A Practical Kurdish Grammar

7/22/2019 A Practical Kurdish Grammar

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A P r a c t i c a lKu r d i s h G r a m m a r

w i t h E ng lish Phonetic Pr o n u n c i a ti o nE x e r c i s e s fo r translation into K u r d i s h

S h o r t s t o r i e s illus t r at ing K u rd i s hComposition and Syntax

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V O C A B U L A R Y

byL. O . F O S S U M , Ph. D.

A m e r i c a n M i ssi onar y

T r a n s l a t o r of V o g t * s B i b U H is to ry , L ut he r' s C a t m c h i s m a n d S ve rd ru p' s E x p l a n a t i o ninto M o d e r n Syriac, and th e New T e s t e m e n t and L u t h e r ' s C a t e c h i s m into

K u r d i s h . A u t h o r of a Hymn Book, a n d E d i t o r of a m o n t h l yn ew s pa pe r , a l so in th e K u r d i s h language.

P ub li sh ed b y T HE I NT ER -S YN OD IC AL EV.L U T H E R A N O R I E N T - M I S S I O N SOCIETY

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F i i n t e d b yA U G S B U B G PUBLISHING H O U S E

U I N N K A . P O U 8 , M I N N .


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TO

C o l o n e l ^ lexanbcr 3 j > a of i r s t r e s i d e n t R u s s i a n I m p e ri a l C o n s u l

at S o u j b u l a k , K u r d i s t a n , P e r s i a ,w h o f e l l in th e b a t t l e of M i a n d u a h , D e c . 2 8 t h , 1 9 1 4

^e a (ZTo&en o f ^ t i m t r a t t o nfo r h is D i p l o m a t i c t a l e n t s , h is H e r o i c s p i r i t , h is g r e a t

i n t e r e s t in th e Kurdish P e o p l e a n d their t o n g u e , a n din gr at ef ul r e m e m b r a n c e of m a n y a c t s of k i n d n e s s ,

W b i i ^ l u m e ii M i b i t n t t t t .By T h e A u t h o r


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A P R A C T I C A L K U R D I S H G R A M M A R

M o d e r n Iranian l a n g u a g e s , a s i s t e r l a n g u a g e o f M o d e r n P e r s i a n , containing a c o n s i d e r a b l e e l e m e n t directly b o r r o w e d

from t h e latter, while o t h e r s a g a i n m a k e it simply a d e r i v a t i v e of the N e w - P e r s i a n .

F ro m whatev er l a n g u a g e it m a y h a v e derived, it h a s c e r t a i n l y in m a n y r e s p e c t s , u n d e r g o n e a n individual a n d peculiar

d ev el op me nt o f its o w n . For , a s t r u e a s it is th a t it h a s a gr eatm a n y w o r d s d i r e c tl y borrowed or d e v e l o p e d from t h e P e r s i a n ,

A ra b i c , T u r k i s h , a n d o t h e r n e i g h b o ri n g languages, s o tru eit i s a l s o , th a t it h a s a g r e a t m a n y w o r d s th a t a re not to b ef o u n d in any o t h e r t o n g u e .

It is to b e f e a r e d t h a t too much h a s b e e n m a d e of t h eNew- Per si an a s its mot her . The r e a s o n for t h i s t endency h a s

b e e n t h e fact t h a t m o s t w ri t e rs who h a v e m a d e a study ofthe K u r d i s h language, h a v e d o n e s o t h r o u g h Per si an g l a s s e s ,

a n d h a v e r i dden the P ersian ' p o n y ' a s the ' k e y ' t o eve ry r o o tand f o r m .

It is w e l l k n o w n t h a t the K u r d i s h l a n g u a g e e mb r a ce s s e v eral dialect s \ yhi ch d i f f e r a s you a p p ro a ch the borders of the

var i ous t r i b a l d i s t r i c t s . N e a r l y all of t h e s e dialects, or gr oupsof d ia le cts , have b e e n t r eat ed by eminent E ur opean l i n g u i s ts ,

a n d fro m the conclusion t h a t t h e s e m e n h a v e c o m e to, a s w e l la s by a th o ro u g h s t u d y of t h e i r treatises, it d o e s not at alls e e m impossible to b r i n g t h e s e dialect s to g e th e r o n a w i d e r

basis, s o a s to u s e o n e l a n g u a g e for se ve r a l gr oups of d i a l e ct s.The P ioneer K u r d i s h G r am m ar i an w a s P . M . Garzoni, who

sp e n t n e a r l y t w e n t y ye a r s a s a M i s s i o n a r y at A m a d i a , n o r t h e a s t of M o s u l . His G r a m m a r was p r i n t e d in R o m e , y e a r1 7 7 9 . F o r t u n a t e l y t h i s f i r s t t r e a t i s e on the K u r d i s h languagewas w r i t t e n at A m a d i a , w i t h i n the b o r d e rs o f t h a t d i s t r i c twhere, a s w a s d i sco ve re d l a te r o n , s o m e of the best K u r d i s hd i a l e ct s a r e sp o ke n .

