordinal numbers ex n(a) ts ra the second one;

ts ruws” the seond of them (“his seond”). 4. prefix forming a locative adverbial form ex b y n M ngil water of Mangila hill (cf. b y na M ngila ‘Mangila’s water’); tl wiy n ts k”n wild animal, animal of the bush (cf. ts k”n ‘the bush’) |

(L) aspect perfective auxiliary with 3rd person subjects ex b”s” s y s/he washed | (LL) prep. 1. with (instrument) ex m c m giti he did work with an axe. 2. as, with respect to (marker of objective complement) ex dawun Kas y íam he sought Kasay as a wife | da (+ kayan aiki), don

(LL) prep. marker of a postverbal subject ex t”nz” m r Nd wya (= Nd wya a t”nz” m r ) Nduya planted millet; kw z ratl n K sham k , buwatl n d” b ts gatl n when Kasham calls them they will come and sit down; t b rma ba k n(a) v rk” the mat that the boy bought |

(L) aspect imperfective auxiliary ex f y zara w ? who will you call?; m kuws” k d t ts y w he spent three days digging it (he “dayed” three he was digging) | na

= w (L) interr. ( is by far the most frequent; see n for focussed subject equational questons) sentence final question marker of any type of question (yes/no, constituent) ex f tlak suw nd-a? Good morning! (standard greeting meaning, “Have you arisen?”); w z ratl n- ? who called them? |

(HL) prep. from (locative or temporal) ex m b‰k”m í ykw ? where have you come from?; tsuway h r bah y z h r from morning all the way until the late afternoon | daga

= d (H irreg) aspect (see alsod ) perfective auxiliary used when subject is focused ex w z rawa? who called?i; K sham z raw t is Kasham who called (cf. K shm z r s y ‘Kasham called’); m y z raw it is we who called | ne/ce

(H irreg) aspect conditional future auxiliary ex A: D w, ìW y -y.î B: ì , n- b y uwy .î A says, “Jump down.”, B (responds) “But I’ll get a fracture.” |


b rb r (THL) n.f. red-eyed or speckled pigeon (Columba guinea) | hazbiya b”s” (HH) n.f. bathing | wanka b tak” (TH) n.f. disused farm | saura b kak”m (TH) n.m. palm of hand | tafin hannu b kats”m y (THH) n.m. sole of foot | tafin sawu b ngu (TL) n.m. (pl. b ngw ngw w) lizard (Agama agama) | adangare b ru (TL) n.?, adv.loc. area in Miya where dancing is done | unguwar Miya b ya (LH) conj. after (+ clause, phrase) ex b ya miy t y s w d m y, j m y y after we chopped down the tree, we split (the wood); b ya s”n w f”rf ” d íar t lay after eight days, they brew beer | bayan (+ jimla)

b y (TH) n.m. (pl. b yay w) water | ruwa b y g”r nna (TH TH) n.m. gum Arabic | aro b y gh ns” (TH L) n.m. rain | ruwan sama b y p y (TH H) n.m. milk | madara, nono b y t w (TH H) n.m. arrowhead | ruwan kibiya c ” (TH) n.m., adv.loc. underneath ex n t c ” the last | ark ashi(n) c m (TH) n.m. 1. work ex m n m c m = m n n s camay I worked. 2. (in k fiy(a) cam) sending ex k fiy(a) cam send (it) to him | aiki; aike

car (T) n.f. tick | kaska cc (TL) n.f. a type of wild grain, fonio (Digitaria exilis) | acca c w (TH) n.f. caring for, taking care of a newborn by an older woman | reno dama = d ma (HL) prep., conj. for the purpose of, for the sake of, in order to, because ex m y t b”natl dama nj” m b sazaw we abused her because she doesn’t bathe; m y n niykin d ma gh ns we did this for the sake of God; dama m n = d ma m”n for my sake | domin, don, saboda

damb” (T) n.f. traditional shaving of women’s head, leaving round patch of hair on top | irin kitso

d r (LH) prep. from, originating from, via ex tl n d r M ya they are from Miya; h n d r y kwa? where are you from? | daga, ta

d zhi (TH) n.f. poison | dafi dingil (T) n.f., adv.loc. a pond in Miya | tabkin Miya dl mdl m (THL) n.m. (pl. dl ndl m m w) mud dauber wasp | zanzaro d kuna (TH) n.? place (of) ex K sham b t(a) d kun wun Kasham came to me (to my place); m n b˘w n (a)d kun J l I have come from Jala (from Jala’s place) | wurin

d wd w (THL) n.m. sugar ants | sha zumami ng” (TH) n.f. (pl. ngang w) talking, speech | magana

dz n ar (TL) n.m. bedbugs | ku in cizo dyam (T) n.m. fancy dress or behavior | ma i, gaye fay (T) n.f. zorilla (Ictonyx libyca) | bodari f y ya uw (TH) n.f. whistling ex fay s fiy ya way à fay s fiy ya úway | fito g”dang l w (LHL?) n.f. millipede | adandoniya g zh”, g zhi (TH) n.f. (pl. g zhazh w) hair ex g”zh” [sic] t gh m hair on the head ; g zh” t tuwat w hair on the body | gashi

g zh” t t sh m/d ndi (TH T) n.m. pubic hair (hair on penis/vulva) | zaza g zha wutli zham (TH T TH) n.m. feathers | gashin tsuntsu g íay (TH) n.m. left, left hand ex mb uwun t g íay my left thigh | hagu g dara (TL) n.m. red-headed male lizard (Agama agama) | jan gada, adangare g huw (TH) n.m. (pl. g huw w w) disused farm | saura


gam (T) n.f. (pl. gamam w) jaw, chin | mu amu i, ha a gam (T) n.f. desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) | aduwa gar (T) n.f. Ruppell's griffon (Gyps rueppellii) | mikiya g ruw (TL) n.m., adv.loc. Bauchi ex g ruw raw r M ya a zh”k” Bauchi is larger than Miya | Bauci

gid derun (TL) n.m. dung beetle | buzuzu g n t”my r (TH TL) n.? face | fuska g tuw (TL) n.?, adv.loc. the southern rock of Miya town | dutsen Miya gw gw (LH?) n.m., n.f. duck | agwagwa gw m (TH) n.f. locust | fara gwarzhiw t” (HH) n.m. growing up | girma gy r (TH) n.m. (pl. gy rar w) hole ex gy r tar squirrel hole | rami gy r t n (TH H) n.m. nostril | kafar hanci gy r vy (TH H) n.m. crack between buttocks | uwawu k t”r w (THL) n.f. scorpion | kunama k m (TH) n.m., adv.loc. at home, home ex k mh Kasham at Kasham’s house; t buws k m he will go home; b y dz m k m they took beans home | a gida, gida kan˘ (TL) n.?, adv.loc. Kano | Kano k y gh m (THL H) pro.reflex. base for emphatic reflexive pronouns ex m y buw ma k y gh m ws” we will come ourselves | kan wani

k yt” (TH) n.f. difficulty | wuya, wahala k r (TH) n.f. theft | sata kitl r ti (THL) n.m. fear | tsoro k f” (TH) n.f. forging, smithing | ira k l (TH) n.f. clearing bush | sassabe kur (T) n.f. shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa) | ka anya k w (TH) n.f. (pl. k waw w) fire ex v n ak w flame; mb”sh kuw she extinguished the fire | wuta

kwal (T) n.f. (pl. kw lal w) hut where rituals are performed | kurmi kwar y (TL) n.m. bog (where sugar cane is planted) | kwari, fadama kway kway (TH) n.m. shin | sha ra a kyar (T) n.m. back; behind ex m n kyar Kasham I am behind Kasham | baya kyar k”m n (T TH) n.m. back of hand | bayan hannu kyar p y (T H) n.m. nipple of breast | kan nono kyar ts”m y (T TH) n.f. top of foot | bayan afa kyar w r (T H) n.m. nape of neck | baya wuya l”b s” (TL) n.f. (pl. l”b s s w) onion (Allium cepa) | albasa l”p n (TL) n.f. cloud; sky | gajimare, sama l g” (TH) n.m. indentation below sternum | wurin ciki lal y = r ts” (TH) n.? Acacia sieberiana | farar aya l w see luw | a dubi luw m”s m (TL) n.f. dream | mafarki m ” (TH) n.f. dew | ra a m k” (TH) n.m. metal band worn around thumb for drawing bowstring | awanya m ng la (TL) n.?, adv.loc. the northern monolith of Miya town | dutsen Miya marn (TH) n.m. side of body, ribs | ugu, ha ar ari m y (TH) n.f. cry of a dodo ex m ya Dl ramb” cry of the Dlerabu dodo | kukan dodo mb g”d” (TH) n.f. crawling ex v rk” g ”na t mb g”d” the child is crawling; ”n s mbag”day he crawled | rarrafe


mb n (TH) n.f. goodness, niceness, beauty | kyau mb ah n (THL) n.f. small frog | burduddugi mb lm t (THLH) n.m. miserliness | rowa mby íala (TL) n.f. skink (Mabuya perottetii and other skink spp.) | kulbxa m ray (TH) n.m. running | gudu m r (THL) n.f. (pl. m r ya w) woven belt used to hold on leaves used as skirt | datsi

mish ngay (TH) n.f. earthworm | tana m (TH) n.f. tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) | aya m kwa (TH) adv.time, n.? dry season, work away from home during the dry season | rani, cin rani

nan y (TH) n.f. algae | gansakuka nd”l kay (TL) n.f. burr grass (Cenchrus biflorus, C. Ciliari) | arangiya nd”rkw na (TL) n.f. whirlwind | guguwa nd ” (TH) n.f. conjunctivitis | jan ido ndal y (TL) n.f. red-flowered silk cotton tree (Bombax buonopozense and other B. species) | gurjiya

nd zhi (TH) n.f. (pl. nd zhazh w) hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius); hippo hide whip | dorina, bulala

nd w = d w (TL) conj. 1. introduces direct quotations ex kw yarda ka, d” b”laya anduw, ìM”n g luwf”.î if she is in agreement, she says to him, “I too love you.”. 2. introduces indirect speech other than indirect questions ex kw nga nduw s b w tl”n s”b” y k y kaÖ when one says that the war-makers are coming…; m lv

nduw m n zuwwun the sarki said that I should enter. 3. (preceding a proper name or a designation) called, named ex gw n ka a z raza nduw gw l that (type of) locust, one calls it gwal | cewa, wai

ng na (TH) n.pl. one’s one, possession belonging to one ex ng na niywan my own thing(s); ng na t”makw n yw n my own sheep; ng na k n nuwun my own house | mallaka

ng r (TH) n.f. (pl. ng rar w) leg | afa ng r c” (THL) n.m. black ants | tururuwa ng n (TL) adv.loc. someplace, anyplace ex m y m b m ngin w we didn’t go anywhere | wani wuri

ngin niy (TL) n.f. (pl. angin niy y w) spider | gizo-gizo ngun m (TH) n.f. type of bee with makes honey inside a tube | rekuwa nguw (T) n.f. quarter of town ex nguw t ma = nguw h ma our quarter; nguw ta malv w = nguw h malv w the chief’s quarter | unguwa

ng z” (TH) n.m. beard | gemu ngwaz r (TL) n.f. trap | tarko ngwiy gh naw (T) n.pl. twins ex ngwiy dz h” a male twin; ngwiy dz ku a female twin | tagwaye ningi (T) n.?, adv.loc. Ningi | Ningi n yh (THL) n.m. medicine, remedy | magani p”s nd (TLH) n.f. gecko, possibly house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) | tsaka pan k (TLH) n.f. embers | garwashin wuta par (T) n.f. (pl. parar w) horn | aho p y [ p y] (TH) n.m. (pl. p yay w) breast, milk ex p y í m woman’s breast; kyar p y nipple; biy piy mile | nono

pyatl m (TH) n.f. hip, lower abdomen | ugu


r dl” = r dl” (TH) n.f. writing | rubutu r h” (TH) n.f. bowstring | tsirkiya ra i (T) n.m. fart ex byara ra a i he farted | tusa r s” (TH) n.m. sorrel, roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) | yakuwa r ts” = lal y (TH) n.m. Acacia sieberiana | farar aya r‰ (T) n.f. begging, beseeching | ro o r w (TH) n.m. type of tall grass (not as tall as tsaure) used for basket weaving | iri ruw y (TH) n.f. custard apple (Annona senegalensis) | gwandar daji ry w [ ry w] (TH) n.f. pus | mugunya s k (TLH) n.?, adv.loc. open area east of Miya where dancing and other recreation takes place | unguwar Miya

s r (TH) n.m. 1. circumcision ex sarw n my peer. 2. (with possessive) peer | kaciya, tsara

s r sar (TH) n.pl. peers | tsararraki shin (TL) n.m. house at farm ex bat s sh nay he went to the farmhouse | gidan gona

shiw yuw (TH) n.f. 1. sweat. 2. hot weather | zuffa, gumi shiy (HH) adv.time formerly, olden times ex s b” ni sh y people of the past | da sh wash w (THH) n.f. (pl. sh wash waw w) star | tauraro t (LH) prep., aspect (as an auxiliary, can take either a deveral noun or a gerund) 1. on, on top of ex m y bay t y we take it onto a rock outcropping; p y ka nj t y the pond was on the rock outcropping. 2. about, concerning ex j buwatl”n t m s yy ba sh gabanc then they came concerning the dispute over the leadership. 3. mound of, heap of ex j f r nay k t s may n M ngil they began by looking at the mound of trash of Mangila. 4. impefective auxiliary (progressive or habitual, but not future) ex m n t zh rar” ~ m n t z ra zar w I am calling; tl n d t m kan tl n w nk they were dwelling thus; d ”ma w s n wut at d˘na gwalf” they spent a year seeking (new) leadership; m n d t c m na Cir˘ma I was doing the work of Ciroma | (1, 2) kan; (3) na

t”l m (TL) n.f. water lily (Nymphaea lotus) | bado t”l y (TL) n.m. tree squirrel | kuregen bisa t m (TH) n.f. song | wa a t”r (LL) n.m. (used only with a possessive pronoun) carelessness ex ts”r w n t r nuws” he stopped me on purpose | ganganci

t”r r y (TL) n.m. biting ant | cirnaka t í” (TH) n.f. chameleon (Chamaeleo africanus) | hawainiya t í” (TH) n.f. odor (good or bad) | wari, anshi t k” (LH) n.f. argument, dispute ex ”m t k” they argued | fa a, musu takwam (T) n.f. cupping with horn ex kiy takwam he was cupped | yi kxaho tar (T) n.m. (pl. tarar w) ground squirrel (Xerus erythropus) | kurege tikw rma (TL) n.f. stone partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus) | kazar dutse t m (TH) n.m. (pl. t mam w) nose | hanci t m b y (TH H) n.f. spring (of water) | idon ruwa t vi (TH) n.m. walking, traveling ex bat t vi he traveled | tafiya tiw y (TL) n.m. (pl. tiw y y w) fly (insect) | uda t y [ t y] (TH) n.f. (pl. t yay w) eye | ido t y (TH) n.f. (f. of í y) female dog, bitch ex t k”n t y this dog | karya t yat y [ t y—t y] (THH) n.f. kidney | oda


tiyr (TL) n.? place of … ex tiyrw n my place, where I am; tiyr za her place, where she is | wajen ., wurin .

tlak y (TH) n.f. (pl. tlak yay w) crab | aguwa tlakwam (T) n.f. (pl. tlakwamam w) spear | mashi tlar (T) n.?, prep. between (cannot be used with human complements) ex m n tl ra z kiy I am between the rocks | tsakani(n)

tlara mb ” (T L) n.? crotch | hantsa, tsakanin cinya tlatluw (T) n.m. armpit | hamata tly i (TH) n.f. (pl. tly ya w) farming, weeding, cultivating | noma tly w [ tly w] (TH) n.f. (pl. tly waw w) tribal markins, etching, tracing | shasshawa, zane

ts ”f (THH) n.m. broom | tsintsiya ts tsal y (THL) n.f. 1. cauri, cowrie, taxes. 2. (usually in ts tsal y m k m) taxes | wuri, haraji

tsaf” (T) n.m. middle, between, among ex t tsafa k m he is in the middle of the house; t tsafa Nd wy í”n K sham he is between Nduya and Kasham | tsakiya, tsakani(n)

tsaku (T) n.f. Fulani camp | ruga ts m (TL) n.?, adv.loc. area in Miya where wrestling is done | unguwar Miya ts w (TH) n.m. (pl. ts waw w) egg | wai tsuw b b” (TH L) n.? testicles | gwaiwa, golo t ku (THH) n.f. toad | kwadxo t kus m (HHL) n.f. (pl. t kus m m w) hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) | bushiya t w (TH) n.f. (locative form of t wat w) on one’s body ex t ww n on my body; j

m sh kar w d tl tl n w tl”m y d p tuw tl n they spent several year and their children were growing and increasing their numbers (pouring onto their bodies) | a jiki

t w (TH) adv. again, still, more ex ng t w say it again; d j y d tsiyak pay t Mang la t w then they again dug out more of the pond on Mangila | har yanzu

ts íay (TH) n.m. right hand, right side ex ts íayuwun on my right; mb uwun t ty íay my right thigh | dama

v kiy (TL) n.f. (pl. v kiy y w) thorn | aya v viy (TL) n.m. (pl. v viy y w) mosquito | sauro vo (T) n.f. mistletoe (Loranthaceae spp. and Tapinanthaceae spp.) | kauci v wav w (THH) n.f. intestines, guts | hanji vw n (TL) n.f. slipperyness | santsii vy i (TH) n.m. (pl. vy a w) buttocks, anus | uwawu, tsuliya war (T) n.m. (pl. w rar w) marsh | fadama w s” (TH) n.m. (pl. w s”s w) grass | ciyawa w y (TH) n.f. jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana or Z. abyssinica) | magarya, kurna w hi [ w hi] (TH) n.f. load, tools, implements | kaya w ra k”m n (TH TH) n.? wrist | wuyan hannu w ra ts”m y (TH TH) n.? ankle | idon sawu w (TH) n.m. courtyard inside compound | tsakar gida w m (TH) n.m. (pl. w mam w) cheek | kunci y (H) aux. (See s w (Ö - y); - y alone is used mainly in the imperative, hortative, and subjunctive) totality marker with TAM’s other than perfective and imperfective ex b˘kway! goout! (m.s. imperative); t m”ts zh k y he should sell the donkey; d kiya t vay d kiya v”riy y she began walking and she began crying |


ay suffix transitizer of intransitive bases, causitivizer ex bay (< ba ‘go’) take, carry; daway (< daw ‘get down, stay as guest’) unload; put up (guest); ts”ray (< ts”r ‘come to a stop’) stop, bring to a stop | da

yer ti (TL) n.m. old age | girma, tsufa z k (TLH) n.m. maternal uncle (younger or older) ex z kw f” your uncle | kawu z l y (TL) n.f. (pl. z liy y w) thread | zare zham (T) n.m. ground hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus) | burtu zh piy (TL) n.f. tears ex zh piywun my tears | hawaye zh piy (TL) n.f. striped sand snake | irin maciji z wazh w (THH) n.f. musk shrew (Crocidura spp.) | ja a z wr y in n y z wr y (TLHL) n.? relatives, clan members | zuriya, zumai

B

b” (HL) v. C (v.n. b w k” (f)) (form used in verbal TAMs; buw used in nominal TAMs;

, m.sg. imper. t ku, f.sg. imper. t kam, pl. imper. t w ka) come | zo b dlang” = b lang” (L) n.m. gutta percha tree (Ficus platyphylla) | gamji b dl y ” (TL) n.m. nettle tree (Celtis integrifolia) | zuwo b ” (H) n.f. (pl. b a w) 1. navel, lower abdomen ex ah n ts”ts l y b” aza

she attached cowries to her front. 2. before, in front of | cibiya; gaba(n) b ak sh (LHL) n.m. gourd plant (Lagenaria siceraria) | duma b”l (HH) v. A1 (v.n. b lak ) pop out, appear suddenly | ullo b”la (HH) v. B (v.n. b lak ) say, tell ex b”la w k” he told a lie; b”lan l b r he told

me the news | fa a b l”nk y (TL) n.m. (pl. b l”nk y y w) baboon (Papio anubis) | gwaggon biri b lang” = b dlang” (L) n.m. gutta percha tree (Ficus platyphylla) | gamji b n (TL) adv.time 1. yesterday ex b n n k day before yesterday; t r na b n last

month. 2. time period preceding current one | jiya b ng na (TH) n.m. type of drum with large bottom and narrow top | azariya b”r (L) v. A1 (v.n. b rak”) help; save ex m n b ry c I helped him with work | taimaka;

ceta b r”m (L) n.m. remainder ex b r”ntl n the rest of them; b r”nn the rest of you;

b r”mm the rest of us; b r”m m r the rest of the money | saura b rb”tl” (L) n.m. (pl. b rb”tl tl w) tortoise | kunkuru b”r ” (L) v. A2 (v.n. b r ak”) hang | rataya b riy (L) n.f. the trees Piliostigma reticulatum & P. thonningii | kargo b”rmay (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. b m yak ) cave in ex r yj nuwun b rm y s y my well

caved in | bxurme b”s” (L) v. A1 (v.n. b s” (f), b sak”) wash; bathe ex m n b s”s w k b”tuwn y I

washed my gown; m n b”suwans I bathed | wanke, yi wanka b saka g n t”my r (L H TL) n.? washing superficially | wankin ido b”ta (HH) v. B (v.n. b tak (f)) 1. untie, release. 2. shoot, throw | kwance, saka; harba,

jefa b”ts” (L) v. A1 (v.n. b tsak” (m)) spit | tofa


b zakw y (HH) n.f. five string harp--resonator is held against stomach as instrument is plucked | molo

b”zay (HH) v. A2 (v.n. b zayak ) finish; be finished ex m n b zay s y I have finished it; c m b zayt say the work is finished | gama, are

ba Ö (k ) (L) conj. (post-clausal k only with affirmative clauses) if it were the case (counterfactual conditional conjunction) ex ba b”tl n ka, kiy y sawhihi t tl nay If they had come, they would have taken their stuff away; f ba b”ruwwam m w, d m n mbiy ma c n nuwnuw if you had not helped me, I would not have finished my work | daa

b - + possessor (T) n.m. (form used with possessor; citation form b h”) father ex b wun my father; b f” your (m.s.) father; b ma our father; b V ziya Vaziya’s father | uban .