S i n c e the t i m e of Garzoni, s o m e v e ry a b l e t r eat ises o n thes a m e dialects of A m a d i a , a n d the dialects f a r t h e r n o rth , have

b e e n w r i t t e n b y J u s t i, L e r c h , and R h e a . . We also have asplendid t r eat i se on the dialect s of the Bebeh K u r d s ar ound

S u l e i m a n i a by C h o d s k o ; a n d a n o t h e r t r e a t i s e o n t h e d i a l e c t sof th e M o s u l d i s t r i c t , a n d of the K u r d i s h C olonist s in Khora

z a n , b y Prof. Beresin. S o m e y e a r s a g o a n O u tl i n e (S c h i tz e )


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o f t h e di al ec ts o f East-Central K u r d i s t a n w a s w r i t t e n by O s c a rM ann. And o n l y a few year s a g o a v e r y a b l e tre a ti s e o n the

K u r d i s h language w a s w r i t t e n by E. B . S o a n e .To discover t h e b e s t K u r d i s h among t h e s e many d i a l e c t s

is not a n e a s y task. L e r c h states t h a t it is u s e l e s s to a s k theK u r d s a s to w h i c h dialect is t h e b e s t , for e v e r y K u r d c l a i m st h a t h is own dialect i s t h e purest a n d b e s t . The l i n g u i s t st h e m s e l v e s h a v e a t e n d e n c y t o g i v e t h e s a m e kind o f a n a n s w e r : T h e dia lect the y study t h e most b e c o m e s t h e purest

and best ' f o r t h e m . 'Prof. B e r e s i n c l a i m s th a t t h e purest a n d b e s t K u r d i s h is

s p o k e n in t h e d i s t r i c t e a s t of Mosul. Ker P o r t e r c o m e s v e ryn e a r t o t h e s a m e opinion when h e c l a i m s th a t t h e R a v a n d o o sgroup of dialects is o n e of t h e purest a n d b e s t . Lerch, inc o m p a r i n g h is Ker manji w ith o t h e r d ia le c t s , s a y s : "I h a v e

f o u n d that t h e K er ma nj i t ha t I h a v e l e a r n e d , a g r e e s very m u c hwi t h that o f G a r z o n i a n d B e r e s i n . " And i n s p e a k i n g o f t h ed i a l e c t s s t i l l f a r t h e r s o u t h , h e s a y s : "The Kurdish l a n g u a g e

o f S u l e i m a n i a a l s o , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e w o r d s c o l l e c t e d b y R i c h ,b e l o n g s t o t h e Kermanji." B y t h e s e t w o s t a t e m e n t s , L e r c hh a s p r a c t i c a l l y l i n k e d t o g e t h e r a l l t h e d ia le c t s o f W e s t - C e n ' -tr a l K u rd ist a n , fro m H a k k a r i to S u l e i m a n i a , i n to o n e l a r g e

g ro u p w h i c h h e calls ' K e r m a n j i . 'A s t o th e d i a l e c t s s p o k e n i n E a s t - C e n t r a l K u r d i s t a n , be

g i n n i n g with t h e d i s t r i c t s n o r t h a n d w e s t o f U r m i a , a n d g o i n gs o u t h through U s h n o , Soujbulak, S a r d e s h t , a n d S a k i s , t o t h e

districts o f S e n n a , it is i n t e re s t i n g t o h e a r wh at M issiona ryH o r n H h a s t o s a y . H e v i s i t e d t h o s e p a r t s in 1 8 3 5 , a n d em

p l o y e d a s t e a c h e r s , two S o m a i Kurds A v h o a l s o k n e w t h e H a k k a r i d i a l e c t , o n e B r a d o s t Kurd w h o a l s o k n e w t h e S c h i k a k

d i a l e c t , a n d o n e Mu k r i K u r d . B e s i d e s t h e s e h is p r i v a t e serv a n t w a s a Soar K u r d fr o m M a r d i n .

F r o m t h e comparative s tu d y of t h e s e dialects, a n d f r o mh is attempt to translate t h e G o s p e l o f S t. J o h n i n to M u k r iK u r d i s h s o a s to b e s e r v i c e a b l e to t h e m a ll , Missionary H o r n l im a d e the f o l l o w i n g discovery : "I found to m y great j o y ,th a t t h e K u r d s of t h e s e tribes u n d e r s t o o d e a c h other q u i tewell, a n d u n d e r s t o o d what I r e a d to t h e m in t h e M u k r i d i a -