b (H) pro.rel.m. ( s ba) (f. m ) 1. one who owns, ex b k m householder; b m r rich person. 2. one who does ex b y w madman; s m ba kalak” good-for-nothing; h m b t w food (thing for eating) | mai

ba (L) v. D (v.n. b hiy (f)) pick up, remove, pull out ex b hiy b y scooping up water | auka, cire, fitar

ba (H) v. D (v.n. b h y (f)) (m.sg. imper. t ku, f.sg. imper. t k”m, pl. imper. t ka , 1st pl. imper. t m y) go ex bat m ray he ran off | tafi, je

b b” (L) n.m. (pl. b b b w) scrotum + testicles | gwaiwa bab”la (HH) v. B2 (v.n. b b”lak ) say (several times) ex bab”la b b”law they spoke

repeatedly | faffadxa bad” (L) v. A1 (v.n. b dak”) lick | lasa b day (L) n.f. (pl. b day y w) large basket | kwando b d vin (H L) n.m. fool | wawa b g b” (H L) n.m., n.f. (pl. s ba g b”) (f. m g b”) enemy | ma iyi b h” (T) n.m. (citation form; b - used with possessors) father; paternal uncle (older or

younger) | uba, kawu (na wajen uba) b h”n (L) num. -teen, units in numbers above twenty ex b h”n wut eleven; d i ts r

bah”n wut twenty-one | sha (goma sha .), da . b h”n v tl” (L L) num.card. fifteen | sha biyar b h”n f ” (L H) num.card. fourteen | sha hu u b h” f rf ” (L LH) num.card. eighteen | sha takwas b h”n k d (L HL) num.card. thirteen | sha uku b h”n k c ya (L HL) num.card. nineteen | sha tara b h” m h (L HL) num.card. sixteen | sha shida b h”n m ts r (L HL) num.card. seventeen | sha bakwai b h”n ts r (L H) num.card. twelve | sha biyu b h”n wut (L LH) num.card. eleven | sha aya b h y (TH) prep. to, up to, toward, as far as (verbal noun of ‘go’, used when

directionality is away or neutral--cf. b w k”) ex di kiya g‰r‰ t re í”n gyama ango bahiy adukuna Mai Unguwa theycarry kolas together with the groom to the place of the Ward Head; w tl”m y s”ba w shasham kiyat w shashan d r itin b h”n v tl” b h y b h”n m ts r children whose ages range from 10 to 15; bahiy camaza up until the night; h r bah y z h r up until mid-afternoon | zuwa

b jl r (H H) n.m. (pl. s ba dl r) hunter | mafarauci b k r (H H) n.m. (pl. s ba k r) thief | arawo b kitl r ti (H THL) n.m. fearful person | matsoraci b k‰ dz h” (H) n.m. (pl. b k‰) (f. b k‰ dz ku) guest, visitor, stranger | ba o b k f” (H H) n.m. (pl. s ba k f”) blacksmith | ma eri


b kwal (H) n.m. (pl. b kwal l w) bag | buhu b ndz”h” (L) n.m. (pl. w tl” bazan) young man | saurayi b ndz hiy (H L) n.m. poor person | matsiyaci b ng” (H) n.f. (pl. bang ng w) drum held sideways and beat at both ends | dogon ki a b ngwar (L) n.f. (pl. b ngwar r w) quiver (for arrows) | kwari b n ws” (H H) n.m. ripe ex z w b n ws” ripe corn; h m b d n tl n = k t” s b d

n tl n ripe things | nunanne b nza (T) adj.? worthless ex s m ba banza worthless person | banza b ra ws (H THH) n.m. (f. ma ra w ) wet ex z w b ra w wet grain; k b” m

r az wet gown; k b”b w ma ra w wet gowns | ji a e b raku (L) n.f. Acacia nilotica | bagaruwa b rbaj dz h” (TH) n.m. (pl. b rbaj ) (f. b rbaj dz ku) Fulani person | Bafillatani b rg‰ (LH) n.f. blanket | bargo b s” (H) n.f. loan (of any kind—money, thing) ex m n t s w b s” zuw y I took a loan

of grain | aro, rance, bashi b t” (H) n.m. haze | hazo b tah y (H TH) n.m. (f. m tah y) sharp (blade) ex g ti b tah y sharp axe; s r”m m

tah y sharp knife | mai kaifi b tl” (H) n.m. karaya gum tree (Sterculia setigera) | kukuki b tly i [b tly i] (T H) n.m. (pl. s ba tly i) farmer | manomi b ts”f w (H TH) n.m. (pl. s b ts”f w) (f. m tsaf w) dry ex z w b ts”f w dry grain;

g ts”r b ts”f w dried mucouse; k b” m tsaf w dry gown; k t”t w s b ts”f w dry things | busasshe

baw (L) v. A1 (v.n. b wak”) 1. go out. 2. sprout | fita; tsiro b w naw (H L) n.m. (f. m w n w) full ex nd wul b w naw full pot; tl rk y m

w n w full calabash | cikakke baway (HH) v. A2 (v.n. b wayak ) take out, remove | fitar bay (HL) v. A1 (v.n. b y k”) (sg. imper. t y, pl. imper. t y y, 1st pl. imper. t yiym ) 1.

take, transport, convey ex b y s wih Kan w y he took the load to Kano. 2. reach | kai; isa

b y w (H H) n.m. (pl. s ba y w) (f. m y w) mad person | mahaukaci b zaniy (L) n.f. (pl. w tl” t v m) young woman not yet of marriageable age | yarinya,

budurwa b zara (T) adv.time, n.? hottest part of dry season | b lebel (L) n.m. uvula | beli b nti (L) n.m. (pl. b nt ty w) loincloth ex gh ma benti loincloth belt | bante b r mu uw (T T) n.f. sand boa | maciji (iri) b der (L) n.f. (pl. b der r w) viper (Atheris chloroechis) | kububuwa b ndim-b ndim (H H) n.m. ratel, honey badger (Mellivora capensis) | damagere, dage b y (H irreg) part. (= j y) particle of uncertain meaning inserted following TAM

auxiliaries in negative subjunctive and all nominal TAMs except focused subject perfective ex t t l kaw m n t b y ts ya k ytuw he is afraid lest I give him trouble; j buws d b y mar ws then he went and found him; t g b y z raf” he will call you; kw biy ts ng n ka, d dzaratl”n s b” when one has given the name, the people disperse | sai

biy (?) v.A1 (?) make noise | yi ara b fuw (LH) n.? bag | buhu bug” (HL) v. A1 (v.n. b g k”) be drunk ex bug t s y he is drunk | bugu


buw (HL) v. A1 (v.n. buw k” (f)) (form used in nominal TAMs; b” used in nominal TAMs; , m.sg. imper. t ku, f.sg. imper. t kam, pl. imper. t w ka) come ex y buw m let’s come | zo

b w k” (THH) prep. to, up to, until (verbal noun of ‘come’, used when directionality is understood as being toward the speaker--cf. b h y) ex t riyh y na M y jiyka, f rkooz í f s r k n miyza h r buw k” c‰n k” t riyhìy na Míyà jiyka, fárkoozà ’ f sàr kúnà miyza hár buwák” c nàk” | zuwa

buway (HHL) v. A2 (v.n. b w yak”) bring | kawo buwsa (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. b ws k ) blow ex b ws k” ta r w n blowing of the wind |

busa by ra (L) v. B2 (v.n. by rak”) (with ra i as object) fart ex by ra ra a i he farted |

yi tusa by tlyama (L) n.m. (used adjectivally, m. by tlyamana, f. by tlyamaya, pl.

byatlayamaniy) unripe, green ex gw y m by tlyamana unripe yam; by tlyamaya = by tlyama p y m unripe pumpkin; k t” byatlayamaniy = by tlyana k t” unripe things | anye

”ga (HH) v. B (v.n. gak ) kneel; squat | dur usa, tsuguna ”nt” (HH) v. A2 (v.n. ntak ) reduce | rage a (L) v. D (v.n. hiy) 1. (tr., intr.) break (pot) ex m n s w nd wul y I broke the pot; nd wul at say the pot broke. 2. split wood ex m n s w gh uw y I split wood. 3. slap ex m n y s wumuw s y I slapped him. 4. swim ex w tl”m t

yiy b y the children are swimming | fasa, fashe; faskare; mara; yi iyo dam (L) n.f. bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) | gora h y (TH) n.f. firewood | faskare hiya gh m (T H) n.f. headache ex gham wun j t uww n my head aches (my head is breaking to me) | ciwon kai

aku (HL) v. A1 (v.n. kw k”) hop ex t”ku t akw akw w the toad is hopping | yi tsalle k - k (TL) id. indicates hopping | amsa amo

al (HH) v. A1 (v.n. lak ) 1. break (rope) (transitive or intransitive); ex m n ls w zh w y I broke the rope; zh w lt s y the rope broke. 2. chop ex m n ls w gh uw y I chopped wood | tsinke; sara m (T) n.? (used in gh ma am) termite hill | suri nanshi (L?) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace

ndaliya (L) adj. naked ex v rk” ndaliya naked boy; w n andaliya naked girl; w tl”m y ndaliya naked children | tsirara

iy (HL) v. A1 (v.n. y k”) stab, pierce; be stabbed. be pierced ex m n iys w g ga y I pierced the zana-mat; yt s y it is pierced | huda, soka yat (TL) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace w y (TH) n.m. francolin (Francolinus spp.) | makwarwa

uwy” (HL) v. A2 (v.n. wy k”) (tr., intr.) break (stick) ex m n wy suw kw mbal y I broke the stick; kw mbal uwy t s y the stick broke | karya, karye


ya iya (HL) v. B2 (v.n. y iy k”) (plac. of iy) pierce many, dig many | huhhuda y iy [ iy] (T) n.f. (pl. iyay w) diarrhea | zawo

C

c ” (T) n.m., prep.loc. underneath, bottom, base of ex c” ” z kiy underneath the stone |

gindi(n), ar ashi(n) caga (HH) v. B (v.n. c g k ) precede ex cag ns b w k” he came before me | riga cam (T) n.m (bound form of c nh ) heart ex c nw n my heart; c nw s” his heart |

zuciya cam (HH) v.A1 (v.n. c mak”, c mak ) 1. like, love ex m n c ntl c maw I love her;

gh ns” can s w m b m c muw Allah wanted it such that we didn’t finish the work. 2. want | so

c mak” (H) n.f, love | soyayya c m za (TH) adv.time at night ex ”matl n k r cam za one did a theft at night | da

dare c m z” (TH) n.m. night, darkness ex c m z” n s y = ”n s c maz” night has

fallen | dare c ngu (H) n.m. (pl. c ngw ngw w) billygoat | bunsuru c ngu (TH) n.f. (pl. c ngw ngw w) Abdim’s stork, rainbird (Ciconia abdimii) |

shamuwa c nh (TH) n.m. (pl. c nh h w) (free form; bound form cam) heart ex n k”n c nh this

heart | zuciya capay (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. c p yak”) catch in the air ex m n c pay s y I caught it | cafe c ratuwa (L) n.f. type of eye disease that discolors lens of eye and can cause blindness | c s” (L) quant. much, many ex gh ruwi c s niy many cattle; m r c s na a lot of

money; ts p”r c s = ts p”r c s ya a lot of urine | da yawa c t” (L) n.m. red pepper (Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens) | barkono ciga (L) v.B sit (palatalized version of ts”ga?) ex d cig gh mats y he burst out

laughing | zauna c l d” (TH) n.f. red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) | cilakowa mai jan baki c r (L?) n.m. chewstick tree (Anogeissus leiocarpus) | marke c rand m (TL) n.m. boil on buttocks | maruru c˘n k , c‰n k”n (HHL?) adv.time now | yanzu c w (H) n.pl. (pl. of í fuw) goats ex n ykin c w these goats | awaki c wcuw (L) adj. warm ex b y c wcuwna warm water; k t” c wc wniy warm things;

t yatl” j c wcuw ‘the kunu is warm | dxumi cuwr” (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. c wr k”) knead ex m n c wr say I kneaded it | cura


D

d (L) part., aspect 1. particle of unclear function occurring with third person subjects,

directly preverbal ex f rk‰ t riyh y na M y , s b” ts r d f r b w h yatl n the beginning of the history of Miya, two men were the first to come. 2. third person perfective auxiliary in relative clauses ex s m b d ts y ws K sham the person that Kasham asked. 3. particle of unclear function occurring with any subject in imperfective and verbless sentences ex t l w m”n d gyamuws” he want me to be his friend; m n d m m ydz h w I am not a Miya person; t d t”fa n í he was hunting duikers; n yw y r nma d” g y there are some others like us |

d = (H irreg) aspect perfective auxiliary used when subject is focused ex w d z rawa? who called?; K sham d z raw it was Kasham who called; m y d z raw it was wee who called | ne/ce

d”ba (L) v.B (v.n. d bak”) dye, paint black | rina d b” (T) n.f. open area, field, arena | fili, dandali d bak‰ dz”h” (L) n.m. (pl. d bak‰) (f. d bak‰ dz ku) blind person | makaho d” ”n (HH) v.A2 (v.n. d y n, d ”n k”) transplant | dasa d”da (L) v.B (v.n. d dyadi, d dak”) fall | fa i d d (TL) n.m. (pl. no plural) in-law ex d d w n my father-in-law | suruki d”kay (HH) v.A2 (v.n. d kay k”) hear, feel | ji d m (L?) n.f. (pl. d mam w) tree | bishiya d mb”r (H) n.m. (pl. d mb”r r w) baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) | kuka d na (L) adv.loc., n.m. sky, above ex w tl”zam tl tl n d na the birds flew up; tl n

d n gh ma z kiy they are above the rock | sama, sama da d ndal y (TL) n.f. spiny plum (Ximenia americana) | tsada d ng (HL) v.bor. keep doing | dinga d p” (H) n.f. (pl. d pap w) termite | gara d”r (L) v.A1 (v.n. d r, d rak”) grind ex d”r zuw gam she ground sorghum | ni a d r (L) n.f. grinding | ni a d ram (H) n.f. ebony tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) | kanya d”r ” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. d r k” (f)) press down on | danna d r itim (T) num. ten ex s b” d”r itim ten people | goma d”rrup (?) id. indicates swallowing | amsa amo da (L) v.D (v.n. d hiy) 1. topple, fall over, fall on ex m n d t k”nz I grabbed her

hand; dz wk” dat” s y the dry season has set in. 2. collapse ex l n tuwun datla s y my hut collapsed. 3. set (sun) ex m ku datla s y the sun set | fa i, rushe

da (L) v.D (v.n. d hiy) be a follower of ex m n dah I am your adherent | bi (Wane) dab” (L) v.A1 (v.n. d bak”) scold | tsawata d baja (L) adv.time this year | bana d bak” ta gh ns (L T L) n.f. thunder | cida D biya (L?) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum d ”san (L) adj. blunt, dull ex s r”m da ”sanya dull knift; k t” da ”sanniy blunt

things | dasashe d d m (TH) n.f. “inch worm”, a type of caterpillar that moves by bunching itself up then

expanding | D dima (HH) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace


da ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. d ak (f)) increase, keep on doing | da a da ”ha (L) v.B2 (v.n. d ”hak”) winnow with a faifai | tanka e da ”m (HH) v.A2 (v.n. d ”mak (m)) 1. fix, repair. 2. to have ever done, to have never

done | gyara; ta a yi d ga = d g (L) conj. when (+ cohesive clause in perfective narrative, with verb in

participle form) ex t˘ d ga m y w Tash y, y wwa, d s k p yak B gaw h r y nzu Well, when Tashay died, yes, they again installed Bugaw another time; d g s”n tl”n ts r, d s w b h yu r nj b yay when a couple of days had passed, they went fishing | da (+ SUKA)

d guriy (L) n.f. (pl. d guriy y w) sheep or goat that has not given birth | kazganya d gwa ” (L) n.f. (pl. d gwa w) clay used for making pots or building | yum u d k”man (L) n.m. (pl. d k”man n w) bottle gourd | buta d l yl y (HHL) n.? reason | dalili d ma = dama (HL) prep., conj. ( dama is far more frequent; seems = s b˘d ) for the

purpose of, for the sake of, in order to, because (see dama for examples) ex m n íar biy m ku dama ma c wcuw I put the water in the sun so that it would become

warm | domin, don, saboda d ng” (T) n.f. (pl. d ngang w) large pot for water or for cooking beer | randa d ng”s” (L) n.m. (pl. d ng”s s w) warthog (Phacocherus aethiopicus) | mugun dawa,

gadu d ngu (T) n.f. (pl. d ngwangw w) Cape hare (Lepus capensis), rabbit | zomo D niya (L?) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum D ns (HH) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum d r (LH) prep. see d r | d rh” (L) n.m. (pl. d rh h w) road, way; means | hanya d tsa (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. b ts k”) chop up in to pieces | datsa daw (d‰) (L) v.A1 (v.n. d wak”) 1. get down, descend; . 2. fall (rain) | sauka; fa i (ruwa) d wan (L) n.pl. (pl. of y s”, v ki) siblings, brothers and/or sisters, close relatives of the

same generation ex d wanza her siblings | íyanuwa daway (HH) v.A2 (v.n. d wayak ) 1. (tr.) lodge. 2. unload ex daway s w z w y he

unloaded the grain | saukar da, sauke dawun = d‰na (L) v.A2 (v.n. d˘nak”) 1. look for ex dawunya s y = d‰naya s y I

looked for him. 2. try, seek to do. 3. court (woman) | nema; yi kxokxari day (L) v.A1 place, put | sa, ajiye d yday (T) adv.man. correct ex n kin k t” suw d yday that thing is exact | daidai d y n (HH) n.m. transplanted plant, transplantation | dashe d rw tli (HH) n.m. (pl. d w tlyatly w) leopard (Panthera pardus) | damisa d i (T) num. tens (used to form ‘tens’ from 20-90) ex d i ts r 20; d i f”rf ” b h”n

m ts r 87 | gomiya d i (H) n.m. (pl. d a w) boundary | iyaka d i f ” (H L) num.card. forty | arbaíin d i f”rf ” (H HH) eighty | tamanin d i k di (H L) num.card. thirty | talatin d i k ciya (H L) num.card. ninety | casaíin d i m ha (H L) num.card. sixty | sittin d i m ts”r (H L) num.card. seventy | sabaíin d i ts r (H L) num.card. twenty | ashirin d i v tl” (H L) num.card. fifty | hamsin d dyadi (L) n.m. falling | fa uwa


d ndi (H) n.m. (pl. d ndyand n) vagina, female genitalia | duri d ng” (T) n.f. (pl. d ngang w) ledge inside house used as bed | dinga d vin (L) n.f. foolishness, foolish behavior | wauta d y”m (T) n.f. hammer | guduma d y y (TH) n.f. hyrax, coney (Procavia capensis) | rema d yts” (L) n.f. (pl. d yts ts w) a grain, kernel | waya, tsaba d ytsat y (L H) n.f. eyeball | kxwayar ido dl”dl”r (L) v.A2 (v.n. dl dl”rak” (f)) tremble ex t s t dl dl”r y he is trembling | yi

karkarwa dl nt (TH) n.m., n.f. (pl. dl nt t w) lion (Panthera leo) | zaki dl rk y (TH) n.f. (pl. dl rk w) chicken, hen | kaza dl dl”r (L) n.f. dum palm, dum fronds (Hyphaene thebaica) | goruba, kaba dl ng”r (L) n.m. (pl. dl ng”r r w) animal ex dl ng”r n k m domestic animal; dl ng”r

n ts k”n wild animal | dabba dl r (T) n.f. (pl. dalrar w) bed | gado dl r (H) n.m. hunting ex m n n dl r I hunted | farauta dl ramb” [dl ramb”] (L) n.m. (pl. dl ramb mb w) masquerader, dodo ex dl ramb”

b g law “feathered dodo” | dodo dl ramb [dl ramb ] (LH) n.f. (pl. dl r mb mb w) masquerader, tamatar dodo |

tamatar dodo dl war (L) n.m. anger, departure by angry wife ex atl s dl war y she (wife) angrily

left her husband’s house | fushi, yaji d˙l (HL) conj. it is necessary, have to (requires subjunctive clause) ex d˙l f b waf

p y you must come quickly | dole d‰na = dawun (L) v.A2 (v.n. d˘nak”) 1. look for ex dawunya s y = d‰naya s y I

looked for him. 2. court (woman). 3. try, seek to do | nema; yi o ari d˘y (HH) n.f. cassava (Manihot esculenta) | rogo dubu (T) num. thousand ex d bu wut 1000 | dubu d gwagum (L) n.m. (pl. d gwagum m w) log | gungume d w = nd w (L) conj. 1. introduces direct quotations ex j ts y za duw, ìM b‰k”m

í ykw ?î he asked her, “Where have you come from?”; Q: Duw, ìNa tiy m ?î A: Duw, ìMiy tiy naí”.î Q: He asked, “What did your kill?” A: They answered, “We killed a duiker.”. 2. introduces indirect speech other than indirect questions ex d

”ngatl n d w dabaja s v z w y he says to them that this year he will perform the sorghum festival. 3. (preceding a proper name or a designation) called, named ex w ya kac mba w n d w L [there is] a certain ugly girl called Labe | cewa, wai

d wak” (L) n.m., n.f. (pl. d wak k w) horse ex d wak” dz h” stallion; d wak” dzaku mare | doki

d w m (TH) n.m. stirring stick | muciya Dz gay (HH) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace dz h” (H) adj.m. (pl. gh naw) (f. dz ku) male (used to show masculine gender with

lexically gender neutral roots) | namiji dza (L) v.D (v.n. dz hiy) sweep away, push away (water, sweepings, etc.) | ture, share dz b”n g ts”r (HH L) n.m. type of green snake which climbs | maciji (iri) dz b”r ku (HH) n.f. (pl. dz b”r kwakw w) guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) | zabo dza ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. dz ak ) overturn | kife dz f” (H) n.pl. (pl. of j fana) males, husbands ex dz f” niytl n your husbands | maza


dz ku (L) adj.f. (pl. gh naw) (f. of dz h”) female (used to show feminine gender with lexically gender neutral roots) ex d wak” dzaku mare; m y dzaku Miya woman’; ngwiy dz ku a female twin | tamata

dzakwu (L) v.A1 (v.n. dz kwak”) begin | fara dz m (H) n.m. (pl. dz mam w) cowpeas, beans (Vigna sinensis) | wake dzar (L) v.A1 (v.n. dz rak” (f)) milk ex m n t dz r p I am milking | tatsa (nono) dzar (HH) v.A1 (v.n. dz rak (f)) disperse, scatter ex s b” dzaraya s y = s b” dzartl n

say the people scattered | watse dzaray (LH) v.A2 (v.n. dz rayak ) distribute, share out, separate ex m n dz rayatl n

say I shared (it) out to them | raba, rarraba dzatl” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. dz tl k”) kick | shura dz ya (T) part. emphasizes imperative or other statment | mana dz wk” (L) n.m. (pl. dz wk k w) kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) | rimi