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l e c t . " A n d in s p e a k i n g o f t h e n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e S o m a i ,B r a d o s t , S c h i k a k , a n d Mukri d i a l e c t s , h e c o n c l u d e s in t h e s e

w o r d s : " Ihr e z u s a m m e n f a s s u n g u n t e r e i n e n g e m e i n s c h a f t -l i c h e n D i a l e k t s c h e i n t m i r n i c h t unmgl ich. H e furtherc l a i m s t h a t th e e n t i r e s e r i e s o f K u r d i s h d i a l e c t s c o u l d b e col

l e c t e d i n t o t w o l a r g e g r o u p s , o n e f o r th e N o r t h , a n d o n e f o rth e S o u t h . In t h i s s t a t e m e n t , h o w e v e r , h e u n d o u b t e d l y o v e r l o o k e d t h e difficulty c o n n e c t e d wi t h th e Z a z a g r o u p o f d i a l e c t s

in th e e x t r e m e N o r t h . B u t e v e n o f t h e s e Z a z a K u r d s , L e r c h ,th e g r e a t e s t authority o n that g r o u p o f d i a le c t s , s a y s : "In

g e n e r a l t h e Z a z a K u rd s a l s o u n d e r s t a n d t h e K e r ma n j i ."A s a c o n c l u s i o n , w e s e e m t o b e justified in m a k i n g t h ea s s e r t i o n , that for l i n g u i s ti c p u r p o s e s , w e m a y c o l l e c t a l l t h e

Kurdish d i a l e c t s into t h r e e l a r g e g r o u p s , c o v e r i n g t h e t h r e el a r g e districts o f N o rt h , C e n t r a l , a n d S o u t h Kurdistan. InNorth Kurdistan w e h a v e t h e Z a z a g r o u p , in C e n t r a l K u r d i

s t a n w e h a v e t h e K e rm a n j i g r o u p , a n d in S o u t h K u rd i s t a nwe have the Lu r and K e l h u r gr oup.

As to w h i c h of t h e s e three groups r e p r e s e n t s the pur esta n d b e s t Ku r d i s h , w e would j o i n w i t h G a r z o n i , Lerch, R h e a ,

C h o d s k o , B e r e s i n , H or nli, a n d Parter i n re fe rring to C e n t r a lKu r d i s ta n , a n d m o r e p a r ti c u l a r l y t o t h e group o f d i a l e c t s s p o k

e n by t h e n o b l e B e b e h tribes in t h e d i s t ri c t s o f S u l e i m a n i a .A mo ng t hi s group of tri b e s w e find t h e b e s t K u rd i s h l i te r a tu r e

in the f o r m of h i s t o r y , legends, p o e t r y , an d pro se .In speaking o f the M u k r i tribe, w h i c h inhabits Persian

t e r r i t o r y south of Lake U rm i a , M r . E . B . S o a n e , in h is b o o k ,"T o M esopot am i a a n d K u r d i s t a n in D i s g u i s e " s a y s : " T h e y

s p e a k the K u rd i s h language in all its p u r i t y of a c c e n t a n dg ra mm at ic al f or m. T h e i r dialect is the most ancient of all,a n d while its a n ti q u i ty is p rob ab ly not g r e a t e r t h a n th a t o f

its neighbors, its excel l ent preservation of ancient form s g i v e sit a cl ai m to b e c on si de re d t he st andar d b y w h i c h to compareo th e r di al ect s. "

M u c h t im e h a s b e e n s p e n t on t h e preparation of t h i s G r a m m a r ; b u t it h a s not b e e n subject ed to s o th o ro u g h a re v i s i o na s I should h a v e liked. My d e s i g n h a s b e e n to di scover t h e

best K u r d i s h in the dialects of Cent r al K u r d i s t a n , p a r t i c u l a r l yin t h e S o m a i -S o u j b u l a k -S u l e i m a n i a G r o u p s , a n d to put it i n t o


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A P RA CT IC AL K U R D IS H G R A M M A R

as c l e a r a n d s i m p l e a s y s t e m a s p o s s i b l e , s o t h a t o t h e r s , l i k em y s e l f , m a y l e a r n s o m e p r a c t i c a l Kurdish a n d l a b o r for t h e

s o c i a l , m o r a l , a n d spiritual u p lift o f t h e K u r d s .Hoping t h a t t h i s b o o k w i l l b e o f s o m e u s e , I s u b m i t it

t o t h e f a v o r a b l e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c .L. O . F O S S U M .

Soujbulak, K u r d i s ta n , P e r s i a , 1 9 1 6

S I N C E R E G R A T I T U D E is e x p r e s s e d to the f o l l o w i n ge d u c a t o r s a n d linguists, for examining t h e m a n u s c r i p t o f th i s

b o o k , a n d for t h e i r c o r r e c t i o n s , s u g g e s t i o n s , a n d e n c o u r a g i n gr em ar ks :

Prof A. V. W . J a c k s o n , P h. D. , L . L . D . , a n d P rof . A.J o h a n n a n , P h. D. , b o t h o f C o l u m b i a University, N e w Y or k

C i t y ; Pr o f. C a r l D . Buck, P h. D ., U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago;P r o f . F . K l a e b e r , P h. D. , U ni ve rs it y o f Minnesota; P r o f . M.R e u , D . D . , W a r t b u r y S e m i n a r y , I o w a ; Prof. O . G . Felland,

M . A . , S t . Ol a f C o l l e g e , M i n n . ; Prof. M a r t i n Hegland, P h . D . ,Wal dorf C o l l e g e , I o w a , a n d R e v . A. H. G j e v r e , M . A . , M i n

n e a p o l i s , M i n n . L. O . F .


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T a b l e of C o n t e n t sI n t r o d u c t o r y Remarks P a g e s 7 - 1 1

C H A P T E R I.TH E K U R D I S H A L P H A B E TF o r m o f L e tt e r s 13

P h o n e t i c V al ues of the Lett e r s 1 5

Consonants 1 9V ow el s 2 1

V o w e l C h a n g e s 2 3D i p h t h o n g s 2 6

A cce n t 2 8P u n c t u a t i o n 2 9

C H A P T E R II.N O U N SG e n d e r . . 29 D e c l e n s i o n 37N u mb e r 3 1 Tabl e of D ecl ensi on 4 6A r t i c l e s 3 2 E xer ci se I SO

C H A P T E R I I I . -P o s i t i o n 51C o m p a r i s o n 5 2

E x e r c i s e II 5 3N um er al A dj ec ti ve s 5 3C ar di nal s S3- A D J E C T I V E S

O r d i n a l s 5 6F r a ct i o n a l s S 7M u l ti p l e s 5 8D i s t r i b u t i v e s 6 0E xer ci se III 6 1C H A P T E R IV.P R O N O U N SSeparate P ers ona l P ro no un s 6 1

D e c l e n s i o n of the S e p a r a t eP e r so n a l P r o n o u n s 6 1

Separate P o s s e s s i v e P r o n o u n s 6 4Suffix P r onouns 6 4D ecl ensi on of a N o u n w i t h aP r o n o m i n a l S u f f i x 6 5R ef l exi ve P r onouns 6 6D ecl ensi on of a R ef l exi veP r o n o u n 6 6

Demonstrative Pronouns ... 6 9

D ecl ensi on of the Demonstrat iv e P r on ou ns 7 0

I n t e r r o g a t i ve Pronouns ... 7 0Declension of the I n t e r r o g a

t i ve P r onouns 71The I n t e r r o g a t i ve Pronoun

( ki e h a ) w i t h P r o n o m i n a lS uf f i xes 71R el at iv e P ro no un s 7 2In d e fi n i te Pronouns 7 4

E xer ci se 1 1C H A P T E R v.V E R B S

The 'S t em s' of the K u r d i shV e r b s 7 8Prefixes a n d Suffixes 7 9The P er sonal E n d i n g s 81 The Negative a n d Prohibit i v e P a rt icle s 8 4The T e n s e s of the V e r b . . . . 8 6The M oods of the V e r b s 8 7


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A P R A C T I C A L K U R D I S H G R A M M A R 11

The A c c e n t of the V e r b 8 8C o n j u g a t i o n s 8 8

The F i r s t C o n j u g a t i o n 8 8C o n j u g a t i o n of the ' R e g u l a r

In tr a n si ti ve V e r b ' ( ti r sa n ) 8 9Exercise V 1 0 5Synopsis of a n ' I r r e g u l a r In t r a n s i t i v e V e r b ' ( h a t i n ) . . . 1 0 6E x e r c i s e VI 1 1 0Co n j u g a ti o n of the ' I r r e g u l a r

I n t r a n s i t i v e AuxiliaryV e rb ( b u n ) 'to b e ' Ill

A L i s t o f I nt ra ns it iv e V e r b s 1 2 8The C a u s a l F or m o f t h e

V e r b 1 3 6T h e S e c o n d Co n j u g a ti o n . . . 1 3 7Co nj uga ti on o f t h e ' R e g u l a rT r a n s it iv e V e r b ' ( kh w e n -d i n ) ...........137

S ynopsi s of an ' I r r e g u l a rT r a n s i t i v e V e r b ' ( k u t i n ) . . 1 4 3

The P a s s i v e V o i ce 1 4 6A S ynopsi s of the C o n j u g a

t i o n o f a Passive V e r b . . . 1 4 8A L i s t of T r a n s i t i v e V e r b s . . 1 5 1

I r r e g u l a r i t y of the V e r b( w i s t i n ) 1 6 7The I mp ers on al 'm us t' 1 6 7

Compound V e r b s 9 2M o d e l of the C o n j u g a t i o n of

a C om pound A c t i v e V e r b . 1 6 9M o d e l of the Co n j u g a ti o n of

a C om pound Passive V e r b . 1 7 2A L i s t of Compound V e r b s. 1 7 6

C on j u g a ti o n o f the V e r b 'tohave' 1 8 6C H A P T E R VI.A D V E R B SA d v e r b s of Manner a n d

Q u a l i t y 1 9 8A d v e r b s of Number 19 9

A d v e r b s of P l a c e a n d O r d e r . 2 0 0A d v e r b s of T i m e 2 0 3

C H A P T E R VII.-P r e p o s i t i o n s t h a t t a k e P o s t

p o si ti o n s 2 0 9P r e p o s i t i o n s that a re s o m e

t i m e s joined t o th e f o l l o w-C H A P T E R V I I I . -

C o p u l a t i v e C o n j u n c t i o n s 2 1 2D i s j u n c t i v e C o n j u n c t i o n s . . . 2 1 2A d v e r s a t i v e C o n j u n c t i o n s . . 2 1 2