(H) part. (never phrase initial) moreover, as a continuation of the preceding (usually

has no clear English translation) ex mi buway was” miy lumbuws” ndemeyi kwapa a s”nata kidi miy b ” we bring grass and cover it (fermenting grain) completely until it spends three days, and we uncover it again; wataw ta s”nuws” kidi k fin miy s ” that is it goes three days before then drink it | kuma ”h”n (HL) v.A2 (v.n. y hyahy n (m), h”n k”) tie, attach; hobble | aure ”m (HH) v.A1 (v.n. mak ) 1. do; (intr.) be possible; (intr) be in effect, turn to; spend time (doing). 2. (intr.) be possible ex ”muws g m it’s possible. 3. (intr.) be in effect, turn to; spend time (doing) | yi mak w n (LH L) n.? playing | wasa

”nga (HH) v.B (v.n. ng” (f), ngak ) say, tell, talk, speak a language | ce, fa a, gaya ”var (HH) v.A2 (v.n. varak ) faint, pass out ex ”vart say he fainted | suma a (L) v.D (v.n. hiy) defecate (with w ” as object) | yi kashi a ”ngaya (HH) v.B2 (v.n. ”ngang w, ”ng yak ) talk over, discuss | tattauna

h” [ ‰, ] (T) adv.loc, prep. in, inside ex tl n ah” [ ] they are inside; tl n h”z [ z ] they are inside it; z y h” [ ] go in! | ciki(n)

ah” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. h k”) taste | ta a ah”na (HL) v.A2 (v.n. h”n k”) put on girdles for dancing, etc. ex m n h n wan s y I girded myself | dxamara am (HL) v.A1 (v.n. m k”) 1. arrive; ex m n an s” M yay I have arrived at Miya. 2. be equal to | kai

m l (HH) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum mbar (LHL?) n.? belt, girdle | amara ngo (T) n.m. type of locust | fara (iri) riy (L) num. hundred ex riy wut 100; riy ë”n w t” 101; riy ts r 200 | ari y (H) n.m. (pl. yay w) mountain, rock | dutse (?) v.? ?short form of ”m | f w (TH) n.m. lower back | un umi


iy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. y k” (f)) follow ex y t”makw niywas” he followed his sheep; m n y ws Nayr v tl” he owes me five Naira | bi iy (HH) v.A1 (v.n. yak ) cook; be cooked ex iy s w s p”n y she cooked tuwo’; s p”n iyt s y the tuwo cooked | dafa, dafu r r (HH) n.m. grey heron (Ardea cinerea) | zalbxe

y hyahy n (TL) n.m. tying, attachment | auri y m yam (THH) adj. bitter ex g‰r yam yam na bitter kola; kw m

y m yam ya bitter mahogany | aci

E

Ö = í y Ö (H) rel.loc. 1. the place that …, where … ex m n d˘na ts w s”natl n dz b”r ku I looked for eggs where the guinea fowls slept; batl n kuw b y they went in order to draw water. 2. (with nominalized purpose phrase) in order to ex k˙w n k buws t vi nuws” everybody was going out for his stroll. 3. (in d g- ) when, upon having done ex d g m n z ratl n, d buw tl n d” b y ts gatl n y when I called them, they came and sat down. 4. (in j- ) the, subsequently ex b ya m y t y s w d m y, j m y ay after we had chopped down the tree, then we split (the wood) | inda .

e see a- (palatalized nouns beginning in “a”) | m (T L) interr.adv. why?, what for? ex Q: f bukw m ? - A: r ma tl wiy Q: why did you come? - A: in order to eat meat | don me?

wut y (TH) adv.man. 1. at one place ex m ha suw gh m m w t y let’s join ourselves in one place. 2. together ex tl n d nd wut i n b ngwar they were together with their arrow quivers; y r n m w t y w we don’t speak the same language | tare

w ya (TH) adv.time some day, one day, a certain time ex s w kw p w ya see you later (only until another day); j d í r m ku w ya ka d b tl n t yr M ng la d j y ma h yra they they would fix a day (a day some day) and they would go and chat at Manglia’s place | wata rana

y (TH) det.loc. the place in question, there ex d p gh matl n y they join forces there (they join their heads at the place in question) | wurin, wajen

y n + complement (TH) det.loc. (complement is a noun or an inalienable pronoun) the place of (noun) ex j buws y n b y they went to the (place of the) water; d p nd y nwas” wut they would pour (it) in just his one place | wurin, wajen

F

f ” (L) num. four ex s b” f four people | hudxu f f ” (TH) num. eight ex s b” f rf ” eight people | takwas fak” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. f k k”) rub, wipe on, paint | shafa


f p” (H) n.m. foam, froth | kumfa f ra (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. f r k”) 1. happen ex m f r tl n ? what happened?. 2. start,

begin ex m n f r s y I started | faru; fara f w faw (THH) adj. light (in weight) ex s m faw faw na lightweight person; z kiy

faw faw ya lightweight stone; k t” faw faw ni lightweight things | mara nauyi fay (L) v.A1 (v.n. f yak”) blow ex fay s w par y he blew the horn | busa f y (H) n.f. (pl. f yay w) flour | gari f n (L?) n.f. beehive | amya

G

g- … + imperfective aux. (in complementary distribution with g m, q.v.: g- is used only

with imperfective aux , gàm elsewhere; mutually exclusive with súw (… -áy), q.v., with which it seem to have functional similarities) 1. (aspect marker always used in conjuction with imperfective aux ) functions as a logical operator particularly, though not exclusively, associated with yes/no questions and concessive conditionals; as an imperfective, it is associated with future and habitual, but not progressive senses ex t g- zaraza wa? will he call her? (cf. corresponding statement t s- z razay he will call her); t n g- tluws” piy Kasham, t g- ma ban kw na í n m y even if Kasham is leaving in a hurry, he will take his leave of us; (non-verbal sentence) f g- m r wa? do you have any money?; Nd wya g- m r = Nd wya s- m r Nduya has money. 2. (with locative y ) exists, there is ex mm wiy d g y , ng nuws” j y Gw rama but there is another one, his name is Gwarama |

g dlamb y (HH?) n.? bark (of tree) ex g dlamb y d mb”r baobab bark | awo g dlaniy (L) n.f. (pl. g dlaniy y w) woven tray used to serve tuwo (made of r w) |

faifai g anzakway (L) n.m., n.f. (pl. g anzakway y w) spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) |

kura g ga ” (L) n.f. (pl. g ga w) zana mat | zana g gal (H) n.m. jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana or Z. abyssinica) | magarya g gaw (H) n.m. bug, insect | waro g”la (L) v.B (v.n. g lak” (m)) roast, grill ex m n g la tl w I grilled meat; tl wi g”lata

s y the meat became grilled | gasa g”m (L) v.A1 (v.n. g mak”) join, meet ex m y g m darh” we met on the road | ha a,

gama g”may (HH) v.A2 (v.n. g”mayak ) intercept | tare g”r (L) v.A1 (v.n. g rak”) show, point out | nuna g”ra (L) v.B (v.n. g rak”) move aisde, get out of the way ex m n g ratl n say I got out

of their way | gusa, ba wani wuri g r nna (TH) n.m. Acacia senegal or A. dudgeoni, a source of gum Arabic | akwara,

ar ara g rdaku (L) n.f. lower legs of cow | gan a g”s” (L) v.A1 (v.n. g sak”) 1. accept, take thing offered ex m n g s” s w lb sh y

nuwnay I received my salary. 2. take away from ex g”san s wihi tuwnay he took my things away from me. 3. answer | kar a; wace; amsa


g”t” (L) v.A1 (v.n. g tak”) open | bu e g tak” ta gh ns (L T L) n.? lightening | wal iya g”tla (L) v.B (v.n. g tlak” (m)) belch ex g”tla s y he belched | yi gyatsa ga (L) v.D (v.n. g hiy) lie in wait for | san a g - (L) aux. (in g n , g y ) introduces first person hortatives, let me…, let’s… ex g n

buw n let me go; g y b m let’s go | in, mu g (L) aux. g- + imperfective auxiliary ; see g- | g b s (TL) adv.loc. east | gabas g ”n (L) adj. a little ex tsan m r g ”n he gave me a little money; m n s biy g ”

I’ll drink a little water | kadxan g ”n (L) quant. a little ex tsan m r g ”n he gave me a little money; m n s biy

g ” I’ll drink a little water | ka an g ”na (L) adj. (pl. gy ‰n ) (f. gy iya) small, short ex v rk” g na small boy’;

kw mbal ga ”na short stick’; w n gy iya small girl; w tl”m gy ‰n small children | arami, gajere

g day (T) n.f. (pl. g dayay w) machete; sword | adda, takobi g d˘ (TL) n.? inheritance | gado gag”s” (L) v.A2 (plac. of g”s”) 1. accept. 2. take away from. 3. answer | kar a; wace;

amsa g huw (H) n.m. (pl. g huw w w) stalks | kara g jal dz h” (T) n.m. (pl. g jal gh naw) (f. g jal dz ku) short (person) | gajere g jay (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. g j yak ) inherit ex m n g j gh r f‰ dz”h” nuwun I

inherited from my father; m n g j ya s w I inherited from him | gada g jiy (LHL) n.m. tiredness, fatigue | gajiya g lak”y (L) n.m. collar bone | ashin wuya g law (H) n.? (used in dl ramb” g law) feathered dodo | dodon fikafikai g liy (L) n.f. (pl. g liy y w) huge calabash | masaki g l w dz h” (LH?) n.m. (pl. g l w gh naw) (f. g l w dz ku) slave | bawa g m = g n (L?) aux. (in complementary distribution with g, q.v.: g- is used only with

imperfective aux , gàm elsewhere; mutually exclusive with súw (… -áy), q.v., with which it seem to have functional similarities) 1. (following a verb in TAMs other than imperfective) seems to imply inclusion as part of a set; particularly frequent in yes/no questions and concessive conditionals ex z raza gam (conditional future) he will call her; m n ta mar g m m‰t m gh raza, m n g l w even if I get an old car, I want it. 2. (with ‘know’ and perhaps other verbs) seems to have function equivalent to s w (Ö - y) ex m n s nya gam = m n s nya s- y I know him; m n s n gan s m b buws I know the man who came. 3. in addition to, including (cf. meaning #1 of ) ex w y gan w nka others, too, are like that; j tluws í”f í n tuws í f w tl”m y n ywas” gan t y then he arose with his wife and his children as well as him(self) | ko, har da

G mar (TL) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum g n = g m (L?) part. (see g m for examples) even, also (seeg m for discussion) | ko, har

da g nd” (H) n.f. (pl. g ndand w) thick hide of a cow, elephant, etc. ex g nd” y wun

elephant hide | fata mai kauri g ng” (L) n.m. (pl. g ng ng w) pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) | kwasa-

kwasa g ng” h”n (TH) n.f. praying mantis | o i- o i g ngan g rna (L H) n.m. large drum held on knees | babban ki a g ngam (L) n.m. (pl. g ngam m w) drum | ganga


g ngangam ga ”na (L L) n.m. large drum held over shoulder | aramin ki a g nya (L) n.m. communal labor | gayya g ra (H) n.? important (person) ex g ra b s n gàra bá s n | babba g rab” (L) n.m. (pl. g rab b w) ribs [Skinner ‘chest’] | ha ar ari g rna (H) adj. (pl. gy ruwni [g ruwni]) (f. gy rya) big, important ex mb rgu g rna

big ram; t m ku gy rya big ewe; t makw gy ruwni big sheep (pl) | babba G sa (L?) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace g sk w t” (LHH) n.? truth | gaskiya gatl”gatl” (?) id. ideophone | amsa amo gay (HH) v.A1 (v.n. g yak ) wait for ex m n g ytl say I waited for her | jira g zam (H) n.f. (pl. g zam m w) cat | kyanwa, mage g y = j y y (TH) existential there is (see g-) ex tl n g y wa? are they there?; m b”l

m g y ngh m you didn’t say where you are | akwai | gh d” (H) n.f. (pl. gh dad w) fish | kifi gh”dza (HH) v.B (v.n. gh dzak ) 1. (tr., intr.) turn, roll, look back ex gh”dza s w

nd wul y he turned the pot; gh”dzat say he turned around; gh dzak b ng” performing rituals, beginning a festival. 2. become ex saboda d” gh”dzatl”n wutl” bazam in order that they become young men (referring to boys being circumcized) | juya, waiwaya; zama

gh”ma (HH) v.B (v.n. gh mak (m)) climb, mount ex gh”mat s ghama d wak y he mounted the horse | hau

gh”may (HH) v.A2 (v.n. gh mayak ) lift up, raise | hawar, tayar gh”na (L) v.B (v.n. gh nak” (f)) change into, metamorphose ex gh”n g anzakway

he turned into a hyena | riki a gh nak” ta gh ns (LLL L HL) n.f. storm (transformation of the sky/god) | hadiri gh naw (L) adj.pl. pluralizer used with some humans and animals which show gender

with dz@h@ and dzaku, q.v. ex ngwiy gh naw twins; g mb” gh naw Roan antelopes; g jal gh naw short people | jamíi

gh ns” (L) n.m. god; rain; sky ex d‰s gh ns” it rained; gh ns” j t d waw it is raining | Allah, ruwan sama, sama

gh”nts” (L) v.A2 (v.n. gh mats” (m), gh ntsak”) laugh ex m n gh nts” s y I laughed | yi dariya

gh rs” (H) n.m. cane rat, grasscutter, cutting grass (Thryonomys swinderianus) | gyazbi gh ruw (L) n.f. (pl. gh ruwiy) cow ex w na gh r w, w tl” gh r wiy calf, calves |

saniya gh rwan (L) n.f. aardvark (Orycteropus afer) | dabgi gh uw (H) n.m. (pl. gh uw w w) wood | itace gh j (TL) interr.adv.time when? ex n yn gh j ? when will he see you? | yaushe? gh j k y (TLH) quant.univ. (only as the head of a generic clause; see k‰ghaj )

whenever …, anytime that … ex t n m gam gh j k y, d t”r m y whenever he saw us, he would greet us | koyaushe .

gh m (H) n.f. (pl. gh mam w) 1. head; on; -self; (with linked genitive) peer, age mate; (with tool) handle ex kiya w yh gham tl”n they took the load on their head. 2. (with tool as possessor) handle ex gh ma g ti axe handle. 3. on ex tl n gh ma z kiy they are on the rock | kai; kan; ota

gh m (H) n.f. (pl. gh mam w) 1. (with direct genitive) self ex m y nay gh m ma we saw ourselves. 2. (with linked genitive) peer, age mate ex gh m tuwun/gh n t za ‘my peer/her peer | kai;tsara, saía


gh ma Ö (H) n.m, n.f. handle of …, attachment for … | ota, ma auri gh ma am (H T) n.f. termite hill | suri gh ma y (H H) n.m. rock outcropping | kan pa, pa gh ma s r m (H L) n.? knifepoint | tsinin wu a gh ma sh m (H H) n.m. penis head | kan bura gh mats” (L) n.m. laughter | dariya gh ma vuwshi = v wshi (H L) n.m. (pl. v wsh sh w) rubbish heap | juji ghan (L) v.A1 (v.n. gh nak” (m)) 1. build. 2. mould (pot). 3. weave | gina, sakxa gh n ta- (H T) n.f. peer, age mate ex gh n tuwun my peer; gh n t za her peer | tsara,

saía ghar (L) v.A1 (v.n. yer ti (m), gh rak”) grow old | tsufa gh rahaw dz”h” (H) n.m. (pl. gh rahaw) (f. gh rahaw dz ku) 1. old person. 2. parent |

tsoho; mahaifi gh rn w (HH) n.m. dodon buzu (the main dodo of the K v r festival) | dodon buzu g ti (H) n.m. (pl. g tay w) axe | gatari G tuw (TL) n.m. man’s name; one of the founders of Miya | sunan mutum g y (H?) n.m, n.f. (in g y + tool) worn out tool ex g ya t lp worn out hoe; g ya g ti worn

out axe; g ya s r m worn out knife; g yaza it’s worn out | dumb un kaya g‰day (bor) v.bor. (v.n. g‰d yak ) thank ex m n g˘d s w thank you | gode g‰r (TL) n.m. kola nuts | goro gudz” (L) v.A1 (v.n. g dzak”) 1. measure, weigh ex m n g dz” s w z w y I weighed

the sorghum. 2. point at, take aim at; threaten | nuna, auna g mb” dz h” (T) n.m. (pl. g mb” gh naw) (f. g mb” dz ku) roan antelope

(Hippotragus equinus) | gwamki g mb” (H) n.m. (pl. g mbamb w) large round gourd | gora g mbul (L) n.f. belly | tumbi g ts”r (L) n.m. (pl. g ts”r r w) mucous; cold (the illness) | majina, mura guw (L) v.A1 (with verbal noun) just do, do abruptly ex gw nd b h /b h y‰n / gw

nd b h just go (m/f, pl); m n g w t h I just ate (it) | yi kawai g z”m (L) n.m. (pl. g z”m m w) Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) | guza gwa (L) v.D (v.n. gw hiy) spend a long time, last | jima, da e gw ”sam (L) adj. thick (in size) ex gh ” gwa ”sanna thick wood; t tsiy gwa ”sanya

thick tendon; s b” gwa ”sanni thick people | kauri gw g m (TH) n.m. (pl. gw g mam w) dove (Streptopelia spp.) | kurciya gw gwas” (L) n.m. (pl. gw gwas s w) elbow | gwiwar hannu gw l (H) n.m. type of locust | fara (iri) gw lf” (L) n.f. chieftainship, kingship | sarauta gw nagw n (HH) n.m. (pl. gw nagw namam w) stink ant | gwano gw ngwan (L) n.m. gate, doorway | ofa gw r dz”h” (L) n.m. (pl. gw r gh”naw) (f. gw r dz ku) bachelor, divorced man;

divorced person | gwauro, tuzuru gwarza (HH) v.A2 (v.n. gwarzhiw t” (m), gw rdzak ) grow up, grow | girma gwatl” (L) v.A1 (v.n. gw tlak”) give a sideways blow, butt ex gwatl”tla s y he

knocked her aside | mangara, tunkwiya gw y m (TH) n.m. (pl. gw y mam w) yam (Dioscorea spp.) | doya gy ” (L) quant. a little, a few ex m r g na = m r gy ” a little money; gh ruwi

gy ni = gh ruwi gy ” a few cattle | ka an gy ”-gya ” (L) quant. a little | ka an-ka an


gy iya (L) adj.f. (pl. gy ‰n ) (f. of g ”na) small, short ex w n gy iya small girl | arama, gajeriya

gy ‰n (L) adj.pl. (pl. of g ”na) small, short ex w tl”m gy ‰n small children | anana, gajeru

gyagiya (L) v.B2 (v.n. gy giyak” (f)) learn, teach, imitate | koya, koyar, kwaikwaya gy m (L?) n.m., n.f. (pl. gy mam w) friend ex gy mwun my friend; gy ma Vaziya

Vaziya’s friend | aboki gy ruwni [g ruwni] (H) adj.pl. (pl. of g rna) big, important ex t makw gy ruwni big

sheep (pl.) | babba gy rya (H) adj.f. (pl. gy ruwni [g ruwni]) (f. of g rna) big, important ex t m ku

gy rya big ewe | babba

H

h may (L) adj. empty ex nd wul h m yna empty pot; ts d y h”m yya empty alleyway;

k t” h m yni empty things | fanko h”r (HL) v.A1 (v.n. h r k”) prevent | hana h”ra (L) v.B (v.n. h rak”) grind with water ex h”ra zuw gam she ground sorghum |

ni a h (T) n.? 1. (always with complement) place of; to, toward ex b y m h m w there’s

no water where we are; t buws ha niy b h” he goes to his family. 2. (with some locational nouns used as locative adverbial) of, that of ex m y zama kan h Kasham we entered Kasham’s compound (cf. m n nay k m K sham ‘we saw Kasham’s compound’, where ‘compound’ is not adverbial) | wurin; zuwa; -n/-r (wuri-n .)

h íar (H) nlml ( h íar r w) fat (on meat) | kitse h m b r”mak” (T H T) n.? food (that must be chewed, e.g. meat, peanuts) | abinci h c w w (TH) n.m. early morning ex ta m ham b ta hac w wu they didn’t eat i

nthe early morning | safe, sassafe, asuba hal (L) v.A1 (v.n. h lak”) protect, defend, guard, screen off ex m n h l s w k nwan y I

protected/screened off my house | tsare, kare h m ba Ö (T) n.pl. 1. thing for…, thing that…, ingredient for… ex n kin ham b taw

this food; h m ba f r tl n he thing that happened. 2. matter, affair | abin (da); shaíani, alíamari

ham (HL) v.A1 (v.n. h m k”) yawn ex h ham w he yawned | yi hamma h m b r f” (T H H) n.? ingredients for miya | kayan miya h m b s w (T H H) n.? something to drink (kunu, beer, etc.) | abin sha h m b t w (T H H) n.pl. food (of people only--cf. t h y) | abinci h r (T) prep., conj. (indicates a time or an an activity continues up to a specified time,

extent, or end point; compare kw fa = kw pa, which indicate an elapse of time or hiatus after which a time or activity commences) 1. until, up until (sometimes redundantly combined with b h y) ex h r bah y z h r up until mid-afternoon; nj g p dz f” h r v tl” she will attract as many as five suitors; kw p t d m ka h r d r”tl z y when they (locusts( pour onto the tree, they even knock it over. 2. (h r y nz < Hausa, h r c˘n k n) moreover, in addition to that ex d s k p yak B gaw h r y nz they again put Bugaw back on the throne; har cokan” wiy g”gau jiy yi ba na


zaruws ng”nuws” jiy dad”m gya a-gya a in addition there is a certain insect that one calls its name as tiny dadim | har

h wiya m ku (T H) adv.time next year | ba i H wun (T) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum hay (HL) v.A1 (v.n. h y k”) answer | amsa h v”n (HH?) adv.time last year | bara hiya (L) v.B (v.n. h yak” (f), h y k” (f)) dislike ex m n h y tla s y I dislike her; nj

k w d hiya h y jif” n za yn n she disliked her husband a lot | i h˘ (L) interjection yes | i