A d v e r b s of I n t e r r o g a t i o n . . . 2 0 7A d ve r b s o f A ff i r m a t i o n 2 0 7

D ec la ra tiv e A dv erb s 2 0 8N eg at iv e A dv er bs 2 0 8

Miscellaneous A d ve r b s 2 0 8- P R E P O S I T I O N S

ing words 2 0 9P r e p o s i t i o n s t h a t are w r i t t e ns e p a r a t e l y 2 1 0

P r e p o si t i o n a l Suffixes 2 1 1- C O N J U N C T I O N S

C o n d i t i o n a l C o n j u n c t i o n s . . 213C a u s a l Co n j u n cti o n s 2 1 3C o n c l u s i v e Conjunctions ...213

C H A P T E R IX . I N T E R J E C T I O N S( 2 1 4 - 2 1 5 )

C H A P T E R X. F O R M A T I O N OF K U R D I S H W O R D SN o u n s 2 1 5 Adjectives 2 1 9Diminutive N o u n s 2 1 8

C H A P T E R X I. K U R D I S H C O M P O U N D W O R D SWords formed of a n A d j e c

t i ve a n d a Noun 2 2 1 Wo r d s formed of a P a r ti ci p l eand a N o u n 2 2 2


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1 6 A P R A C T I C A L K U RD I S H G R A M M A R

in g ' v o w e l l e t t e r ' and r e m a i n s s i l e n t . E x . ( J j ^ y J ( e w a r e )'evening', Jij) (I ran) 'Persia', .jj\ (rmi) ' U r m i a ' , e t c .

9 . ( b a b ) 'father'. A s a f i n a l , h o w e v e r , it s o m e t i m e s h a s

t h e s o u n d o f ' p ' . E x . c _ j l _ ; - i ( s h a r a p ) ' w i n e ' .1 0 . (^ (Pa) a n d Cj ( T a ) h a v e t h e p h o n e t i c v a l u e s of our

'p ' a n d ' t ' , r e s p e c t i v e l y . E x . jL (pa) ' m a n ' , ^J ( t r e )'grapes'.

11. Cj ( S a ) is u s e d only in w o r d s b o r r o w e d from t h eA r a b i c , and has the sound o f sharp 's ' in 'seek'. E x . Ni

( ma s a l a n ) ' f o r instance'.12. 5- ( J i m ) has th e p h o n e t i c v a l u e o f o u r ' j ' . E x . J > -

(jil) ' c l o th e s ' .1 3 . r (Chim) is p r o n o u n c e d like 'ch' in t h e word ' c h u r c h ' .

Ex. 5^(kich) 'girl'.1 4 . r- ( H i ) is a strong a s p i r a t e , a n d h a s t h e p h o n e t i c

v a l u e o f o u r 'h' i n ' h u r r a h ' . E x . ^J 9 j > ' ( hi r i i f ) ' l e t t e r ' .1 5 . 7 - ( K h i ) is a h a r s h g u t t u r a l w hic h h a s n o equivalent

in E n g l i s h , but c o m e s v er y n e a r to t h e G e r m a n 'ch' in 'loch'.Ex. T-j9- ( k h a r j ) ' e x p e n s e ' .

1 6 . :> ( Da l ) a s a r u l e , h a s t h e p h o n e t i c v a l u e of our 'd',b u t as a f i n a l it s o m e t i m e s h a s t h e s o u n d o f ' t ' . E x . dA)\>

( d a i k ) ' m o t h e r ' .1 7 . i ( Zal) is u s e d o n l y i n w o r d s b o r r o w e d f rom t h e A r a

b i c , a n d h a s t h e p h o n e t i c v a l u e of 'z' in ' b r a z e n ' . Ex. C ^ J i -( k h i z ma t) ' s e r v i c e ' .

18. J ( R a ) a n d * ( Z a ) a re p r o n o u n c e d l i k e o u r 'r' a n d


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' z ' , respectively. Ex ' s , ^jj ( r e ) ' r o a d ' , j\j ( z a r ) 'mouth',1 9 . ^ ( Z h a ) is pronounced l i k e 's ' in ' p l e a s u r e ' . Ex.j ( z h i n ) 'woman'.

2 0 . (j ^ ( S i n ) h a s t h e s o u n d of 's ' in ' E s t h e r ' . Ex.^^ ( s p i ) ' w h i t e ' .

2 1 . p ( S h i n ) h a s t h e phonetic v a l u e of 'sh' in ' s h a d e ' .Ex. jii (shash) 's i x '.

22. ^ S a d ) , ^ ( Z a d ) , J , ( T i ) , a n d ii( Z i ) a r e u s e d only in w o r d s borrowed fr o m t h e Arabic, a n d h a v e

th e h a r d s o u n d s of 's ' in ' h i s s i n g ' , 'z' in ' z o n e ' , 't' in ' t o s s ' , a n d 'z 'i n ' b u z z i n g ' , r e s p e c t i v e l y . E x ' s . ( j _ j j l^ sabn ' s o a p ' , jj f

( z a r a r ) ' d a m a g e ' , i- LL ( t a b a g h ) ' A u g u s t ' , J ]i ( z u l m ) 'oppression'.

2 3 . c. ( E y i n ) is a g u ttu r a l , peculiar t o t h e Or i e n t a l l a n g u a g e s , a n d h a s t h e p h o n e t i c v a l u e of t h e G r e e k 'spiritus a s p e r '

(*=). E x . ^ ( a m a l ) 'deed'.2 4 . L ( G h a i n ) is a h a r d g u t t u r a l , p r o n o u n c e d l i k e ' g h ' i n

' g h o s t ' . E x . C j j - - g h a i r a t ) ' c o u r a g e ' , ' z e a l ' .25. ^ (Fa), J (Qaf), ^ (Kaf), and d f (Gaf)

a re th e same as o u r 'f , ' q ' , ' k ' , a n d ' g ' , , r e s p e c t i v e l y . E x . Ji^(farsh) 'rug', ^ (qalam) 'pen', ^/ (kur) 'boy', c ^ J ^

( g o s h t ) ' m e a t ' .26. J ( L a m ) , . ( M i m ) , and ^ ( N u n ) a re the

same as o u r T , ' m ' , and ' n ' , respectively. E x . J * y ( l a l )' d u m b ' , jA ( m a r ) ' s h e e p ' , ^^^ ( n a n ) ' b r e a d ' , j f o l l o w e d

b y ,^ is sometimes p r o n o u n c e d l i k e ' m ' . E x . j \ J l ( a m b S r )' s t o r e r o o m ' .


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27. o ( H a ) is also sometimes used as a v o w e l . It is as o f t a s p i r a t e w h i c h , i n a ll i n i t i a l , and in m o s t m e d i a l p o s i t i o n s ,has the phonetic value o f 'h ' i n ' h e a rt ' ; b u t i n some medial, and

in a ll f i n a l positions, i t is pronounced l i k e 'a ' in the w o r d ' M e k k a ' .Ex. j ^ j l * ( h a w i n ) 'summer', j\>^ (bahar) 'spring', _ j j e ^(niw-a-r) ' m i d - d a y ' , -A-Ij ( p i s h i l a ) 'cat'.

28. J ( W a w ) a l t h o u g h t h e o r e t i c a l l y a c o n s o n a n t , i t iso f t e n u s e d as a v o w e l . S t a n d i n g a l o n e as a c o n j u n c t i o n , it has

th e p h o n e t i c v a l u e o f ' o ' , in ' o m i t ' , o r ' w a ' in ' w a g o n ' . E x .^> S^j J d J L j l o ( p i a w - e k z h i n - e k - i m d i ) 'I s a w a m a n

a n d a w o m a n ' , * y l y . i j \ ^ : > jl (a dakha w a dakha-tawa)'H e eats a n d he d r i n k s ' . A s an i n i t i a l , o r between tw o v o w e l s , ithas t h e v a l u e o f ' w ' . E x . o jj ( > - a r a ) ' c o m e ' , (Jy-

( s h a w e ) 'i n the n i g h t ' ; b u t as a medial o r f i n a l , i t is pronounced'', o r ''. E x . jjj (rzh) ' d a y ' , ^yjj (rs) ' R u s s i a n ' ,

jl ( c h a i i ) ' e y e ' , j j ) ( b i r o ) ' g o ' .29. ^ (Ya) is a l s o o c c a s i o n a l l y u s e d as a v o w e l . A s a n

i n i t i a l , o r f o ll o w e d b y \ , it has th e p h o n e t i c v a l u e o f 'y ' in' y a r d ' . E x . ^ ^ y j ^ ^ ( y a k h s i r ) ' p r i s o n e r ' , Li^ ( d u n y a ) ' w o r i d ' ,

.\5 ( q a - y i m ) ' h a r d ' . A s a m e d i a l o r f i n a l it is s o m e t i m e spronounced 'e', and sometimes ''. Ex. ^_^ (kateb) 'book',

yS. ( k h i z ) ' s a n d ' .

N o t e . It m a y h e r e b e r e m a r k e d , t h a t s e v e r a l s e r i o u s d i f f i c u l t i e sa re in th e w a y o f a n o r t h o g r a p h y w h i c h s h a l l p e r f e c t l y r e p r e s e n t th e

s o u n d of e a c h wo r d . , . t.One great d i f f i c u l t y is met w i t h in regard to w o r d s w h i c h h a v e

b e e n t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m th e P e r s i a n , T u r k i s h , A r a b i c , a n d o t h e r l a n g u a g e s . T h e s e words in Ku r d ish , a r e often completely d i s g u i s e d ,a n d y e a r s w i l l p a s s b e f o r e w e s u c c e s s f u l l y t r a c e o u t their o r i g i n .