I

i- see íi- |

J

j- Ö part., cop., aspect contracted form ofj y before vowel | ne/ce j (H) part. (form of j y when contracted with a vowel and sometimes an alternate of j y

in other contexts) 1. (introduces non-verbal predicate) be ex k ma v wagwahi ta M y j” m ts r moreover the town of Miya is (divided into) seven (quarters); w taw d wk y t k nn j nd k”n s m wut that is the wealth of your household is in the hands of one person. 2. (with aux in ‘have’ and locative sentences) shows question or focus of subject ex Q: w j- d wak” ts r ? - A: m n j- d wak” ts r Q: who has two horses? - A: I have two horsss; Q; w j- l ma? - A: y suwan j- l m Q: who is in the hut? - A: my younger brother is in the hut |

j rk (TH) n.m. (pl. j rkw w) patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) | biri j (H) aux. see j , j y | J l (TL) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum j ng”r (L) n.m. black kite (Milvus migrans) | shirwa j (H irreg) conj., part. (possibly a contraction of j y or j with , i.e. “it was there”) then

(connective in perfective discourse) ex íiyk j tat ray. J ngay s”n n G tuw , Ö J g ray b wuws” s”n n M ngil . J tsiy ws anduwÖ Thereupon they greeted each other. The man from Giruwa said to him, … The man from Mangila showed him where he came from. He asked him … | sai

j fana (H) n.m. (pl. dz f”) male; husband ex j fa n za her husband; j f” n„„m your husband | namiji; miji

j fana t w (L H) n.? type of broad-headed arrow | fasa j h j (LHL?) adv.time time of… | lokacin. j min (LH?) n.f. ostrich (Struthio camelus) | jimina j y (H irreg) part., cop., aspect (becomes j- before vowel) 1. (= b y)particle of uncertain

meaning inserted following TAM auxiliaries in negative subjunctive and all nominal


TAMs except focused subject perfective ex w y ta jiy b ws ts gaya ts”p r cam z w let no one go to unrinate at night; L d” b z d j y b la s b” n y k ntl”n Labe went and told the people living in the house; t k”may m j y m ka

noom go and doin your living. 2. focused subject marker in non-verbal and imperfective sentences ex Q: w j y z ruwsa? - A: m n j y z ruws” Q: who will call him? - A: I will call him.; Q: w j y malv , Nd wya k˙ R˘ya? - A: R˘ya j y malv , d m Nd wyaw A: who was chief, Nduya or Roya? - A: ROOYA was chief, not Nduya. 3. introduces a proper name as a predicate ex t˘ d am ng nuws” j y G t w well as is known his name was Gituwa | ne/ce

j y y = g y (TH) existential there is ex jiy mar w y wuriy, m dzay j y ey he found a certain place, and there was land there | akwai

j yk (TL) n.m., n.f. grandchild ex j yk nuwun/tuwun my grandson/-daughter | jika j ka = j k n (LH) cop. …it is (equivalent to Hausa kenan, giving a sense of finality to

what precedes) ex w taw b k m j yka that is, it is he who is the householder; d wn ya wan j yk n wa? so that’s how the world is, is it? | ke nan

j yk n, j yk (LH) existential (contraction of j y or j with í yk n, í yk ‘there’) …it is (equivalent to Hausa kenan, giving a sense of finality to what precedes) ex w taw b k m j yka that is, it is he who is the householder; d wn ya wan j yk n wa? so that’s how the world is, is it? | kenan

K

k” a (HH) v.B (v.n. k k ) scoop up, scoop out (non-liquid) | iba k k (TL) n.f. (f. of d d ) female in-law | surukuwa k”la (HH) v.B (v.n. k lak (f)) sweep ex m n k la s w k n y I swept my house | share k m (T) n.m. (pl. k mam w) hand ex k m n my hand | hannu k”may (HH) v.A2 (v.n. k mayak ) (tr., intr.) spoil, become spoiled ex k”may

s wihit nay he spoiled my things; w hi k”m ytl n say my things spoiled | ata, aci k m g ”na (T L) n.m. little finger ex k m n g ”na my little finger | an yatsa k n, k n (L T) det. (has low tone in deictic clauses, toneless (copies preceding tone)

elsewhere) 1. topic marker when the topic is understood in a proximal sense (compare k , definition #2) ex nak”n biy k”n, a kam ta miy buw ma ndy an miy jiy da a bahiy tu as for this water, we should all go and dredge out (the pond) some more; t‰ n”na k”n nj” ma s biy ”huw well now indeed she will not drink water out of it. 2. (clause final in presentative sentences with a proximal sense, compare k , definition 42) here is… ex n y g˘r˙ k n here are some kolas; n kaf”ma b w n k n d kun f” here is it, the girl’s father has sent us to you. 3. formative suffixed to give

proximal sense to a number of deictic bases (compare k , definition #5) ex n k”n, t k”n, n yk”n this (m), this (f), these; w nk”n thus; wd wn ya wan j yk n wa? so that’s how the world is, is it? | nan

k”n (HL) v.A1 (v.n. k n k” (f)) count | irga k”na (L) v.B (v.n. k nak” (f)) 1. buy. 2. marry ex m n k natla s y I married her | saya;

aura k”ra (L) v.B (v.n. k r (f), k rak”) steal ex k”ra m r he stole money; ”m ak r he

stole | sata


k r ” (L) n.m. thirst | ishirwa k”rm = k”r”m (L) v.A2 (v.n. k rmak” (f)) 1. scoop up, collect and remove. 2. take up an

activity ex k rmaka g ngam k rmaka g ngam | kwashe k tl h” (TH) n.m. tilapia, cichlid perch (Tilapia spp.) | karfasa k v”k” (L) n.f. (pl. k v”k k w) Bosc’s or savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) |

damo k v”n (L) n.f. (pl. k v”n n w) buffalo (Syncerus caffer) | auna (Syncerus caffer) k , k (H irreg) det. (has rather irregular tonal behavior) 1. the, the one in question

(marks a noun as being previously introduced or implied in a discourse, esp. when topicalized) ex s b” ts r ka tl n j t m ws yy ghama ba f r buwak the two men (in question) were disputing about who was the first to come; n ka s n ka t j y ba t” da s r k mas” as for that man, it is he who is the one who is in charge of the celebration. 2. topic marker when the topic is understood in a neutral or distal sense (compare k n, definition #1) ex wiy l‰kaciy ka a r”ma r”ma bahiy kidi sometimes [the locusts] will eat [the crops] up to three [times[. 3. clause final formative in conditional clauses and optionally in ‘before’ clauses ex j fana kw n ya w n gy iya k , t t n s luwza k , d ”ngatls nduw, Ö a man, if he sees a young girl and if he loves her, then he says to her…; k f”n ts hiy yuw k , nata s y before the breaking of the dawn, it will have fermented. 4. (clause final in presentative sentences with a distal sense, compare k n, definition #2) there is… ex n y y wun n w y ka k there are some elephants over there; n y h m b marw n k here’s what happened to me. 5. formative suffixed to give distal sense to a number of deictic bases (compare k n, definition #3) ex n ka, t ka, n yka that (m), that (f), those; w nka thus; Nd wya jiyka Nduya is who it is | -n/-r, idan

k Ök (H) conj. if, when (for some speakers =kw Ö k , see for explanation of function) ex k g r”dza ka, miy m”na b”saw when the afternoon comes, we wash it again |

k b” (H) n.f. (pl. k bab w) man’s gown | riga k c mba (TL) adj. ugly ex w ya kac mba w n an ugly girl | mugu ka ” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. k k”) shake ex ka suw d k”manay he shook the bottle

gourd | rau da kaf” (L) v.A1 (v.n. k fak”) 1. send (a person), ex m n k fiya d k na mal m I send him

to the (place of the) chief. 2. (in ~ c m) send a message ex ba wun ka d” kaf can didiwas” the girl’s father sends (a message) to his son-in-law | aika

k f” (H) n.m. scar | tabo k f”n (L) prep., conj. (requires subjunctive with verbal clause) before ex k f”n f b y

ts gafa l m, m n k laf k”l w before you sit down in the hut, I will sweep it for your; w ya íam k f”n m y za, nj k n dz f” v tl” a woman, before she dies, might marry five men; k f”n w y l‰k ci d” m”na í ra wiy t after awhile (before a certain time) they yet again brew beer | kafin

k k (HH?) n.m., n.f. (pl. no plural) grandparent | kaka k k”ns (HH) n.m. puff adder (Bitis arietans) | kasa k k”r (L) n.f. (pl. k k”r r w) shoe | takalmi k k”tl riy (TL) id. clattering | k l (T) id. indicates striking ex Anguna d” gudza gudza tukus”m duw kal! nji

Anguna took aim on the hedgehog the bam with her | amsa amo kal (HH) v.A1 (v.n. k lak ) cut through, across ex m y k l ats k”n we cut through the

bush | ratse


k lak” (T) n.f. useless, worthless ex s m b kalak” useless person; í m m kalak” useless woman | banza

k lak l (HH) n.m. potsherd | tsingaro k lp” (T) n.m. strength ex s m b kalp” strong man; í m m kalp” strong woman; s b”

s ba kalp” strong people; s m b kw kalp” weak person | arfi k m (H) n.m., adv.loc (pl. k mam w) 1. compound; house, home. 2. hometown | gida;

garin. kam (HL) v.A1 (v.n. k m k”) pull, pull off, pull away | ja, janye k m (L) part. as for (topic marker) ex M mm n duw t k m, t ”ma awr L

Mamma said that as for him, he would marry Labe | kam k m t (LHL) v.A2 be fitting ex kam t d” b way mir K sh m Kasham should

bring money | kamata k nd - = k - (TL) quant.univ. (compounded with an interrogative adejctive) every … ex

k nd w na k m every house; k nd wayya gh”ruw every cow; k nd w n b shim k every householder | ko Ö

k n s r n (H L) n.? sheath | gidan wu a k p (T) id. all | k raf” (L) n.f. (pl. k raf f w) palm fronds | kaba k rakara (L) adj. tall, long ex s m k r karana tall man; í n k rakaraya tall woman;

s b” k r karani tall people | dogo k r tuw (L) n.m. reading, studying | karatu k rf (TL) n.?, adv.time o’clock | arfe (na agogo) k rmaya (L) n.m. dodo covered with leaves to waist, wearing loincloth | dodo (iri) k r wa dz ku (TL H) n.f. prostitute | karuwa kas” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. k s k”) sing | rera w a K say (HH) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace K sham (T) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum k suw (L) n.m. (pl. k suw w w) market ex m n buwn k s w I’m going to the

market | kasuwa k tam (L) n.f. (pl. k tam m w) ring | zobe k tl (T) id. indicates giving a blow ex d gudza g dza sh‰sh‰ d tiy ws y katl! he took

aim at the rooster and struck him katl! | amsa amo K v r (TH) n.f. the principal Miya festival | bikin kavura kaw (L) v.A1 (v.n. k wak” (f)) fry in oil ex nj s k wa k˘s yay she will fry bean

cakes; tl wi b k waw fried meat | soya, toya k y dz h” (H) n.m. (pl. k y gh”naw) (f. k y dz ku) orphan | maraya k y (T) n.f. (pl. k yay w) fighting | fa a kay (L) v.A1 (v.n. k yak” (f)) fan (verb) ex ”m k y f ifayi she did fanning with a

faifai | yi fifita kay (HL) v.A1 (v.n. k y (f), k y k” (f)) fight | yi fa a ky r kyar (HHHL) adv.loc behind ex p k”wun kyar kyar my triceps; tl n

ky r kyar they are behind | bayan k y w (TH) n.m. (pl. k y waw w) hornet | rina k di (H) n.m. (pl. k dyady w) giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) | gafiya k i (H) n.m. (pl. k a w) clay bowl (used as food bowl in former times) | kasko k di (L) num. three ex s b” k d three people | uku k n (H) n.f. (pl. k nan w) co-wife ex k naza her co-wife; k n„„m your co-wife;

k nan‰z her co-wives | kishiya k r r (THL) n.m. twigs, kindling ex k r r d”m twigs, kindling | irare


k rjiy (L) n.m. chest ex k rjiywan my chest | irji k y (T) n.f. 1. (tr.) tending animals, ex m n n kiy I tended (animals). 2. grazing,

feeding, foraging ex c w t kiy the goats are grazing | kiwo kiy (L) v.A1 (v.n. k yak” (f)) 1. take, pick up, carry ex m n k y s wiyhay I picked up the

load. 2. begin, set to | auka; fara kiy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. k y k” (f)) 1. bite ex í y kiyw n s y the dog bit me. 2. bark (of dog) |

ciza; yi haushi k yim (L) n.m. (pl. k yim m m) crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) | kada k˙ (H) conj., quant.univ. 1. or ex s”naw kidi ko f” ” three or four days. 2. (compounded

with an interrogative word = k nd -) every …, any … ex k˙w n k y everyone, anyone; k˙gh j k y all the time, anytime (see k˙- compounds for other examples) | ko

k‰ghaj = k‰ghaj k y (TL) quant.univ. (see gh j k y for use as head of a generic clause) always, whevever, anytime ex n ym k˙gh j k y he saw us all the time | koyaushe

k‰m k y = k‰m n k y (TLHL) quant.univ. (see m k y for use as head of a generic clause) whatever, anything, everything ex m n t k˙m k y I ate everything; wan k nw s k˙m n k y he filled his house with everything | kome, komenene

k‰w yy Ö ( k y) (TLH) quant.univ. f. (f. of k‰w na Ö ( k y); see w yy Ö ( k y) for head of generic clause) every …, whichever … ex k‰w yya gh”ruw = k‰w yya gh”ruw k y every cow | kowane .

k‰w yy k y (TLHL) quant.univ. f. (f. of k‰w n k y; see w yy Ö ( k y) for head of generic clause) whoever, anyone ex k˙w yy k y nj ya dz m everyone (f) will cook beans | kowa, kowanene

k‰w na Ö ( k y) (TLH) quant.univ. m. (f. k‰w yy Ö ( k y); see w yna Ö k y for head of generic clauses) every …, whichever … ex k‰w n k m = k‰w n k m k y every house | kowane .

k‰w n k y (TLHL) quant.univ. m. (f. k‰w yy k y; see for head of a generic clause) whoever, anyone, everyone ex k˙w n k y b”t say everyone came; K sham g zara k˙w n k y Kasham will call everyone | kowa, kowanene

k‰y kw = k‰y kw k y (TLH) quant.univ. (see y kw k y for use as head of a generic clause) everywhere, anywhere, wherever ex m y nay k‰y kw we looked everywhere | koíina

k ciya (L) num. nine ex s b” k c ya nine people | tara k d (TL) adv.loc. south ex g b r m s˘ k d í f Mang la southeast of Mangila |

kudu k ” (H) n.m. the tree (Gardenia erubescens) | gau e kufa (HH) v.B (v.n. k f” (f), k fak ) forge ex kufa s w t lp y he forged a hoe |

kxera k f” (T) n.f. potash | kanwa kukwa (HH) v.B (v.n. k kwak (f)) sharpen (by pounding) ex kukwa t lp he

sharpened the hoe | ko a kukwa (HH) v.B (v.n. k kwak (m)) crow (rooster) ex sh‰sh‰ k kwa s y the rooster

crowed | cara k kw (LL) interr.adv. how? (seems to be used only in standard greetings--cf. w nkwa)

ex Q; F tlaf k kwa? - A: Nd l fiy . Q: Good morning. (How did you arise?) - A: Just fine.; Q: N tiya m ku k kwa? - A: Nd l fiy . Q: Good afternoon. (How did you beat the sun?) - A: Just fine. | ina?, yaya?

kula (HH) v.B (v.n. k lak”) extract, wrench out, pull out ex m n k la s w dl rk yay I plucked the chicken | cire, fige


kula (HH) v.B (v.n. k l (f), k lak ) clear bush | yi sassabe k lkul (L) adj. deep ex g r k kul na deep hole; w h” k lkul ya deep sand; r rar w

k lkul na deep holes | zurfi k llum (T) adv.time always | kullum k ma (H) part. (topicalizing particle) as for, indeed ex d k”rma gh d” tuws” ts tl ,

nj kuma d w nj m g s w he took out his fish and gave it to her, but she said that she wouldn’t accept it | kuma

k m y (TH) n.f. (pl. k m yay w) ear | kunne kuna (L) v.B (v.n. k n k”) vomit ex t t k na kun w he is vomiting | harar k nk l (TH) n.m. (pl. k nk lal w) cap | hula kunna (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. k nn k”) light a fire ex k nn s y he lit it | kunna kuns” (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. k ns k”) wrap up, envelop ex k ns s w g˘r w y he

wrapped up the kolas | unsa k nt” (T) n.f. bitter tomato Solanum incanum | gauta kura (L) v.B (v.n. k rak”) miss (a shot) ex m n f f w y mm d kuruwn y I shot

at the francolin but I missed (she missed to me) | kuskure k rma dz h” (T) n.m. (pl. k rmam w) (f. k rma dz ku) deaf person | kurma k rum (H) n.m. scoop made of calabash fragment | mara k rum (H) n.m. plain tuwo | gayan tuwo k sam (L) n.m. (pl. k sam m w) rat, mouse | bxera, kusu k san (T) prep. nearly, almost | kusan k s y (TH) n.m. (pl. k s yay w) bone | ashi k t” (H) n.pl. (pl. k tat w) thing(s) | abu, abubuwa k t” niy ats k”n (H H H) n.? wild animal | naman daji k tuwur (L) n.m. basket used for transporting chickens, chicken coop | akurki kuwa (L) v.B (v.n. k wak”) draw water ex d b tl n d k w(a) b y d buw y(a)

kam they were going, drawing water, and bringing it home | jawo ruwa k wa (LH) part. topicalizing particle ex t Mamm n kuw , v kyuws” m yy w as for

him, Mamman, he didn’t have a sister | kuwa kuwr (L) v.A2 (v.n. k wrak”) cut grass (with sickle) ex m n k wr w s ng lat” I cut

grass with a sickle | yanke ciyawa kw (F) interjection come on and…!, just…! (strengthens imperative) ex g say kw ! just

take it! | mana kwa (H) v.D (v.n. kw h y (f)) lack ex m n kw s w m nnuwn y I couldn’t find my

money’; kw h ya l fiy w t illness | rasa kw (L) part. 1. how about…?, what about …? ex f y kw , f y ts n m ? how about

you, what are you going to give me?; w nkwa?, k kw ? how?. 2. formative attached to certain deictics to make question words ex í ykw ? where? | fa?

kw Ö k (H irreg) conj. if, when (as part of an event sequence, not simply a condition and a consequence; used only imperfectively, i.e. events not yet completed or habitual event sequences) ex kw buwatl n k , k ya k y w hi t tl nay when they come, they will take their things; b ky r kw m ra v ya g tak” k , t zuws”z y when a thief finds a door open, he will enter | idan, in

kw cay (bor) v.A2 bor wrest away, snatch ex kw c yan s w hi tuwnay he snatched my things | wace

kw (HL) conj. it is possible that (plus tensed clause) ex kw tl”n buw m r they may bring money; kw f m biy may tl”n w you might not see them; kw fa n ytl n m yy w you cannot have seen them | mai yiwuwa

kw iy (L) n.m. greed | kwad ayi


kw fa = kw pa (T) prep., conj. (indicates an elapse of time or hiatus after which a time or activity commences, but sometimes seems to overlap with h r, which always indicates a time or an an activity continues up to a specified time or end point) 1. until, only until, after ex kw pa s”n t k d miy b not until it has gone three days do we uncover it; s w kw pa s w until tomorrow (standard leave taking--s w, q.v. seems redundant); d w say kwap t ntl n y nza she follows him to their house to her place. 2. (with perfective) have to, must ex mm k f”n p yayya d kuna niy b ws” k , kw pa ”n t r ts r but bevore he (the child being weaned) is returned to the home of his parents, he has to spend two months (at the home of his uncle) | sai

kw kw s” (TH) n.m. fodder, leaves of beans, peanuts, corn | harawa kw kw s” z way (TH H) n.? shell of peanuts | kwasf awo(n gya a kw kwiy (T) n.m. (pl. kw kwiyay w) granary | rumbu kw m (H) n.f. mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) | ma aci kw mbal (L) n.m. (pl. kw mbal l w) stick | sanda kw mbala íiji (L T) n.? pestle | ta arya kw ngwaliy (L) n.m. (pl. kwangwaliy y w) snail | katantanwa kw ngw y (TH) n.m. (pl. kw ngw yay w) fingernail | farce kw pa = kw fa (T) prep., conj. until, not until | sai kwar (L) v.A1 (v.n. kw rar” (m), kw rak”) cry out, shout ex Dl ramb” kwar s y the

dodo cried out | yi ihu kw rar” (T) n.m. shouting | ihu, kururuwa kw ray (L) adv.man. good fortune, fine ex nd kw ray (as response to various

greetings) just fine | lafiya lau kw rkwadum (L) n.f. (pl. kw rkwad”m m w) Bambara groundnuts (Vigna

suberranea) | gujiya kwarta (L) v.B2 (v.n. kw rtak”) dig by brushing away dirt | tona. yasa kw tay (L) n.f. (pl. kw tay y w) dust | ura kw tla (H?) adv.loc. below, under ex t kw tl í n t”k n it is under the chair; í r

kw tl put it on the ground | asa (da) kw tla b ” (H H) n.? area below the navel | ciki kw y kway (THH) adj. hard (to the touch) ex z kiy kw yakw y ya hard stone | tauri kw lati (L) n.m. (pl. kw lat t w [kw l—t t w]) gourd ladle | ludayi kw r y [k r y] (TH) n.m. burnt tuwo | anzo Kw tat (TL) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace kwiy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. kw y k”) catch, hold ex m n kwiiy suw k sam y I caught the rat |

kama, ri e Kw yta (L?) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum ky n w (TH) n.m. (pl. ky n waw w) smoke | haya i ky r ti (TL) n.m. height, tallness ex s m b kyar ti tall man; í m m kyar ti tall

woman; s b” s ba kyar ti tall people | tsawo Ky raw (L?) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum


L

l ”l” ” (L) adj. weak, soft ex s m l l” ”na weak person; t k”n l l l” ”ya soft chair |

rashin kxarfi, laushi l f” (T) n.f. load carried on the back ex a n l f” he carried a load on his back | kaya l”ha (L) v.B (v.n. l hak”) loosen | sassauta l m (H) n.f. (pl. l mam w) hut ex l nh wun = l n tuwun my hut’; m n ts gawun

l nh wun I stayed in my hut; m n nay l n tuwun I looked at my hut | aki l ma k f” (H H) n.f. forge, smithy | ma era l”mba (L) v.B (v.n. l mbak”) cover with blanket, grass, etc. | rufe l ng r (TH) n.m. the fig tree Ficus polita | durumi la (L) v.D (v.n. l hiy) get well, recover | warke l bad” = gh ma labad” (L) n.m. shoulder | kafadxa la ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. l ak ) mix mud | kwa a l fiy w t” (TH) n.? good health ex nd l fiy w t” nd l fiy wát” | lafiya l h” (T) n.m. (pl. l hah w) jackal (Canis aureus) | dila lak” (L) v.A1 (v.n. l kak”) fear ex m n l kiya s y I fear him | tsorata lakuca (HH) v.A2 bor (v.n. l kucak”) tickle ex lakucatl say he tickled her | lakuce l kumiy (L) n.f. (pl. l kumiy y w) camel (Camelus dromedarius) | rakxumi l kumi t ts k”n (L T H) n.? giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) | rakxumin dawa l lyuw [l¥lyuw] (L) n.m. clitoris | an tsaka, aniya l niy (L) n.m. (pl. l miy y w) bullfrog | bududdugi lankwasa (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. l nkw sayak ) bend ex m n lankw sa s w z í y I bent

the bow | lankxwasa, tankware law (L) v.A1 (v.n. l wak”) pick (fruit), pluck ex m n l˘ suw m ngwaraw y I picked the

mango | cire l wur (T) n.m. sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) | dankali l y (H?) n.m. (pl. w tl”m y) boy, son ex l y ga ”na a small boy; l y nuwun my son |

yaro, a lay (L) v.A1 (v.n. l hiy) cure, make well ex n k”n n yh l w n say this medicine cured

me | warkar lay (HH) v.A1 (v.n. l yak ) paint red | shafa wa ja l = l y (H?) n.m. son, boy | yaro, a l bedi (T) n.m. (pl. ly byadyady w) medium-sized basket | kwando l l mbi (HH) n.m. bull calf | mara i l l bi (H? H) n.m. small hut | aki arami l mbi (H) n.m. (pl. l mbamb w) bull | bijimi l bi (H) n.f. shelter | rumfa l r (TH) n.m. (pl. l rar w) needle | allura l vin (L) n.m. charcoal | gawayi l w r [l w r] (TH) n.m. the fig tree Ficus thonningii | ce iya L yz (TL) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum l‰k ciy (TL) n.m. time ex ‰ naka l‰kaciy ka during that time; l˙k ciy b ts”tsal kw

ma ka, sh yk n n d f r p˙n kay the time for taxes, when it come, well then he begins to pay | lokaci

l gud” (T) n.f. red earth | koya


L may (T) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum l mf shi (T) n.m. breathing ex ”n s w l mf shiy y he breathed | lumfashi l w (L) v.def. 1. love, like ex m n l wza I love her; m n l w ac n nuwun I like my

work. 2. want ex m n l w d” buws y I want him to go | so l w ” (L) n.m. (pl. l w w) occiput | yeya ly p” (L) n.m. crime, fault | laifi

M

M dala (L?) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum m ” (H) n.m. (pl. m a w) castrated goat | taure m dzay (H) n.f. earth | asa m”ma (L) v.B (v.n. m mak”) get lost ex m n m ma s y I got lost | ata m na (L) num., interr.quant. how much?, how many? ex m r m n ? how much money?;

sh w m n ? how much oil?; c w m n ? how many goats?; z kiy m n ? how many stones? | nawa?

m”na (L) v.B (v.n. m nak”) 1. (before a verb) do again ex d kiya t vi d m”na b ytl y he set to walking and took her again; kw m na ts yuw k Ö on the next day… (when again the dawn broke…). 2. (after a verb, with m added) once again ex k f”n ts”r k” ta m kuw, d zay(a) kuw m n m y before noon, they put fire to it once again. 3. fill in where crops fail to germinate ex m m na zuw y he filled in the sorghum | sake; ofa

m r (H?) n.f. sesame (Sesamum orientale) | ri i, nomi m r”m (L) n.f. (pl. m r”m m w) arrow shaft | kyaure m”r uw (HH) v.A2 (v.n. m r uw k”) twist, wring ex m n m r w sa I twisted it |

murdxe m”ts” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. m ts k”) sell ex m n m ts suw z w y I sold the corn | sayar m zam, m zan dz”h” (H) n.m. (pl. m zam w) hunter, shooter | maharbi, mafarauci m (L) interr.pro. what? ex m jik n ? what is it?; m mby ra k b” tafa? what tore

your gown?; t”f m ? what did he shoot?; f ”h n t b rma naf m ? what did you bind your mat with?; ”m c na m ? what kind of work did he do? | me?

m - (T) n.f. (form used with possessor; citation form m h”) mother, aunt (maternal or paternal) ex m wun my mother; m f” your (m.s.) mother; m ma our mother; m V ziya Vaziya’s mother | uwa, inna

m (H) pro.rel.f. ( s ba) (f. of b ) 1. one who owns ex m m r rich woman. 2. one who does ex m y w madwoman; í m m kalak” good-for-nothing | mai

ma (L) v.D (v.n. m hiy (f)) lose; forget ex m n m s w m rnuwn y I lost my money | tar, yar; manta

m Ö -w (H irreg) negative, aspect (post-verbal, enclosing a complement, if any in perfective; encloses entire predicate in all other TAMs and sentence types; m has a long vowel with equational and adjectival predicates, short elsewhere; see ta…-w for negative subjunctive) general negative for all sentence types except subjunctive ex zartla m w he didn’t call her; Nd wya zar m Kashamuw Nduya didn’t call Kasham; t m t uws w he won’t accompany him; t m b ta zh kuw he won’t untie the donkey; Nd wya m d wak w Nduya doesn’t have a horse; w tl”m y m


í yk”nuw the children are not here; Nd wya d” m w yah ndz h w Nduya is not a Hausa man; w y m t wahuw no one is different | ba Ö ba

m c m (TH) n.m. head pad for carrying load | gammo m dashi (H) n.f. (pl. m dash sh w) okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) | ku ewa m dz” (T) n.f. (pl. m dzadz w) river | kogi m g”dza (L?) adj. more than a year old ex m g”dza z w (m) sorghum more than a year

old; m g”dza m r (f) millet more than a year old; m g”dza k t” (pl) things more than a year old | shekararre

m girbiy (T) n.? harvesting hoe | magirbi m h” (T) n.f. (citation form; m - with possessor) mother; aunt (maternal or paternal) |

uwa, inna m ha (L) num. six | shida m yw (LH) n.f. millet | maiwa mak” (L) v.A1 (v.n. my kak (m) m kak”) 1. spend time ex mak” s y he spent time;

s w kw pa m k k” until later (standard leave-taking). 2. stay, settle ex mak” yk”n he stayed here | jima; zauna

m ka k”n (H? T) n.m. thumb | babban yatsa m kasa (T) n.m. the guinea corn parasite Striga senegalensis or S. hermontheca | uduji m ka ts”m y (H? TH) n.m. big toe | babban yatsan afa m kwakw m (HH) n.? (in w tl” m kwakw m) baby | jinjiri m kwaya (H) n.f. woman | mace m lv (TH) n.m. (pl. m lv w) chief, king, leader of a festival | sarki, shugaba m m (TH) n.f. sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) | tafasa m nd”r (L) n.m. (pl. m nd”r r w) spitting cobra | ganshe a m n y w = m yy w (TH) existential (negative of y ) there is no…, there isn’t any…

ex w yhan m n y w there is nothing; t m n y w he’s not here | babu m ngana (L) n.m. black scorpion, possibly emperor scorpion (Pandinus emperator) |

duwu M ngaw (T) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum M ng la (TL) n.m. man’s name, one of the founders of Miya | sunan mutum mar (HL) v.A1 (v.n. m r k” (f)) 1. get, find. 2. discover that. 3. manage to do | samu m r”n dz”h” (L) n.m. (pl. m ramaw) (f. m r”n dz ku) sorcerer | maye, mayya m r ” (L) n.f. (pl. m r w) millet | gero m riyak (HH) n.f. genet (Genetta genetta) | cimola, inyawara m s” (T) n.f. (pl. m sas w) African catfish (Clarias lazera and other Clarias spp. or

Heterobranchus bidorsalis) [internet has only Clarias gariepinus for ‘African catfish’, whereas Reed et al. do not mention this species] | tarwa a

m s ” (TH) n.f. hemp, kenaf (Hibiscus cannibus) | rama M sang (TL) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum m ts”r (L) num. seven ex s b” m ts r seven people | bakwai m tsaw, m tsaw (H?) n.m harvest season ex kw ”m mats‰ ka when harvest

season comes | kaka m y (H) n.f. hunger | yunwa m yy w = m yy = m n y w (TH) existential there is no…, there isn’t any… ex Q:

g˙r m yy ? - A: g˙r m yy w Q: Aren’t there any kolas? - A: there aren’t any kolas | babu

m z yÖ? (T L) interr. why? ex m z y f k”na wa? why did you buy it? | don me?, me ya sa?

mb lam (H) n.m. (pl. mb lam m w) crowned crane (Balearica pavonina) | gauraka


mb”lm” = mb”l”n (L) v.A2 (v.n. mb lmak”) blink, wink ex mb”lmiya s y = mb”linya s y she winked at him | kyifta ido

mb”na (L) v.B (v.n. mb n (f), mb nak”) be good, be nice, be beautiful ex w shasham mb”nata s w the year was good; w n mb”natla s w wùn mb”natla súw | yi kyau

mb rgu (L) n.m. (pl. mb rgw gw w) ram | rago mb”shi (HL) v.A1 (v.n. mb sh k”) extinguish ex m n mb sh s kuway I put out the fire

| bice mba (L) v.D (v.n. mb hiy) finish; be finished ex m n mb s canay I finished the work;

c m mb t say the work is finished | are mb ” (H) n.f. (pl. mb a w) thigh | cinya mbal (HL) v.A1 (v.n. mb l k”) 1. pull out, pull off ex m n mbal suw s r”m y I drew

out the knife. 2. undress ex m n mbal say I undressed. 3. unhaft; become unhafted ex m n mbal suw g t y I unhafted the axe; mb lt s giti = g ti mb lt s the axe became unhafted. 4. put out head (grain) | cire; tu e; kwa e; fid da kai (hatsi)

mb n (H) adj. good, beautiful, nice | kyau, kyakkyawa mb sak” (L) n.m or f. evil, bad, ugly ex dly ramb” b mb sak” evil dodo; n k”n

malv ta mb saka haliy this chief has an evil personality | mugu, mugunta mb sak” (L) n.f. smallpox | agana, ado mb tl” (L) adj., n.m. near, nearby ex v wagwahi j mb tl” the town is near;

v wagwahi mb tl ya nearby town; k m mb tl na nearby house; k t” mb tl ni nearby things | kusa, kusanci

mb lmbel (L?) adj. in the open, visible ex d s w g dlamb y d mb”r nuws t”d s mb lmbel y thereupon his (clothes made of) baobab bark were out in the open | a fili

mbidla (HH) v.B (v.n. mb dlak ) melt ex sh w mbidlat say the oil melted | narke mb y (H) adj. 1. red ex nd wul mb yna red pot; dl rk y mb yya red chicken; s b”

mb yni red people. 2. European ex mb yna European man; mb yy European woman; mb yni Europeans | ja; Bature

mb ya s w (H H) n.f. fish with red tail (means “red tail”), probably tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus and probably other H. species) | irin kifi mai jar jela, tsage

mby dl (TH) n.f. cucumber (Cucumis melo) | gurji mbyar (HL) v.A1 (v.n. mby r k”) tear, rip; be torn, be ripped ex mbyaran s w k b”

tuwn y he tore my gown on me; b b” tuwun mby rtl s w my gown tore | kece, yaga

m k y = m n k y (TL) quant.univ. (only as the head of a generic clause; see k‰m k y) whatever …, anything that … ex t k maytl n g m k , f sh” y whatever has spoiled, discard it | kome Ö

m m niy (H) n.pl. (pl. of m y) Miya people | Miyawa m miy (L) n.f. sore, ulcer | gyambo m n k y = m k y (TL) quant.univ. (only as the head of a generic clause; see k‰m k y)

whatever …, anything that … ex t w n gam k nw s m n k y, j d yday y whatever he fillls his house with, it’s just right | kome Ö

m r dz h” (T) n.m. (pl. m r gh n w) (f. m r dz ku) vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) | ir a

m r (H) n.m. (pl. m rar w) metal, money | ku i, arfe miy (L) v.A1 (v.n. m yaw (m), m yak”) die ex miyta s y he died | mutu m y dz”h” (H) n.m. (pl. m m niy) (f. m y dz ku) Miya person | Bamiyi m y (H) n.? Miya ethnicity ex m lv” m y the chief of the Miyas; v na m y Miya

language | Miyanci M ya (L) n.?, adv.loc. Miya town | garin Miya


m yaw (L) n.m. death | mutuwa m uw (T) n.f. (pl. m uwaw w) python, probably African rock python (Python

sebae) | mesa, mu uwa m ku (H) n.f. (pl. m kwakw w) sun, daytime ex t yak m ku spending the day | rana m kwa (H) adv.time at midday ex s‰ m kwa they rested at midday | da rana m ts m (TH) n.f. tamarind (Tamarindus indica) | tsamiya

N

n aux. 1. formative of uncertain function that sometimes appears in negative imperfective

and negative non-verbal sentencs ex nj m n luw j f” n z w she doesn’t love her husband; m d m n ts n ? aren’t you going to give me any?; tard ían tuws” m n k m w he will find that his wife is not at home; íiyk t” m n í m w thereupon he no longer has a wife. 2. perhaps the same formative is see in t -n conditional with non-perfective clauses--see t n |

n n (TH) adv.time today | yau n”tsay (HL) v.A2 (v.n. n ts yak” (m)) submerge, dive under water ex n”ts ya s w ˘

b yay he submerged under the water | nitse n (T) linker ( n y) (f. t ) 1. genitive linker for masculine head noun. 2. head of

masculine independent genitive. 3. head of masculine ordinal numeral | -n, na n (L) interr. (see = w for other types of questions) question marker, apparently

restricted to focused subject equational questions ex Nd wya/f y w jik n ? who is Nduya/who are you? |

na (L) v.D (v.n. n h y (f)) 1. (with ICP) become ripe ex natl”n s y they got ripe; z w b n ws” ripe corn. 2. (no ICP) be done (cooking) ex n s y it is done (cooking) | nuna

na (L) v.D (v.n. n hiy (f)) be tired ex m n n wan s y I’m tired | gaji na (T) aux. (directely follows relative pronoun, precedes subject pronoun and other

auxliaries within clause) imperfective verbal auxiliary in relative clauses ex s m b na d buws the man who will come; í m m na d buwaz the woman who will come; zh k” m na m”n d íaratl tak n w hi k n the donkey on which I will put this load |

n í” (H) n.f. bush duiker (Silvicapra grimmia) | gada na a (bor) v.B bor (v.n. n k”) turban (a chief) | na a (sarki) na ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. n ak ) sharpen (blade) ex na ” s r m he sharpened the knife |

wasa n k”n (T) det.m. ( n yk”n) (f. t k”n) this, this one | wannan (namiji) n ka (T) det.m. ( n yka) (f. t ka) that, that one (distant) | wancan n n ki (TH) n.m. (pl. n n kak w) saliva | yawu nay (HL) v.A1 (v.n. n y k”) see; look at | gani, duba n y = n ` (TL) presentative (invariable regardless of complement) here’s …, there’s …

ex n y y wun y ka k there’s an elephant (over there); n y y wun n w y ka k there are some elephants (over there); n y k nwan í yk n k”n here’s my house | ga Ö

nd (T) adv. just, only ex Q: F tlaf w k kwa? - A: Nd l fiy . (standard morning greeting) Q: How did you arise? - A: Just fine.; Q: í n w tl”m y? - A: Tl n nd” kwaray. Q: How are the children? - A: They are just fine.; y r n ma nd- w t y we


have exactly the same language; M ng la kuw , kw k la s may s b” niya k nw s” k d v nd” b rkatai k w i as for Mangila, when the people of his house swept up the trash, they just dumped it randomly | sai, kawai

nd l”k” (H) n.m. resin, pitch | dan o nd liy (L) n.f. brains | kwanya nd”m (HL) v.A1 (v.n. nd m k”) surround, go around ex d rh nd”n v wagwahi the

road goes around the town | gewaya, kewaye nd m k” (0H) n.? strolling | yawo nd”ra (tones?) prep. (from just two examples in texts, with ‘know’) know about ex

mm a w y s m m nd ra wiy w but one person didn’t know about another one; íiyk k‰w n k s”n s w nd r w y y from that point everone know about the other one |

nd”r ” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. nd r k” [note tone]) 1. find, come across. 2. find that, discover that ex m n nd r g anzakway tiy s w fuw y I found a hyena had killed the goat | tarar

nd rjim (L) n.m. dodo covered with long grass and brown mask | Dirzama nd ” (L?) quant. a few ex t makw y nda a few sheep; s b” nda ”/s b” nd =

s b” nd ni a few people | ka an ndz hiy (L) n.m. poverty | tsiya, fatara nd kway (H) n.f. hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) | ungulu nd m y (TL) quant. alone, just…, only ex m n nd m yw n just me; t nd m yw s”

him alone; m y nd maym only us | ka ai nd mndam [nd ndam] (L) adj. heavy ex b h w nd mndanna heavy bag; z kiy

nd mnd nya heavy stone; k t” nd mnd nni heavy things | nauyi nd gwe-ndegwe (T) id. indicates walking ex d d za v natl n y nd gwe-ndegwe-

ndegwe kw pa nd b ba gw lfu she fell in ahead of them walking along walk-walk-walk until they came before palace | amsa amo

nd iytl” (L) n.m. shallow ex gy nd iytl”na shallow hole ; w h” nd biytliya shallow grass; k t” nd ytl ni shallow things | mara zurfi

Nd kay (L) n.f. woman’s name | sunan mace nd yim (L) n.m. (pl. nd yim m w) heel | diddige nd wul (L) n.m. (pl. nd wul al w) cooking pot ex nd wula r f” pot for miya | tukunya nd wula gh m (L H) n.? skull | o on kai Nd wya (L) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum ndyakw” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ndy kwak”) drip ex ndy k say it dripped | iga ndy m (F) quant. all, everything; (as sentence level modifier) completely ex s ba ndy n

= s b” ndy ntl n = ndy n s b all the people; m r ndy n = m r ndy nwas” all the money | duka, duk

ndza (L) v.D (v.n. ndz hiy (f)) become poor ex ndzata s y he became poor | tsiyace ndz randz r (HH) n.m. probably the plant Urginea nigritiana | albasar kwa i n ` = n y` (TL) presentative (invariable regardless of complement) here’s …, there’s …

ex n kaf”ma b w n k n d kun f” here it is, the girl’s father has sent us | ga Ö ng lat” (L) n.m. (pl. ng lat t w) sickle | lauje ng n (H) n.f. (pl. ng nan w) name ex ng nuwun my name; ng naf” j y w ? what is

your name?; ng nuwun j y Kw rara my name is Kwarara | suna ng rb b w (TH) n.m. caltrop, puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris) | tsidau ng rf” (L) n.m. (pl. ng rf f w) gums, palate? | dasashi ng v rk” (TL) n.m. type of bee | ng (L?) n.m. forked pole | gwafa


ngul (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ng l k”) peek | le a ng lah m-ng laham (HH) n.m. gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) | gamba ngw ngwa ” (L) n.m. throat (entire throat area) | ma ogwaro ngw rak” (L) n.m. trachea, windpipe | ma ogwaro ngwarma (HL) v.B2 (v.n. ngw rm k” (m) [note tones]) frown, scowl ex ngw rm

say he frowned; ngw rm k g n t”my rwa my frowning | aure fuska ngw rtiy (L) n.m. snoring ex t t m ngw rtiy he is snoring | minshari ngy rh (TH) n.m. the tree Dychrostachus cinerea | un u n y (T) linker pl. of (genitive linker for plural head noun, head of independent genitive,

head of ordinal numeral) | -n, na n y (TL) pro.coll. (associate floating low tone to complement) those associated with.…,

and others like…, & Co. ex n y K sham Kasham et al.; n y z w í”n m r ” things like sorghm and millet; n y w (n y w d b watl n ?) who all? (who all went?); n y b h” one’s family (“father & Co.”) | su .