O t h e r s a re m o r e o r l e s s c o r r u p t e d , t h o u g l i n o t p r o p e r l y m a d e o v e r ;a n d still o t h e r s r e t a i n v e r y m u c h o f their o r i g i n a l f o r m a n d s o u n d .


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CONSONANTS 1 9

T h e v a r i e t i e s i n d i a l e c t p r e s e n t a n o t h e r g r e a t o b s t a c l e n o t e a s i l ys u r m o u n t e d . A s fa m i l i a ri ty is a c q u i r e d w i th t h e l a n g u a g e s p o k e n i n

a ll th e d i a l e c t s , r e a s o n s a r e f o u n d for c h a n g i n g orthography w h i c hw a s s u p p o s e d t o b e d e f in it e ly settled.

C O N S O N A N TS3 0 . T h e o r e t i c a l l y , a l l t h e l e t t e r s in t h e Kurdish A l p h a b e t a r e

c o n s o n a n t s , a n d a s s u c h , m a y b e d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e c l a s s e s , n a m e l y ,' h a r d ' , ' s o f t ' , a n d ' n e u t r a l ' l e t t e r s , as f o l l o w s :

( i . ) T h e n i n e h a r d l e t t e r s a re ^ ^ r f J * J^ ^ and J

( 2 . ) T h e e i g h t s o f t l e t t e r s a re O ^ j i O I

31. T h e K u r d i s h s o m e t i m e s s u b s t i t u t e s ^ for c, , inw o r d s b o r r o w e d f r o m th e A r a b i c a n d P e r s i a n . E x . i ( g h a m )

' s o r r o w ' , is u s u a l l y w r i t t e n ^ ( k h a m ) ; J^^ mashghl'occupied', is w r i t t e n J ^ . . . (mashkhl), etc. I n the same

anner | and c- , j_ j and ^_j , c- and J , , * andj:- , ^ y and ^ j^ , J and ^^ , ^j_5^and ^ sometimes

32. T h e c o n s o n a n t ^ , used as a f i n a l , u s u a l l y loses it swhen preceded by ^ . E x . X J I j ( p is h t e n d ) ' g ir d le ',

l i k e ' p i s h t e n '.33- T h e consonant j , as a f i n a l , in the v e r b a l stem, Passive

is assimilated by i n i t i a l j in the passive suffixes ^jn d \j .

34- I n i t i a l ^ is sometimes pronounced l i k e 'h'. E x , ^-U


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(2.) T h e i r P h o n e t i c val ues :1 is e q u i v a l e n t t o 'a ' o r 'e '

_ is e qu iv al en t t o 'i 'a n d '_ is e q u i v a l e n t to 'u' or 'o'

No te . These vo w e l m a r ks a r e u su a l l y u n w r i t t e n ; t h e y are s u p posed to b e kn o wn .

4 2 . W h e n a n i n i t i a l \ is t o b e m a d e l o n g , it is d o u b l e d ,

or o n e small 'Alif i s w r i t t e n o v e r t h e o t h e r thus : \ Th i sd up lic at io n m ark is called e J U (madda).

4 3 . O t h e r signs u s e d considerably in A ra b i c , but s c a r c e l yever employed in T u r k i s h a n d Persian, a n d v e ry s e l d o m met

w i t h in K ur d is h , a r e the f o l l o w i n g : The sign _ p l a c e d overa l e t t e r to indicate t h a t it should b e fo llo we d b y the sound o f

' a n ' o r ' e n ' . E x a m p l e : ''^li, ( m a s a l a n ) ' f o r i n s t a n c e ' ; o r th es a m e s i g n m a y b e p l a c e d below a let t er to s h o w t hat it s h o u l db e follo wed b y t h e s o u n d of ' i n ' or 'u n '.

The. s i g n y-) ' h a m z a ' is u s e d in dif f er ent w a y s in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the rules of Ar abic a n d P e r s i a n g r a m m a r ; but its u f f i c e s h e r e t o n o t e , that w h e n put o v e r a m e d i a l ^ t h etw o dots of t h a t l e t t e r a r e l e f t out, a n d w h e n put at the e n d

o f a w o r d a f t e r * it is p r o n o u n c e d ' i ' . E x a m p l e s : J J I _ ^ 1( i s r a y i l ) ' I s r a e l ' ; t ^ ^ U X^ ( q i s s a - i k h u l l a i ) ' T h e w o r d o f G o d ' .

4 4 . W h e n a w o r d is s p e l t , t h e n a m e o f t h e c o n s o n a n t isfirst s p o k e n , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r it, i s s a i d t h e n a m e o f t h e

v o w e l m a r k a c c o m p a n y i n g it. E x a m p l e : In s p e l l i n g t h e w o r d^ ^ 1 ( a m i n ) T. w e s a y : A l i f - z a b a r ( a ) , M i m - z i r - N u n ' ( m i n ) ,

'a-min'.