n yk”n (T) det.pl. these | wa annan n yka (T) det.pl. those | wa ancan n yw (TL) det.pl. some, certain (ones), others | wadxansu n yw (TL) det.pl. some, certain (ones), others | wa ansu nja (L) v.D (v.n. nj hiy (f)) 1. refuse. 2. be rebellious | i; gagara nz l (H) n.m. (pl. nz lal w) wooden flute played in hocketing order with four others |

sarewa nzuw (HL) v.A1 (v.n. nz w k”) close up tight, draw tight | tsuke

P

p”dla (HH) v.B (v.n. p dlak ) mix, stir (beer) | dama p”la (HH) v.B (v.n. p lak ) jump ex m n p la s y I jumped | yi tsalle p liy (L) n.m. (pl. p liy y w) ashes | toka p”na (L) v.B (v.n. p nak” (m)) pay, ransom | biya, fansa p p n (TH) n.f. (pl. p p nan w) cave | kogo p”r (HL) v.A1 (v.n. p rak” (f)) cut, slaughter | yanka p ram (H) n.m. (pl. p ram m w) blood | jini p rar” (L) n.m. the shrub Guiera senegaliensis | sabara p”s” (L) v.A1 (v.n. p sak”) bury ex m n p s” s w v yyaw y I buried the corpse | binne p”tl” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. p tl k” (f)) hit (once, to remove dust, etc.), clap ex m n p tl

k m n I clapped my hands | ka a, yi tafi pa (L) v.D (v.n. p hiy = p h y) collect, gather ex m n p s w z w y I gathered up the

corn | tara p k” (H) n.f. (pl. p kak w) arm (entire arm); wing ex p k” dl”rk y chicken wing |

hannu; fiffike p k” kyar kyar (H LHL) n.? triceps | dantse na asa p ka nd kway (H H) n.f. “vulture wing”, cat’s whiskers the potherp (Gynandropsis

pentaphylla) | gasaya p lakash w (LHL) n.m. hawk | shaho p lgw y (TH) n.f. Sodom apple (Calotropis procera) | tunfafiya


pap”ra (LH) v.B2 (v.n. p p”r k” [note tones]) (plac. of par) cut many, slaughter many ex m n p p r s y I cut many times | yayyanka

p p”ra k i (L H) n.m. potsherd | tsingaro p p”ra k t” (L H) n.pl. calabash fragment, any broken piece | sakaina, laka par (L) v.A1 (v.n. p rak”) pick (beans) ex m n p r s w dz m y I picked beans | rore par (L) v.A1 (v.n. p rak”) spray ex m n p ray b y I sprayed water on him | fesa par (HL) v.A1 (v.n. p r k”) implant, haft ex m n par suw g ti nuwn y m n par suw gìti

nuwnáy | kafa, kwa a p ra (HL) v.B2 (v.n. p r k” (f)) cry, make a cry, cry of an animal ex p r s y he

cried; p r k” ta duwak” neighing of a horse | yi kuka p rats” (L) n.m. the tree Cassia singueana | runhu p t” (T) quant. all ex p t”tl n all of them ; p t” s b” all the people | duka p y (L?) n.f. pond | rafi pay (HH) v.A1 (v.n. p yak ) meet | tare p í (TH) n.f. (pl. p í yay w) branch ex p íy d m reshen bishiya | reshe p ler (L) n.m. (pl. p ler r w) skin, hide | fata p lera sh m (L H) n.? foreskin | lo a p lera v n (L H) n.? lip | le e p l m (TH) n.m. pulp | totuwa p p y (TH) n.m. woven tray | faifai p (T) id. quickly ex ”m c m pi he did the work quickly | amsa amo piya (HH) v.B (v.n. p yaw (f), p yak ) lie down ex m n p yaw n say I lay down |

kwanta piya (HH) v.B (v.n. p yak ) return ex m n p ya s y I lay down | koma p y m (TH) n.f. (pl. p y mam w) pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) | kabewa p y t” (TH) n.m. sweetness ex s kwam m piy t” sweet honey | za i piyay (HH) v.A2 (v.n. p y k [sic]) lay out, spread ex m n p y tl say m n pìy tlá say |

kwantar piyay (HH) v.A2 take back, return (tr.) ex Q: f piy m ? - A: m n p y nd wul what

did you take back? - I took back the pot | mayar puwa (L) v.B (v.n. p wak”) (tr., intr.) hide ex puwata s y he hid; puwa s w m r

nuws y he hid his money | bxuya, bxoye puway (L) v.A2 (tr.) hide ex s t p way he is hiding it | bxoye py˘na (H) adj. (pl. py˘ni) (f. py˘ya) white ex mb rgu py‰na white ram; t m ku py˙ya

white ewe; t makw py‰ni white sheep | fari

R

r” ”n (HH) v.A2 (v.n. r ”n k”) seal, patch, stop up | li e r”dla (L) v.B (v.n. r dl” (f), r dlak”) write | rubuta r dz (TL) n.f., adv.time in the late afternoon, in the evening ex t yw yka r”dz come in

the evening; k rf v tl” n y r”dz 5 o’clock in the afternoon | da yamma r dz (TH) n.m. late afternoon, evening | yamma r f” (H) n.m. (pl. r faf w) miya | miya


r”f”n (HL) v.A2 (v.n. r fyafy n (m), r”f”n k” [note tones]) thatch ex m n r”f”n suw l m y I thatched the hut | jinka

r”m (HL) v.A1 (v.n. r m k”) eat (meat) ex m r r”n tl wi I ate meat | ci (nama) r”na (L) v.B (v.n. r m (f), r nak”) copulate (by humans), have sexual intercourse ex

r”natla s y = r”natl r”n w he copulated with her | ika, yi jimaíi r”na (HH) v.B (v.n. r nak ) be abundant ex r”natl n say they are abundant | yi yawa r”nts” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. r mats” (f), r nts k”) have a stomach ache ex v wwun j t

r”ntsuw n = r”nts w n s y my stomach aches | ji ciwon ciki r”tl” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. r tl k”) knock down, throw down | kayar, ka da r v” (T) n.f. chaff | ai aiyi r”v” ” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. r va ” (m), r v” ak ) become thin ex m n r v” uw n say I

became thin | rame r”v”z” (L) v.A2 (v.n. r vazhi (m), r”v”zak”) be fat ex r”v”a”ta s y he got fat | yi iba ra (L) v.D (v.n. r hiy (f)) exceed, surpass ex r n r w he surpasses me | fi ra (L) v.D (v.n. r hiy (f)) leak ex l n tuwun s t r y (the roof of) my hut leaks | yi yoyo ra ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. r ak (f)) (tr.) moisten; (intr.) get wet ex m n r ”tl say I

moistened it; k b” ra ”tl say the gown got wet | jikxa; jikxu r camb y (TL) n.m. dodo with shaggy grass and ashes on skin | dodo (iri) ra ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. r ak ) decay, spoil ex tl wi ra ”t say the meat spoiled | ru e r ya i (L) n.m., adj. dampness; cold (to touch) ex b y r ya yana cold water; l m‰

r ya yaya cold soda; k t” r y yani cold things; b y suw r y y y ‘the water is cold | laima; sanyi

rak” (L) v.A1 (v.n. r kak” (f)) chase ex m n r k”tl”n s y I chased them off | kora ramb” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. r mb k”) bother, upset | dama r taya (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. r t yak ) hang ex r t y k b” tuws” he hung up his gown |

rataya r va ” (L) n.m. thinness | ramewa r vazh” (L) n.m. fat, corpulence | te a raw (HH) v.A1 (v.n. r‰ (f), r wak ) request, beg, beseech ex m n r˘y t I beseeched

him; m n r w r waw I made a beseechment | ro a r y y (TH) n.m. life | rai r m (H) n.m. shade, shadow | inuwa r na (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. r n k”) belittle, despise, scorn ex r n wan s y he belittled

me | rena r tlyi (T) n.m. necklace | dutsen wuya r n (TH) n.m. locust bean cakes used for flavoring | kalwa rinja (L) v.B (v.n. r njak”) fish (verb) ex m r r nj b I fishe | yi su r yj (TL) n.m. (pl. r yj y y w) well (for water) | rijiya r nna (H) adj. (pl. r nni) (f. r ynya; iy is long in feminine, short in masc. and pl.) black

ex m ” r nna black castrated goat; f w r ynya black goat; c w r nni black goats | ba i

R˘ya (L?) n.m. man’s name (chief of Miya in 1983) | sunan mutum ruwn” (L) v.A2 (v.n. r wnak”) cool off ex b y r wun s y the water cooled off | huce ruwa (L) v.B (v.n. r wak” (m)) plow, make ridgerows | hu a, yi noma ruw ay (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. r w yak ) be confused ex m n ruw y s y I was

confused | rudxe r wun (L) n.m. (pl. r wun n w) wind | iska


S

s- (Ö - y) aux. see s w | s ba (H) pro.rel.pl. (pl. of b , m ) ones who own, ones who do ex s ba k m

householders; s ba y w madmen; s ba m r rich people; dz f” s ba m r rich males; t vam s ba m r rich women | masu

s b” (H) n.pl. (pl. s bab w) (pl. of s m) people | mutane s ” (H) n.m. the tree Detarium microcarpum, D. senegalense | taura s”k”n (HH) v.A2 (v.n. s k”n k”) swallow (verb) | ha iye s”la (HH) v.B (v.n. s lak (f)) remain, be left over ex m d s lawa? what’s left?; s”la

s y it’s left over | saura s m (H) n.m. (pl. s b”, s bab w) person, man | mutum s”n (L) v.A1 (v.n. s nak” (f)) 1. know, know how to ex m n s nya s y = m n s nya

gam I know him; m n s n gan s n ka I know; wiy s”m ma nd”ra wiyuw neither one knew about the other. 2. (with nd”ra) know about | sani, san da

s”na (HL) v.B (v.n. s n w (m) (no gerund)) spend the night, sleep ex m y s n m yka we slept there; m n s n w n s y = m n s na s”n w I spent the night/slept | kwana, yi barci

s n w (TH) n.m. 1. sleeping; passing the night. 2. a day (24 hour period) ex s n‰ ts r two days | kwana, barci

s n‰ d m (TH H) n.? dozing | gyangya i s p”n (H) n.m. (pl. s p”n n w) tuwo, staple food | tuwo s r”m (L) n.f. (pl. s r”m m w) knife | wu a s r”m m tly m (L H H) n.f. razor (“knife for shaving”) | aska s”rka (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. s rk k”) stir something into liquid ex n n s”rk n yh ‰b I

stirred the medicine into the water | sirka s rt h” (TH) n.m. (pl. s rt hah w) lake | tabki sa (L) v.D (v.n. s hiy (f)) drink; smoke (tobacco) ex m s s b yay I drank water; t t s

tab” he is smoking | sha s ba (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. s b k ) be fond of, be used to ex s b s y he is used to it |

saba da s b‰ (T) adj. new ex s bo nd wul = nd wul s b‰na new pot | sabo s b˘da (HL) conj. because, because of; in order that ex saboda wanka because of that;

w y m ya nay sarariy na d naw s b˘da yaw n za one cannot seen the sky because of its (locusts) great numbers; d kiy k w d z”za ndy an hay sab˘da

gw n ka santla m ky nuw w they bring fire and shove it in (pits) because that pcust does not like smoke; saboda d” gh”dzatl”n wutl” bazam in order that they become young men (referring to young boys being circumcized) | saboda

s f” (H) n.m. coarse flour; dregs of beer | diddiga, tsaki s ka (bor) v.B2 bor (v.n. s k k”) weave cloth ex m n s k s y I wove it | sakxa s k (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. s k yak ) change, do again ex s k s w g liy nuws y he

changed his behavior; m n s k kab” I changed clothes | sake s l (H) n.m. white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) | tunku s may (L) n.m. trash, sweepings | shara S mb (TL) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum san (L) v.A1 agree ex santa s y he agreed; s t s nwa s y he agrees | yarda


s r (L) adv.loc, adj. distant ex k n k j s r ‘the house is far away; k m s r na a distant house; v wagwahi s r ya a distant town’; k t” s r ni distant things | nesa, da nisa

sar (L) n.A1 (pl. s r (m), s rak”) 1. pour into ex s r b y ‰ d k”man pour water into the gourd bottle. 2. circumcise ex sar s w l y nuwn y my son was circumcised |

ura; yi kaciya saw (L) n.A1 (pl. s wak”) rest, breathe, pant ex s˘ s y he rested | huta, yi numfashi s w (H) n.f. (pl. s wawaw w) tail | jela, wutsiya s wkiy (H) n.? feeling better (after an illness) ex m n d k y suw s wkiy y I feel better |

sau i say (L) v.A1 (v.n. s yak”) (intr.) be tired, (tr.) tire out ex saya s y he got tired; n k”

can saywan s y this work tired me out | gaji, gajiyar s y (H) n.f. (pl. s yay w) liver | hanta say (H) aux. contraction of s w Ö - y, q.v. | sh g”d”l (L) n.m. calf; lower leg | sha ra a Sh gin [Sh gyin] (L?) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum sh m (H) n.m. (pl. sh mam w) penis | bura shash”n (HH) v.A2 (v.n. sh sh”n k”) smell, sniff | sansana Sh biy (TL) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum shi a (HH) v.B (v.n. sh ak (f)) 1. throw ex m n sh a s w z kiy y I threw a stone’;

m n sh f ˘ I agree with what you say. 2. lay eggs ex y t sh ts w she is laying eggs | jefa, jefar, saka kxwai

sh m (T) n.f. (pl. sh mam w) farm ex sh m tuwun my farm; shim ta Kasham Kasham’s farm; K sham sh m Kasham is on the farm; v w shim ha b h” on father’s farm | gona

sh n k” (TH) n.m. (pl. sh n kak w) tongue | harshe sh nd r (TH) n.m. rust | tsatsa sh n ” (T) n.m. cold weather ex r wun b shin ” cold wind | ari shinyi (HH) v.A2 (v.n. sh ny k” (m)) suck ex t t sh ny shiny w he is sucking | tsotsa sh p” (T) n.f. spear grass (Imperata cylindrica) | tofa sh rh” (L) n.m. jealousy, envy | kishi, hassada sh‰sh‰ (T) n.m. (pl. sh‰sh waw w) rooster | zakara sh w (H) n.m. (pl. sh waw w) oil | mai sh w (TL) adj. blue ex k b” sh w ya blue gown | shu i siya (L) v.B (v.n. s yak”) move a bit ex siyata s y à siyata sáy | gusa siyay (HH) v.A2 hitch up (child on back) ex siy ya s y she hitched him up | zakudxa s kutiy (L) n.f. bellows | zugazugi s kwam (H) n.f. (pl. s kwam m w) honey | zuma s w (Ö - y) (H L irreg) aux. (tones: If a vowel follows, suw contracts with the vowel

and imposes H tone; otherwise, súw has H and replaces the next tone with L. function: Cannot be used in negatives, WH or yes/no questions, or sentences with focus;mutually exclusive with, but similar in function to g- ~ gàm, q.v.) 1. (with a noun or nominalized phrase, usually with - y) just, only, all that re<crref>mains… (cf. meaning #3 of g m) ex s- kid tl”n just the third one of them; a iyka suw yayahiyuws-ay all that remains is weaning him. 2. (in s w k”n(ay)) (then) here is…, (then) here comes… ex j y d s w k”n lak miy t ts k”m when here was the giraffe; n y b za s w k n y when here comes her family (“father & Co.”). 3. (in perfective, VERB s- y or s w NOUN y) sense of definiteness or completion of the verb ex nj s- y he refused; m r suw mb rgw- y he got a ram; b”sama s w k b y he washed a


gown. 4. (sometimes in perfective with intransitive verb, s w alone) sense of definiteness or completion of the verb ex b”s”ta s w he bathed (= b”s”ta s y). 5. (in imperfective, s- VERB - y) imparts future meaning to imperfective ex m n s z-y I will put it on; t s b t m -ay he will untie the goat. 6. (with adjective,

quantifier, or nominal predicates) perfectivity, having moved into a state ex t s w g ra b s may he became a prominent person; t suw ts”nts”may it became fermented. 7. (with ‘have’ predicate, not used with final -ay) perhaps imparts perfectivity, e.g. “came into possession of” ex Nd wya s- m r = Nd wya g- m r Nduya has money |

s w (TL) adv.time tomorrow | gobe

T

t babaw (L) n.m. (pl. t babaw w w) bark (of tree) | awo t” a (HH) v.B (v.n. t bak ) close, shut, cover | rufe t c ku (TH) n.f. Gambian oribi (Ourebia ourebi) | batsiya t”f” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ty tifi (f), t f k”) shoot ex m n t f” suw gw g may I shot a dove |

harba t gwar dz”h” (L?) n.m. (pl. t gwar w) (f. t gwar dz ku) leper | kuturu t”ka (L) v.B (v.n. t kak”) accompany ex t”kawan b h ya kanw n he accompanied me

to my house | raka t k”m (L) n.f. (pl. t k”m m w) chair, stool | kujera t”k”n (HH) v.A2 (v.n. t k”n k” (m)) 1. beat (drum) ex t”k n suw g ngam y ‘he beat

a drum. 2. touch ex t”k nw n s y he touched me. 3. cling to | kadxa (ganga); ta a, ma e

t kit”ki (T) n.m. silence | shiru t”la (HL) v.B (v.n. t ll k”) enter ex m n t law n s y I entered | shiga t lp” (L) n.f. (pl. t lp p w) hoe for cultivating | fartanya t”ma (L) v.B (v.n. t m (f), t mak”) sing ex t”ma s t”may he sang | rera t m ku (TH) n.f. (pl. t makw y) sheep, ewe | tinkiya t mb”z m (HH) n.m. spirit | iska t myar (L) n.m. (pl. t mar r w) forehead | goshi t n ( ) (T) prep., conj. since, from the time that ex t n bazara t was”n ws” h tl n

h r bah y m tsaw from the hot season, he will spend the year with them up until the harvest season | tun

t”n” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. t n k”) remember | tuna t n ni (L) n.m. thinking | tunani t”n ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. t n ak ) go close along ex m n t n uw n t b ngo I went

close along the wall | ra a t”nz” (L) v.A2 (v.n. t waz” (m), t nzak”) plant ex m n t nz” s w z w y I planted

sorghum | shuka t r (L) n.pl. peers, age-mates ex t r”wun my peers; n kin t r”wun these peers of mine;

t r ma our peers; t ra Kasham Kasham’s peers | tsararraki, saíoíi t”r (HL) v.A1 (v.n. t r k”) sew | inka t”ra (L) v.B (v.n. tir k” (f), t rak”) whisper, slander | ra a


t rats niy (TL) n.f. gizzard of chicken | undu t”ray (HH) v.A2 (v.n. t rayak”) greet ex t”raywan s y he greeted me | gayar t riy (H) n.m. dirt (on clothes, etc.) | azanta, dau a t”ry” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. t ry k” (m)) pound in mortar ex t”ry suw z w y she pounded

sorghum | daka t tl” (H) n.m. cotton (Gossypium spp.) | auduga t”va (L) v.B (v.n. t vi (m), t vak”) walk, travel ex t y t”va t v he is walking | tafi, yi

tafiya t vam (L) n.pl. (pl. of í m) women, wives ex n kin t vam these women | mata t (T) linker f. ( n y) (m. n ) 1. genitive linker for feminine head noun. 2. head of

independent genitive. 3. head of ordinal numeral | -r, ta t (L) aspect hortative auxiliary | ta (L) v.D (v.n. t hiy) 1. eat (tuwo) ex m n t s w s p”n y I ate tuwo. 2. defeat,

conquer. 3. achieve goal | ci t Ö -w (L) negative, aspect (see maÖ w for negation of all other clause types)

negative for subjunctive ex t y t z r w he should not call; f ta ra w”huw don’t soak the clothes | ba Ö ba

t (H irreg) conj. (used when conditional clause is not understood as a narrative sequence; see t n for non-perfective conditional clauses; see kw Ök for sequential sense) 1. (introducing perfective clause ending in k ) if ex t mb natla s ían k , t˘ tl n m tiy viyazaw d” baytl y if the woman is beautiful, well they won’t kill her. tjeu take her away; ta ”m ma dab ra naka ba shimuw, t o, sh m tuws” d l lac y z y the that farm owner doesn’t come up with a plan, well his farm will be ruined. 2. (introducing perfective concessive conditional, no k at the end) even if, no matter if ex m n ta mar g m m‰t m gh raza, m n g l w even if I get an old car, I want it | idan, in

t b” (T) n.m. (pl. t bab w) tobacco (Nicotiana rustica; N. tabacum), cigarette | taba tab”na (L) v.B2 (v.n. ty byaben (m), t b”nak”) abuse, berate, insult, disparage,

denigrate, malign ex m n t b”naya s y I abused him | zaga t b rma (LH) n.m. palm leaf mat | tabarma t b b” (T L) n.? elephantiasis of the scrotum | gwaiwa t baf” (H) n.m. grass | ciyawa t bas” (H) n.m. wound | rauni t h y (TH) n.f. food (of animals or people) ex t h y tuwun my food (cf. t h ywun ‘my

eating’) | abinci t k”n (T) det.f. ( n yk”n) (m. n k”n) this, this one | wannan (mace) t ka (T) det.f. ( n yka) (m. n ka) that, that one | waccan t ku (L) v. defective (masc. sg. imperative of ba; f.sg. imper. t k”m, pl. imper. t ka , 1st

pl. imper. t m y) go! | jeka/ki/ku, mu je t l (H) n.m. (pl. t lal w) beer ex t la z w guinea corn beer | giya tal (HH) v.A1 (v.n. t lak (f)) winnow with wind ex tal s w z w y she winnowed

sorghum | she a t lm y (TH) n.f. worm | tsutsa t mas” (L) n.m. itching | ai ayi tambaye (bor) v.A2 bor (lovee is indirect object) ask ex d t mbay tla nj l w w n

they ask her which one she loves’ | tambaya t n (H irreg) (used when conditional clause is not understood as a narrative sequence; see

t for perfective conditional clauses; see kw Ök for sequential sense) 1. (introducing non-perfective clause ending in k ) if ex f t n s b f k n k , f k”na kam b r f


if you are going to go home, by some vegetables; t˘, t n suw w nka ka, mm shin tuwun g y y well, if that’s how it is, well there’s this famr of mine. 2. (introducing non-perfective concessive conditional, no k at the end) even if, no matter if ex m n t n g tl wun piy, n m gam bankw na í n t y even if I will be leaving early, I will say good-bye to him | idan, in

t nj m (TL) id. indicates falling | amsa amo tans” (HL) v.A2 (v.n. t mas” (m), t ns k”) itch ex tans w n s y I feel itchy | ji

ai ayi t n w (TL) conj. if it’s a case of ex t n w Kaf a kaf w n m n, t nuw G ru

kaf wun m n whether it’s a case (of going to) Kafi, it’s me who is sent, or if it’s a case (of going to) Bauchi, it’s me who is sent |

t s” (H) n.f. winter thorn (Faidherbia albida) | gawo t t”f y (TH) n.f. (pl. t t”f yay w) beer strainer | mataci tat”ha (HL) v.A2 (v.n. t t”h k”) strain, filter ex m n t t h tal I strained beer | tace tat”ray (HH) v.A2 exchange greetings | gaisa t tab r (TLH) n.f. domestic pigeon | tantabara t t s y (LH?) n.f. large red chili peppers (Capsicum annum) | tattasai t tas” (L) n.f. chicken’s crop | ma o o t ts” (H) n.f. tweezers | matsefata t tsiy (L) n.f. (pl. t tsiy y w) tendon, vein | jijiya tatuwa (L) v.A2 (v.n. t tuwak”) wipe out bowl with finger ex m n t tuwa tl”rk y I

wiped out the calabash with my finger | sudxe t y (HH) v. defective (imperative of bay;,pl. imper. t y y, 1st pl. imper. t yiym ) take (it

there)! | kai! t fir (H) n.m. fig trees Ficus gnaphalocarpa, F. sycomorus | aure t mb r dz h” (TH) n.m. (pl. t mb gh naw) (f. t mb r dz ku) gazelle (Gazella

rufifrons) | barewa t r (H) n.m. (pl. t rar w) moon, month | wata t tel w (TH) n.f. cornstalk flute | siri i t ty l (TH) n.m. fruit bat Eidolon helvum | jemage tiy (L) v.A1 (v.n. t yt” (f), t y k”) 1. beat, hit, kill ex m n t ytla s y I beat her. 2. (with

day) spend the day ex m n t ye m ku yk I spent the day there | doka, kashe; wuni t yatl” (L) n.m. (pl. t yatl tl w) kunu | kunu t yin (L) n.f. (pl. t yim m w) tooth | ha ori t yin t v y (L T H) n.? incisors | ha oran cizo t yin t w ma (L T H) n.? molar | ha oran taunawa t yiy (L) n.m. (pl. t yiy y w) hand plow, hoe for banking ridgerows | garma t zh” (T) n.m. gunea worm | kurkunu tl”ma (L) v.B (v.n. tly m (m), tl mak”) shave ex m n tl maya s w gh muws y I

shaved his head | aske tl p y (TH) n.m. (pl. tl p yay w) leaves ex tl p y mas ” leaves of hemp; tl p y nuwun

my leaves | ganye tl rf” (L) n.m. (pl. tl rf f w) forest | kurmi tl rk y (TH) n.f. (pl. tl rkayay w) calabash, gourd bowl | warya tl rk y b y (TH TH) n.f. gourd cup | mo a tl”rp” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. tl rpak ) embrace ex tl”rp” s w w n tuws y he embraced his

daughter | runguma tla (L) v.D (v.n. tl hiy (m)) lift, pick up | aga tla (H) v.D (v.n. tl h y (f)) stand up, wake up ex m n tl w n say I stood up | tashi


tlak” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. tly ky ki (m), tl k k”) scrape, abrade, scratch (to relieve itch) ex m n tl k” suw t wat wnay I scraped by body | kankare, karce, sosa

tl rwan (L) n.m. (pl. tl rwan n w) root | saiwa tl wiy (L) n.m. (pl. tl wiy y w) meat, flesh, muscle ex tl wiywan my muscles; tl wiy

nuwun my meat | nama tl wiy n ts k”n (L T H) n.? wild animal | naman daji tl wiy p k” (L H) n.? biceps ex tl wiy p kuwun my biceps | wanji tl wiy shag”d”l (L L) n.? calf (of leg) | sha ra a tliy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. tl y k”) squeeze, press out | matsa, matse tluw ” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. tl w k”) wet mix ex m n tl w f ra I mixed fura | dama tlya ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. tl i (f), tly ak ) hoe, cultivate ex m n tly i s w sh n

tuwn y I cultivated my farm’; m tly i he farmed | yi noma, nome tlyaw (L) v.A1 (v.n. tly w (f), tly wak”) etch, trace designs ex tlyaw s w tl rk yay

he etched the calabash | zana t‰, t˘ (F, L) interjection OK, well | to tsa (L) v.D (v.n. ts hiy) give | bayar ts”f” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ts f k”) dry up ex w s” ts f” say the grass dried up | bushe ts”ga (L) v.B (v.n. ts g” (f), ts gak ) sit down ex m n ts gawan s y I sat down; m lv

t ts ge the chief is seated | zauna ts”gay (L) v.A2 seat ex ts”gaytl”n s y he seated them | zaunar ts”gay (HH) v.A2 (v.n. ts gayak ) (+ ts p r) urinate; (+ y iy have diarrhea ex

ts”gay s w ts p”r y he urinated; t t ts gaya e he has diarrhea | yi fitsari; yi zawayi

ts”ma (HH) v.B (v.n. ts ts m (f), ts mak ) swear (t0) | rantse ts m y (TH) n.f. (pl. ts m yay w) foot | afa ts nts”m (L) adj. sour ex t l ts nts nna sour beer; l m‰ ts ntsnya sour citrus’, kùt”

ts nts nni ‘sour things’, tàl j ts nts”n; k t” ts nts nni sour things; t l j ts nts”n the beer is fermented; t suw ts nts”may it is sour/fermented | tsami

ts p r (TH) n.f. urine | fitsari ts r (L) num (in counting ts r) two ex s b” ts r two people | biyu ts”r (?) v.A1 rake, sweep | share ts”r (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ts ts”r, ts r k”) stop, stand ex f ts rk s y you stopped; ts rtla

s m k w it’s midday (the sun has stood) | tsaya ts rd y (TH) n.f. (pl. ts rd yay w) space between two huts filled by a wall | kus a ts”rt” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. ts rtak ) pick (peanuts) from vines, pull off ex m n ts rt” z w y

I picked corn | cire ts ry” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. ts ry k”) step on ex m n ts rya s k”t”r w y = m n ts ry

k”t”r I stepped on a scorpion | taka tsa ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. ts ak ) extend, stretch ex m n ts uw n say I stretched | mi e ts gwa ” (L) n.m. limping ex t t ts gwa ” he is limping | dxingishi ts k”m (H) n.f. (pl. ts k”m m w) the bush | daji ts r (H) n.f. the tough grass Cymbopogon gigantea | tsaure tsatsiya (HL) v.B2 ask repeatedly | tattambaya ts war (L) n.f. exchanging ex m y n s w ts war y we exchanged | musaya tsiy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ts y k”) (tr., intr.) burn ex m n tsiy s wasay I burned grass; w s”

tsiy say the grass burned | one tsiy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. ts y k”) ask ex ts yw n m n he asked m; ts y tsiy w he asked a

question | tambaya tsiya (HH) v.B (v.n. ts yak (m)) dig | tona


ts yaku (L) n.f. (pl. ts yakw kw w) ridgerow | kunya tso a (HL) v.B2 (v.n. ts wa ” (m), ts˘ k”) carve ex ts‰ ji = ts‰ s w jay he

carved wood | sassakxa ts‰h‰ (T) adj. old (thing) ex ts‰ho k m = k n ts‰h‰na old house | tsoho ts way (L) n.m., adv.time morning ex s w ts way until morning | safe tugur (HH) v.A2 (v.n. t gurak ) wither ex z way tugurtl say the guinea corn withered

| yan wana t ku (L) v. defective (v.n. b w k” (f)) (m.sg. imper. of b”, buw; f.sg. imper. t kam, pl.

imper. t w ka) come! | yaka, yaki, ku zo T kwal (HH) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum tuwr” (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. t wr k”) push ex m n t wr” s y I pushed it | tura t w (H) n.m. (pl. t waw w) arrow | kibiya t wah”(-tuwah”) (L) adj. different ex V n m n W shir t w h”-tuwah” Miya and

Siri are different (languages) | daban t wat w (HH) n.f. 1. body; ex t wat ws his body; m y t b”na t wat w ma we

abused each other. 2. each other (reciprocal) | jiki; juna t way (HL) v. defectice (masculine and feminine singular imperative of buway; pl.

imper. , 1st pl. imper. t wiym ) bring! (imperative) | kawo! ty (TL) interjectiion exclamation of surprise or dismay | tab i ty kun (L) n.f. rain shower, esp. in the early morning | marka ty m tyam (TH) adj. odiferous, smelly, having a stench ex h m b ta tyam tyam ni

smelly food | wari, oyi tyan (HH) v.A1 stink ex tyant n say it stinks | yi wari ty wl l n (TH) n.m. (pl. ty wl l mam w) cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) | balbela

V

v ah” (H) n.f. the potherb Ceratotheca sesamoides, false sesame | karkashi v g”d” (L) n.f. (pl. v gd d w) pants | wando v n (H) n.m. (pl. v nan w) 1. mouth. 2. language ex v na m y Miya language. 3. (with

expressed location) in front of, ahead of ex m n v na Kasham I’m in front of Kasham; m n v nuws” I am in front of him; m n tsrw n v na k m I stopped in front of the house | baki, harshe

v n (H) n.f. (pl. v nan w) grinding quern | dutsen ni a v nah” (L) adv.loc. in front, first ex tl n v nah” they are in front | a gaba, na farko v na k w (H H) n.? flame | harshen wuta v na m dz” (H T) n.f. riverbank | bakin kogi v na s b” (H H) n.? language ex v na m y Miya (languages) | harshe v na s k (H L) n.f. story | tatsuniya v riy (l) n.f. crying, cry (of various animals) ex t t v riy he is crying; v riya duwak”

neighing; v riya zh k” braying | kuka v”rk” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. v rk k” (f)) give birth to, beget ex v”rk l y she bore a son;

y t v rka v rk w she is giving birth | haifa


v rk” (H irreg) n.m. (pl. w tl”m ) (v rk” phrase initial; see examples for tonal behavior) boy, son ex v rk” nuwun my boy; n k”n v rk” this boy; mb ” v rk” thigh of a boy | yaro

v rk” d m (T H) n.? (pl. w tl” d m) fruit | an icce v rk” k m (T H) n.m. finger | yatsa v rk” ts”m y (T TH) n.m. toe | yatsan afa v tam (H) n.f. false locust (Prosopis africana) | kxirya v”vaya v.A2 pour repeatedly | zuzzuba v zh” (H) n.f. sickness | cuta va (L) v.D (v.n. v hiy (m)) (tr., intr.) pour, spill ex m n v s w m r y I poured out

millet; b y v ta s y the water spilled | zuba v ki (L) n.f. (pl. d wan) (m. y s”) sister, close female relatives of same generation ex

v kya m wun my maternal aunt; v kya b wun my paternal aunt; v kyaza her sister | íyaruwa

var (L) v.A1 (v.n. v rak”) singe ex m n v r tl w I singed the meat | babbake var (HL) v.A1 (v.n. v r k”) run, run away ex nj v r say she ran away | gudu v ray (L) n.m. (pl. v ray y w) 1. seed ex v ray nuwan my seeds (for planting); v ray

z w sorghum seeds. 2. kind, type. 3. one’s blood relatives ex v raywan my relatives (NOT ‘my kind’ or ‘my seeds’) | iri; zuriya

v shi (L?) n.m. brother boyfriend | saurayi, anuwa v tl” (L) num. five ex s b” v tl” five people | biyar V ziya (L) n.m. man’s name | sunan mutum v rd m (TL) n.m. type of small squirrel | kurege (iri) v y (H) n.m. (pl. v yay w) doorway ex v ya l m door of the hut | ofa v yaw (L) n.m. (pl. v y y w) corpse | gawa v yay w (HH) n.m. (pl. v yayuw w w) fireplace, cooking tripod | murhu v w (H) n.f. (pl. v waw w) 1. stomach, belly ex nj v w she is pregnant. 2. pregnancy.

3. inside, among | ciki, cikin vuw (HL) v.A1 (v.n. v w k”) (intr.) boil ex b y vuw say the water boiled | tafasa v wa (H) n.loc. formative used with certain words referring to places | v wagwahiy (H T) n.f. (pl. v wagwahiy y w) town, village | gari, auye v wa sh m (HH T) n.f. farm ex v w shim ha b h” on father’s farm | gona v wshi = gh ma vuwshi (L) n.m. (pl. v wsh sh w) rubbish heap | juji vy (TH) n.m. buttocks | uwawu vy y vya y (THL) adj. slippery, slimy ex m deshi j vy y yavya y okra is

slimy | yau i

W

-w (H) negative, aspect see m Ö -w, t Ö -w | ba w h” (T) n.f. (pl. w hah w) sand | yashi w , w (L) interr.pro. (w when clause final; see w for examples) who?, whom? ex w

jik n ? who is it?; w z ratl n ? = w d z ratl n ? who called them?; w j y z ruwsa? who will call him? | wa?


w = (L) interr. ( is by far the most frequent; see n for focussed subject equational questons) question marker of any type of question (yes/no, constituent--na only in constitent questions) ex w na jirk d” uwy wa? which monkey sustained a fracture?; tukus m gam, m j y ”man w nk”n wa?! hedgehod, is it you has been treating me thus?! |

w ciya (TH) pro.f. (f. of w n ) so-and-so | Wance w ” (H) n.m. (pl. w a w) faeces, excrement, shit | kashi w k” (H) n.m. (pl. w kak w) a lie | arya w n (T) prep. like ex w n m n like me; w n fw y like you (ms); w n Kasham like

Kasham; w n Nd wya like Nduya; w n m ” lika a goat | kamar wan (L) v.A1 (v.n. w nak”) (tr., intr.) fill, fill with; be full ex m n w n s y I filled it;

nd wul wan s y the pot is full | cika w n (TL) det. the, the one in question ex d g y k y f y o tl”rk y d kiya z rf

w n d ar y o when she scooped up flour in the calabash, she took that silver and put it inside for him; m y g m s w í n M mm n w n y we met up with that Mamman; t way f y wana m n s w bring that flour so I might drink | -n/-r

w n (TL) pro.m. (f. w c ya) so-and-so | Wane, Wance w nka (H) adv.man. thus ex tl n d t m ka n tl n w nk they were living like that;

t vam kw nay w nka k s m r y when the women saw things were like that, they would run away; saboda wanka because of that | haka

w nk”n (H) adv.man. thus ex d ga tluws , p tl kab” wank n when he arose, he shook his gown thus | haka

w nkwa (T) interr.adv.man. how?, by what means? ex f kw y zh k” w nkwa? how/by what means did you catch the donkey? | yaya?

w nkw k y (TL) quant.univ. however …, no matter how… ex f ta gh”mak g m w nkw k y, n nay g m however you climb up, I will watch | ko yaya Ö

w r (H) n.m. festival, celebration, holiday ex w ra Kav r the Kav”ra festival | biki, salla w rawarat y (LH) n.m. cockroach | kyankyaso w ray (bor) v.A2 bor (v.n. w r yak ) select out ex m n w r y s w fuw tuwn y I

removed my goat (from the group) | ware was” (L) v.A1 (v.n. w shashi (m), w sak”) swell ex w wasu w s w it swelled |

kumbura w s”n (L) n.m. 1. year ex c‰n k”n w s”n d i f” it is now 40 years. 2. rainy season ex

j y was m in the rainy season; r e i j w s”m it is cold during the rainy season | shekara, damina

was”na (L) v.A2 (v.n. w shasham (m), w s”nak”) spend a year ex was”nata s y it lasted a year | shekara

w say (L) n.f. salt | gishiri w shasham (L) n.m. (pl. w shasham m w) 1. rainy season ex w hsasham mb nata

s w the rainy season has been good. 2. year | damina, shekara w yna = w na (L) interr. adj. m. (pl. w yni) (f. w yya) which one?, which…? | wanne?,

waneÖ? w yna Ö k y (L) quant.univ. ( w yni) (f. w yya Ö k y; used only as the head of a

generic clause; see k‰w na Ö ( k y)) every …, any … | kowane w yya (L) interr. adj. f. (pl. w yni) (f. of w yna ) which one?, which…? ex w yya d

za ? which one (f. thing) broke?; f k”na w yy tl”rk ya? which calabash did you buy? | wanne?, wane.?

w yya Ö k y (L) quant.univ. ( w yni) (f. counter part of w yna Ö k y; used only as the head of a generic clause; see k‰w yy Ö ( k y)) every …, any … ex t t gan


w y vuw gw hiy k y, d kwiya s”b y whatever town they conquered, they would capture people (as slaves) | kowaceÖ

w (L) interr.pro. (form used when non-initial; see w ) who?, whom? ex tab”na w e? who did he abuse?; Nd wya k”na tl w y w e? who did Nduya buy meat for?; n zaka k n h w e? whose house did you enter?; n baka K n˙ í n w ? who did you go

to Kano with? | wa? w k y = w n k y (TL) quant.univ. (used only as the head of a generic clause; see

k‰w n k y) whoever …, anyone who … ex t z ra gam Kasham w k y/w n k y, t m nay w whoever calls Kasham, he will not answer; Nd wya t z r gam w k y, t m hay w whoever Nduya called, he would not answer | kowa

w lew l (HHL) n.m. wild hunting dog (Lycaon pictus) | kyarkeci w na = w yna (L) interr. adj. m. (pl. w yni) (f. w yya) which one?, which…? ex w na

jirk d” uwy wa? which monkey sustained a fracture | wanne?, waneÖ? w n k y = w k y (TL) quant.univ. (used only as the head of a generic clause; see

k‰w n k y) whoever …, anyone who … ex t z ra gam Kasham w k y/w n k y, t m nay w whoever calls Kasham, he will not answer; f t n g zara w n k y, t zuwaf” zuw w whoever you call, he will ignore you | kowa

w r (H) n.m. (pl. w rar w) neck | wuya w y (T) det.m. ( n yw ) (f. w ya) a,an, a certain (one), another (one) | wani, wata wiy (HL) v.A1 (v.n. w y k”) shout, cry out ex m n w yaz w y w I am calling out to

her | yi ara, yi ihu wiya (HH) v.B (v.n. w yak ) jump down ex wiya s y she jumped down; w r b w ya

d”b” wrestling festival (festival of jumping into the arena) | dira w yah n dz h” (HH) n.m. (pl. w ya s b”) (f. w yah n dz ku) Hausa person | Bahaushe w ytsuw y (T TL) adv.time day after tomorrow | jibi w ” (H) n.f. locust bean tree (Parkia biglobosa) | orawa w lum (L) n.m. sprouted grain for brewing beer | soko w n (H) n.f. (pl. w tl” t v n) girl; daughter ex w n gya iya little girl; w n tuwun my

daughter | yarinya, íya w n (H) n.? playing (only as object of ”m ‘do’) ex w tl”mi n s w w nay the

children played | wasa wuna (L) v.B (v.n. w nak”) move ex wuna s y he moved | gusa, yi motsi w na baday (H L) n.? (pl. w nabaday y w) small basket | kwando arami wunay (HH) v.A2 (v.n. w nay k”) stir thick substance ex wun y s w s p”n y =

wun y s p”n she stirred tuwo | tu a, motsar wunay (HH) v.A2 (v.n. w nayak (f)) sprain ex m n w nay w n y w I got a sprain |

gurdxe wura (L) v.B (v.n. w r (m), w rak”) copulate (of animals) ex mb rgu wura s w

t makw y the ram copulated with the ewe | yi barbara wur ” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. w r ak”) sip | kur a w rum (L) n.m. (pl. w rum m w) knee | gwiwa wus” (L) v.A1 (v.n. w sak”) chip, pinch off piece ex nd wul wus”ta s y the pot chipped

| algace W shir (L?) n.?, adv.loc. Siri town | Siri w t (TH) num. one; a, a certain; the same ex s n wut one person; y r n m nd

w t y we speak the same language; w t once, one time; m n b w n g Kan‰ w t I have been to Kano once | aya

w tl” (L) n.pl. (used as the first element of numerous compounds) child(ren); small | an, íyar


w tl” bazan (H L) n.pl. (pl. of b ndz”h”) young men | samari w tl” gh r wiy (H L) n.? calf (of cow) | mara i w tl” m kwakw m (H HH) n.m. baby | jinjiri w tl” m y (H H) n.pl. (pl. of l y, w n) children, offspring ex w tl” niywan my children |

yara, íyaíya w tl” t v m (H L) n.pl. (pl. of w n, b zaniy) girls | íyan mata w tl” zham (H TH) n.pl. bird | tsuntsu w yak d”b” (LLH HH) n. wrestling match | kokawa

Y

y dd n y (TH) adv.man.rel. how + indirect question | yadda yagu (L) v.A1 (v.n. y gwak”) mix dry substances ex m n y gwa s w m r y í n z w

I mixed millet and sorghum | garwaya y k y (TL) n.m. war | ya i y mm (TLH) adv.loc. west | yamma y n (H) n.m. grave ex y nwas” my grave’; y nza her grave; y ntl n their grave | kabari yarda (L) v.B2 (v.n. y rdak”) agree ex m n y rda s y I agre | yarda y s” (H) n.m. (pl. d wan) (f. v ki) brother, close male relatives of same generation ex

y s” b wun paternal uncle; y s”za her brother | dxanuwa y wun (H) n.f. (pl. y wun n w) elephant (Loxodonta africana) | giwa y kwa = í ykwa (T) interr.adv.loc. where? ex f y bafiy y kwa? where are you going?;

f b”kw ykw ? where did you come from? | ina? y nf” (L) n.f. the plum tree Vitex doniana | inya y kw k y (TL) quant.univ. (only as the head of a generic clause; see k‰y kw )

wherever …, anywhere that … ex m y ta bam g n y kw k y, kw fa miy nayy wherever we went, we would see him | koíina

y w (H) n.f. madness, insanity | hauka y w (H) n.? dawn ex y w ts s y the dawn has come | gari, yanayi

Z

z”k” (HL) v.A1 (v.n. z k k”) thresh (on ground or in mortar) ex m n z k z w I

threshed sorghum | sussuka z kiy (L) n.f. (pl. z kiy y w) 1. stone ex z kiy ge iya small stone (for throwing, etc.). 2.

hill | dutse z kiya gh ns (L L) n.? hail | an ara z lam (H) n.m. (pl. z lam m w) rainbow | bakan gizo z”na (L) v.B (v.n. z nak”) lay out to dry ex m n z na s w k b y I lay the gown out to

dry | shanya


z”za (L) v.B (v.n. zh zhi (f), z zak”) skin, flay ex m n z za s w mb rgw y I flayed the ram | fe e

z”za (L) v.B (v.n. z zak”) put in/on repeatedly | sassaka za (L) v.D (v.n. zah y) 1. be enough ex z s w it’s enough; h mb ta z n s y the food

is sufficient for me. 2. be up to, be strong enough for | isa (intr., tr.) za (L) v.D (v.n. zah y (f)) enter ex m n z wan s y I entered; t t z ws” z w he entered |

shiga za (L) v.D (v.n. zah y) put, put on ex m n z s w k b y I put on a gown | sa, saka z í” (H) n.f. (pl. z íaí w) bow (for shooting) ex kw mbala z í” zá’” | baka zab” (L) v.A1 (v.n. z b” (f), z bak”) dance ex zab” s zabay s/he danced | yi rawa z a (L) v.B2 (v.n. z ak”) choose ex z a s w m lv y they chose a king | za a za ” (HH) v.A1 (v.n. z ak ) frighten, scare ex m n z iy say I scared him | razana,

tsorata z fiy (T) n.m. hot, heat ex kuw j z fiy the fire is hot; nd wul b z fiy hot pot; k t”

s ba z fiy hot things | zafi z ga (T) n.? common-law marriage | z gariy (L) n.m. mischief | rigima z n y (TL) n.f. woman’s wrapper (not a traditional article of Miya clothing) | zane z niy (L) n.m. eyebrow, eyelashes | gira, gashin ido zar (L) v.A1 (v.n. zh rar” (m), z rak”) call, summon; (+ nduw call by a name) | kira zay (HH) v.A1 (v.n. z yak ) 1. put in ex zay s w gh uw y à zay súw ghà uwáy. 2.

cause ex m z yÖ why…?; b m b z yÖ the reason why… | sa zaz”ma (L) v.B2 (v.n. z z”mak”) coax ex m n z z”maya ta b”t I coaxed him to enter |

lallashe zha (L) v.D (v.n. zh hiy) 1. come upon someone unaware, burst in on ex m n zh f say I

came upon you unawares. 2. (with wiyhan) be one’s concern ex w yhan zh y maw it’s none of his business; w ywan zh m m w I couldn’t care less; y war nuws” j zh k” he chatters too much | samun wani ba da shirinsa ba, ìruwan waniî

zh bd (TH) n.f. civet cat (Viverra civetta) | jibda zh k” (L) quant. much, many | da yawa zh k” (T) n.m., n.f. (pl. zh kak w) donkey | jaki zh m (TH) n.? (in w tl” zham ) bird | tsuntsu zh rak” (L) n.m. pied crow (Corvus albus) | hankaka zh rar” (L) n.m. calling | kira zh w (T) n.m. rope | igiya zh zh”k” (H) n.m. (pl. zh zh”k k w) porcupine (Hystrix cristata) | beguwa zhiga (L) v.B (v.n. zh g” (f), zh gak”) praise, shout praises of | yaba, yi kirari zh y m (TH) n.m. owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) | mujiya ziyr” (L) v.A2 (v.n. z yrak” (f)) pass ex ziyr” s y he passed | wuce zukut” (HH) v.A2 (v.n. z kut k”) push | tura z w (H) n.m. (pl. z waw w) guinea corn, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) | dawa zuw (L) v.A1 (v.n. z wak”) 1. (tr.) leave ex zuwm k m he left us at home. 2. ignore.

3. let, allow. 4. postpone, put off ex m y z w s w b hiy y I put off the trip | bari, yale, fasa

z way (H) n.f. (pl. z way y w) peanuts, groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) | gya a z w gam (H L) n.m. maize, corn (Zea mays) | masara

51

APPENDICES 1

APPENDIX I: PRONOUNS

Independent pronouns (8:§1.1)

Singular Plural

1 m n 1 m y 2m f y [fw :] 2 h n 2f m c”/m ciy 3m t /t y 3 tl n 3f nj /nj y Verbal Subject Clitics (8:§1.2)

Perfective Subjunc-

tive

Negative

Subjunc-tive

Focused Subject

Perf. I; Imperf. (w. no AUX)

Focused

Subject Perf. II

Imperfective w.

AUX

Condit.

Future

1 m n m n m n ta m n m n d m n + AUX n 2m f f f " f y " f " f " f 2f m m m " m c " m " m " ? 3m ( ) Ø d t y t t " t " t” " ( ) 3f ( ) (nj ) d nj " nj " nj " nj” " ( ) 1p m y m y m y t m y " m y " miy " y 2p n n h n " h n " h n " h”n " ? 3p ((tl n) ) (tl n) d tl n t tl n " tl n " tl”n " ( )

Intransitive Copy Pronoun Clitics (5:§4.1)

Verbal TAM’s (Perfective) Nominal TAM’s (Subjunctive)

H H Class ‘X turned’

Other classes ‘X bathed’

H H Class ‘that X turn’

Other classes ‘that X bathe’

1 sg. m n gh dza-w n say m n b su-wan s y m n gh”dza-w n m n b”su-wun 2 m.sg. f gh”dza-k say f b”s”-ku s y f gh”dza-f f b”sa-f” 2 f. sg. m gh”dza-k n say m b”s”-k”n s y m gh”dza-gh n

[gh dz n]2 m b”sa-gh”n

[b s n]1 3 m.sg. gh”dza-t say b”s”-ta s y d gh”dz-uws d b”s-uws” 3 f.sg. gh”dza-tl say b”s”-tla s y d gh”dza-z d b”sa-za (plural persons on next page)

1 References in parentheses are to Russell G. Schuh, A Grammar of Miya, Linguistics Volume 130, University of California Press, 1998. 2The sequence /agh”C/ is realized phonetically as [ C]. See 2:§1.2.2.

Appendices 52

1 pl. m y gh dza-m say m y b s”-m say m y gh”dz- m m y b”s- ma 2 pl. n gh”dza-k say n b”s”-ka s y n gh”dza-n n b”sa-n 3 pl. gh”dza-tl n say b”s”-tl”n s y d gh”dza-tl n d b”sa-tl n Direct Object Pronoun Clitics (5:§4.2) Verbal TAM’s (Perfective) Nominal TAM’s (Subjunctive)

H H Class ‘he untied …’

Other classes ‘he called …’

H H Class ‘that he untie …’

Other classes ‘that he call …’

1 sg. b”ta-w n say zar-wan s y d b”tu-w n d zar-uwn 2 m.sg. b”ta-f say zar-f” s y d b”ta-f d zara-f”

2 f. sg. b”ta-gh n say

[b t n]1 zar-gh”n s y d b”ta-gh n

[b t n]1 d zara-gh”n

[z r n]1 3 m.sg. b”ta-y say zar-ya s y d b”t-uws d zar-uws” 3 f.sg. b”ta-tl say zar-tla s y d b”ta-z d zara-za 1 pl. b”ta-m say zar-ma s y d b”t- m d zar- ma 2 pl. b”ta-n say zar-na s y d b”ta-n d zara-n 3 pl. b”ta-tl n say zar-tl”n s y d b”ta-tl n d zara-tl n Indirect Object Pronoun Clitics (5:§4.3) L Tone Class Verb H L Tone Class Verb

‘he called the boy for …’ ‘he got money for …’

1 sg. zar-a-n s w v rk- y mar- -n s w m r- y 2 m.sg. zar-a-f suw v rk- y mar- -f s w m r- y

2 fsg. zar-a-gh n suw v rk- y

[z r n]1 mar- -gh n s w m r- y

[m r n]1 3 m.sg. zar-a-y suw v rk- y mar- -y s w m r- y 3 f.sg. zar-a-tl suw v rk- y mar- -tl s w m r- y

1 pl. zar-a-ma s w v rk- y mar- -ma suw m r- y 2 pl. zar-a-n suw v rk- y mar- -n s w m r- y 3 pl. zar-a-tl n suw v rk- y mar- -tl n s w m r- y Independent Genitive Pronouns (8:§1.4)

S I N G U L A R P L U R A L

Masculine Feminine Plural Masculine Feminine Plural

1 n wun t wun n ywan 1p n ma t ma n yma 2m n f” t f” n yf” 2p n n t n n yn

2f n gh”m

[n m]1 t gh”m

[t m]1 n yim

3m n ws” t ws” n ywas” 3p n tl n t tl n n ytl n 3f n z t z n yz

Appendices 53

Direct Genitive Pronoun Clitics (10:§3.1.1)

mb ” (f)

‘thigh’ ng r (f)

‘leg’ gam (f)

‘jaw’ p ram (m)

‘blood’ t n (m)

‘nose’ kyar (m)

‘back’

1 mb ”wun ngarw n agamuwun p ramwan t nw n kyarw n 2m mb af” ngar f” gamaf” p ramf” t nf kyarf

2f mb agh”m

[mb n]1 ngar gh”m

[ ngar m]1 gamagh”m

[ gam m]1 p ramgh”m

[p ra gh”m] t ngh m

[ t ny n]2 kyargh m

3m mb uws” ngar ws” gamuws” p ranwas” t nw s” kyarw s” 3f mb aza ngar za gamaz p ranza t nz kyarz 1p mb ma ngar ma gam ma p ramma t mm kyarma 2p mb an ngar n gaman p rann t nn kyarn 3p mb atl n ngar tl n gamatl n p rantl n t ntl n kyartl n

Linked Genitive Pronouns (10:§3.3.1)

Masculine Feminine Plural

Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

1 n wun 1 n ma 1 t wun 1 t ma 1 n ywan 1 n yma 2m n f” 2 n n 2m t f” 2 t n 2m n yf” 2 n yn 2f n gh”m

[n n]1 2f t gh”m

[t n]1 2f n ygh”m

[n yin]3

3m n ws” 3 n tl n 3m t ws” 3 t tl n 3m n ywas” 3 n ytl n 3f n z 3f t z 3f n yz

Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns (10:§2.2)

Masculine Feminine Plural

Near n k”n t k”n n ykin Far n ka t ka n yka

Indefinite Adjectives and Pronouns (10:§2.3)

Masculine w y

Feminine: w ya

Plural:n yw y

3 Underling /gh/ is palatalized to [y] in the environment of morphological palatalization and/or /y/ (2:§1.2.2).

Appendices 54

APPENDIX II: VERB CLASSES

The paradigms in this Appendix illustrate all the forms characteristic for all the verb

classes described in Chapter 4 and all the TAM’s described in Chapter 5. They are divided into two large formal classes: Verbal TAM’s and Nominal TAM’s (see 5:§1 for this distinction). Within each of these paradigms, the verbs are listed according to the following eleven classes:

L Ca “L” MONO-VERBS, 4:§1.2.3.4

H Ca “H” MONO-VERBS, 4:§1.2.3.5

L CVCa “L” POLY-VERBS of the final a class

L CVCL CVC© “L” POLY-VERBS of the final Ø class

4:§1.2.3.1

H H CVCa “H H” POLY-VERBS of the final a class

H H CVCH H CVC© “H H” POLY-VERBS of the final Ø class

4:§1.2.3.2

H L CVCa “H L” POLY-VERBS of the final a class

H L CVCL H CVC© “H L” POLY-VERBS of the final Ø class

4:§1.2.3.3

The CVC and CVC” examples of the “final Ø classes” are phonologically predictable

variants, but both are included with Verbal TAM’s to show how tones are distributed when the verb roots have one and two syllables respectively. With Nominal TAM’s, all verbs have final -a, thus neutralizing all termination distinctions.

The citation form of the example verbs for each Verb Class is the gerund (4:§2.2). Gerunds are the simplest reference for tone class. For each class, there is a transitive verb to illustrate the form with no clitics (Ø Object), the IO Pronoun clitic, and the DO Pronoun clitic and an intransitive verb to illustrate the Intransitive Copy Pronoun (ICP). Aside from Imperatives, which by definition can have only subjects which include 2nd person, the forms are those which would have a non-nominal 3rd masculine singular subject (‘he VERB’). Type of subject never affects the form of the verb itself. The pronominal clitics are third masculine singular in all cases except ICP for Imperatives, which, again, can have only 2nd person subjects. Tones on the third masculine singular clitics are representative of tones for all clitics whose tones are determined by lexical verb tone rather than having inherent tone (see 4:§1.2.2 for tonal classes of clitics).

The illustrative TAM’s are the following:

Appendices 55

Verbal TAM’s Nominal TAM’s

Imperative (5:§2.1.1) Imperfective with Totality s-…- y (5:§2.2.3.5) Perfective (5:§2.1.3) Subjunctive (5:§2.2.2) Hortative (5:§2.1.3) Perfective with focused subject (5:§2.2.1) Negative Imperative/Horative/Subjunctive (5:§3.3)

The only important TAM forms which are not included are the Counterfactual (5:§2.1.4) and the Conditional Future (5:§2.2.5), for which I do not have full paradigms. The negative Perfective (5:§3.1) is identical to the Perfective with m (COMPLEMENTS) - w following the verb. Negative Imperfective (5:§3.4) is identical to the Imperfective illustrated here, but with the discontinuous negative m-…- w replacing the s-…- y Totality.

VERBAL TAMS

TAM Verb Class Ø object IO pronoun DO pronoun ICP

Imperative

• singular

• 2 plural

• 1 plural

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

ts

ts y

ts ym

ts -y

ts y-y

ts ym -y

ts -ya

ts y-y

ts ym -y

z hiy ‘enter’

z -ku

z y-ka

z y-m H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

kw y4

kw y y

kw ym y

?5

kw -y

kw y-y

kw ym -y

tl h y ‘stand up’

tl -k

tl y-k

tl y-m L CVCa

t kak”

‘accompany’

t ka

t k y

t kiym

t ka-y

t kiy-y

t kiym -y

t ka-ya

t kiy-ya

t kiym -y

ts gak” ‘sit down’

ts ga-ku

ts giy-ka

ts giy-m

L CVC

z rak” ‘call’

z r

z r y

z riym

z ra-y

z riy-y

z riym -y

z r-ya

z riy-ya

z riym -y

b wak” ‘go out’

b o-ku

b wiy-ka

b wiy-m L CVC”

b sak” ‘wash’

b s”

b s y

b siym

b sa-y

b siy-y

b siym -y

b s”-ya

b siy-ya

b siym -y

b sak” ‘bathe’

b s”-ku

b siy-ka

b siy-m H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

b ta

b t y

b tiym

b ta-y

b tiy-y

b tiym -y

b ta-y

b tiy-y

b tiym -y

gh dzak ‘turn’

gh dza-k

gh dziy-k

gh dziy-m (continued on next page)

4The Ø object forms of this verb include the Totality suffix -a;y (7:§2). Vaziya would not give this verb in the affirmative Imperative without this suffix. 5Kwa; ‘lack’ was the only transitive H class monoconsonantal verb I found. Vaziya could make no sense of this verb with an Indirect Object.

Appendices 56

Imperative

(continued)

H H CVC

lak ‘chop’

l

l y

liym

ala-y

liy-y

liym -y

l-y

liy-y

liym -y

dz rak ‘scatter’

--------6

dz riy-k

dz riy-m H H CVC”

r ak ‘moisten’

r ”

r b y

r iym

r a-y

r iy-y

r iym -y

r ”-y

r iy-y

r iym -y

r ak ‘decay’

r ”-k

r iy-k

r iy-m H L CVCa -------------7

-------------

-------------

-------------

s n w ‘spend night’

s na-k

s niy-k

s n y-ma H L CVC

m r k” ‘get’

m r

m r y8

[ ]

m r ym

[ ]

m r -y

m r y-y

[ _ ]

m r yma-y

[ – – – _ ]

m r-y

m r y-y

[ _ ]

m r yma-y

[ – – – _ ]

ts r k” ‘stop’

ts r-k

ts riy-k 9

ts r y-m

[ ]

H L CVC”

t f k” ‘shoot’

t f

t f y

[ ]

t f ym

[ ]

t f -y

t f y-y

[ _ ]

t f yma-y

[– – – _ ]

t f”-y

t f y-y

[ _ ]

t f yma-y

[– – – _ ]

í s k” ‘be sated’

í s”-k

í s y-k

[ _ ]

í s y-ma

[– – – ]


Perfective

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

ts

tsa-y

tsa-ya

z hiy ‘enter’

za-ta H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

kw

---------3

kwa-y


tla-t L CVCa

t kak” ‘accompany’

t”ka

t”ka-y

t”ka-ya


ts”ga-ta L CVC

z rak” ‘call’

zar

zara-y

zar-ya

gh rak” ‘grow old’

ghar-ta

6The only intransitive verb of this type that I found requires a plural subject. 7I found no transitive verbs and only two intransitive verbs in this class. The intransitive verb here is the only multiconsonantal verb I found where a regular gerund (*s©;na;k©) was not accepted. The form s©;na;w is a deverbal noun (4:§2.3). 8See 4:§1.2.3.6.2 for the unusual contour tone associated with the plural Imperative suffix -iy with H L class verbs. 9The tones I transcribed for this form are HHL, as given here. Expected would have been HFL or H!HL. This could be a transcription error—cf. 4:§1.2.3.6.2.

Appendices 57

Perfective

(continued)

L CVC”

b sak” ‘wash’

b”s”

b”sa-y

b”s”-ya


b”s”-ta H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

b”ta

b”ta-y

b”ta-y

gh dzak ‘turn’

gh”dza-t H H CVC

lak ‘chop’

al

ala-y

al-y

dz rak ‘scatter’4

dzar-tl n H H CVC”

r ak ‘moisten’

ra ”

ra a-y

ra ”-y

r ak ‘decay’

ra ”-t H L CVCa

-------------5

-------------

-------------

-------------


s”n -t H L CVC m r k” ‘get’

m r

mar -y

m r-y


ts r-t H L CVC” t f k” ‘shoot’

t”f

t”f -y

t”f -y


í”s -t TAM Verb Class Ø object IO pronoun DO pronoun ICP

Hortative

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

t tsa

t tsa-y

t tsa-ya

z hiy ‘enter’

t za-ta H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

t kwa

---------3

t kwa-y


t tla-t L CVCa


t t”ka

t t”ka-y

t t”ka-ya


t ts”ga-ta L CVC

z rak” ‘call’

t zar

t zara-y

t zar-ya

b wak” ‘enter’

t boo-ta L CVC”

b sak” ‘wash’

t b”s”

t b”sa-y

t b”s”-ya


t b”s”-ta H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

t b”ta

t b”ta-y

t b”ta-y

gh dzak ‘turn’

t gh”dza-t H H CVC

lak ‘chop’

t al

t ala-y

t al-y

dz rak ‘scatter’4

t dzar-tl n H H CVC”

r ak ‘moisten’

t ra ”

t ra a-y

t ra ”-y

r ak ‘decay’

t ra ”-t H L CVCa

-------------5

-------------

-------------

-------------


t s”n -t H L CVC m r k” ‘get’

t m r

t mar -y

t m r-y


t ts r-t H L CVC” t f k” ‘shoot’

t t”f

t t”f -y

t t”f -y


t í”s -t

Appendices 58

NOMINAL TAMS TAM Verb Class Ø object10 IO pronoun8 DO pronoun ICP

Imperfective

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

t s- ts y

t s- ts -y y

t s- ts-uws- y

z hiy ‘enter’

t s- z- ws- y (+ s-…- y

Totality)

H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

t s- kw y

---------3

t s- k- ws- y


t s- tl- ws- y L CVCa


t s- t k y

t s- t k -y y

t s- t k-uws- y


t s- ts g-uws- y L CVC(”)

b sak” ‘wash’

t s- b s y

t s- b sa-y y

t s- b s-uws- y


t s- b s-uws- y H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

t s- b tay

t s- b ta-y y

t s- b t-uws- y

gh dzak ‘turn’

t s- gh dz-uws- y H H CVC(”)

lak ‘chop’

t s- lay

t s- la-y y

t s- l-uws- y

r ak ‘decay’

t s- r -uws- y H L CVCa

-------------5

-------------

-------------

-------------


t s- s n-uws-ay H L CVC(”) m r k” ‘get’

t s- m r y

t s- m ra-y y

t s- m r-uws-ay


t s- ts r-uws-ay TAM Verb Class Ø object IO pronoun DO pronoun ICP

Subjunctive

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

d ts w

d tsa-y

d ts-uws”

z hiy ‘enter’

d z-uws” H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

d kwaw

---------3

d k-uws


d tl-uws L CVCa


d t”kaw

d t”ka-y

d t”k-uws”


d ts”g-uws” L CVC(”)

b sak” ‘wash’

d b”saw

d b”sa-y

d b”s-uws”


d b”s-uws” H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

d b”taw

d b”ta-y

d b”t-uws

gh dzak ‘turn’

d gh”dz-uws H H CVC(”)

lak ‘chop’

d alaw

d ala-y

d al-uws

r ak ‘decay’

d ra -uws H L CVCa

-------------5

-------------

-------------

-------------


d s”n- ws H L CVC(”) m r k” ‘get’

d mar w

d mar -y

d mar- ws


d ts”r- ws

10The Ø object and IO pronoun object forms both end in -a and the Totality suffix is -ay. The abutting a’s coalesce to give “Cay”. There is no non-arbitrary way to decide where the morpheme boundary is, so I have written these forms with no morpheme division between verb form and Totality suffix.

Appendices 59


Perfective w. focused subject

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

t d ts w

t d tsa-y

t d ts- ws”

z hiy ‘enter’

t d z- ws”

H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

t d kw w

---------3

t d kw-uws


t d tl-uws 11 L CVCa


t d t kaw

t d t ka-y

t d t k-uws”


t d ts g-uws” L CVC(”)

b sak” ‘wash’

t d b saw

t d b sa-y

t d b s-uws”


t d b s-uws” H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

t d b taw

t d b ta-y

t d b t-uws

gh dzak ‘turn’

t d gh dz-uws H H CVC(”)

lak ‘chop’

t d law

t d la-y

t d l-uws

r ak ‘decay’

t d r -uws H L CVCa

-------------5

-------------

-------------

-------------


t d s”n- ws H L CVC(”) m r k” ‘get’

t d mar w

t d mar -ya9

t d mar- ws”9


t d ts”r- ws”9 TAM Verb Class Ø object IO pronoun DO pronoun ICP

Negative Hortative/ Imperative/

L Ca

ts hiy ‘give’

f ta ts -w t ts -w

f ta tsa-y -w t tsa-y -w

f ta ts- ws-uw t ts- ws- w

z hiy ‘enter’

f ta z -f- w t z- ws- w

Subjunctive H Ca

kw h y ‘lack’

f ta kw w t kw -w

---------3

f ta kw-uws- w t kw-uws- w


f ta z -f- w t z- ws- w

• 2 ms subj. • 3 ms subj.

L CVCa


f ta t ka-w t t ka-w

f ta t k -y -w t t ka-y -w

f ta t k- ws- w t t k-uws- w


f ta ts g -f- w t ts g-uws- w

L CVC(”)

b sak” ‘wash’

f ta b”s -w t b s -w

f ta b”sa-y -w t b sa-y -w

f ta b”s-uws- w t b s-uws- w


f ta b”sa-f- w t b s-uws- w

H H CVCa

b tak ‘untie’

f ta b ta-w t b ta-w

f ta b t -y -w t b t -y -w

f ta b t-uws- w t b t-uws- w

gh dzak ‘turn’

f ta gh dza-f- w t gh dz-uws- w

H H CVC(”)

lak ‘chop’

f ta al -w t la-w

f ta la-y -w t la-y -w

f ta l-uws- w t l-uws- w

r ak ‘decay’

------------- t r -uws- w

H L CVCa

-------------5

-------------

-------------

-------------


f ta gh dza-f- w t gh dz-uws- w

H L CVC(”) m r k” ‘get’

f ta mar -w t mar -w

f ta mar -y -w t mar -y -w

fa ta mar- ws-uw t mar- ws-uw


f ta ts”ra-f- w t ts”r- ws-uw

11The final L is probably a transcription error for downstepped H—cf. t© d©; b-uws©; ‘HE went’. The final L domain shown for the H L CVC(©) verbs may be the same error—cf. the Negative Hortative counterparts.

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MIYA-ENGLISH-HAUSA DICTIONARY - Leonard Arueyingho