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4 5 . E x e r c i s e in Spelling :^\i ( b a b ) ' f a t h e r ' , B a - A l i f - B a , 'bab'.

d lb ( d a i k ) ' m o t h e r ' , D a l - A l i f - Y a - K a f , ' d a i k ' .j^(kr) 'boy', 'Kaf-Waw-Ra, 'kr'.rtS ( k i c h ) ' g i r l ' , K a f - z i r - C h i m , ' k i c h ' .^ j ^ ( w a r a ) ' c o m e ' , W a w - z a b a r (wa), R a - H a (ra),

' w a r a

jj> (biro) ' go ', B a - z i r ( b i ) , R a - W a w ( ro ), 'b iro .'j ; U ( h a t i m ) 'I came', H a - A l i f ( h a ) , T a - z i r - M i m ( t i m ) ,

'hat im'.jjj\ (ar) ' t o - d a y ' , A l i f - W a w (a), R a - W a w (r), 'ar'.

t,^ ( l e r a ) ' h e r e ' , L a m - y a ( l e ) , R a - H a ( r a ) , ' l e r a ' .,J^^ ( s i b h a i n e ) ' t o - m o r r o w ' , S a d - z i r - B a ( s i b ) , H a - z a b a r -

Y a ( h a i ) , ' s i b - h a i ' , N u n - Y a ( n e ) , ' s i b h a i n e ' .V owel C h a n g e s

46. T h e v o w e l s in K u r d i s h are o f t e n c h a n g e d b y a s s i m i l a t i o n , c o n t r a c t i o n , a n d s u b s t i t u t i o n , a n d . s o m e t i m e s b y a p r o longed p r o n u n c i a t i o n . These changes, however, are v e r y irre

g u l a r , and t h e r e are m a n y e x c e p ti o n s t o t h e r u l e s .47. A s s i m i l a t i o n : (1.) A s h o r t v o w e l i s . o f ten a s s i m i l a t e d

by a preceding o r f o l l o w i n g l o n g vowel. Examples : d l l J L j( p i s h i l e k ) 'a cat', fo r d X j L i j ^ ( p i s h l l a - e k ) ; d A j L ^ (meshek)'a forest', fo r dl^ (mesha-ek) ; dUa> (qissek) 'a word',^01 ,_


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(2.) O f t w o s u c c e e d i n g l o n g vowels, t h e f o l l o w i n g v o w e l i so fte n a ssim ila te d b y the p re c e d i n g . E x a m p l e s : ip^'(atsh) ' t h o u also', f o r ( f - ' _ y ' ^ (at-sh); ( f i * X J ( (angsh)

' y o u a l s o ' , f o r ^ l i A j |(ang-sh).N o t e . E x c e p t i o n s to t h is r u l e are met w i t h in w o r d s in w h i c h

th e p r e c e d i n g v o w e l is an 1 . E x a m p l e s : ol l i ^ s u ( p a d i s h a e k )'a K i n g ' ; i^\ j ( b r a c k ) 'a b r o t h e r ' ; d A i l j- ( c h r a c k ) 'a l i g h t ' ;

d \ . t > U (khllaek) 'a God'.(3.) Of three s u c c e e d i n g vowels, or a v o w e l a n d a d i p h

t h o n g , t h e first v o w e l is o f t e n a s s i m i l a t e d . E x a m p l e s : _ jb(da) 'in t hat ' o r 'in this', for , \ a> ( d a - a i a ) ; _j\, (ba) 'by

t h a t ' or 'b y th is ', for j\ (da) for jb > _ ^ (ba) f o r jb ; a n d J ( l a i 3 ) 'from this'

o r ' f r o m t h a t ' , f o r _j\


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c a s i o n a l l y c o n t r a c t e d into o n e v o w e l . E x a m p l e s : d L > . (je k )'a place', f o r dl^ ( j e - e k ) ; ^fX> ( d e k ) 'a v i l l a g e ' , fo r

dl (j 5 (de-ek) ; ^ ^ ^ ( r e k ) 'a road', fo r ^ ^ ^ j (re-ek) ;d L (pek) 'a foot', f o r d l . ^ (pe-ek). B u t very often both

vowels a r e retained.49. S u b s t i t u t i o n : In th e p r o n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e K u r d i s h

v o w e l s w e o f t e n h e a r 'u' s u b s t i t u t e d for '', 'o ' for '', a n d ' 'f o r ''. T h e p r o n o u n y ' t h o u ' , is s o m e t i m e s p r o n o u n c e d

(tij) a n d s o m e t i m e s ( t o ) ; a n d th e v e r b y>- ' h e , s h e , o r it w e n t ' ,is s o m e t i m e s p r o n o u n c e d ( c h i j ) a n d s o m e t i m e s (ch).

M e d i a l o r f i n a l 'e ' is s o m e t i m e s p r o n o u n c e d '', a n d v i s ev e r s a . E . x a m p l e s : o^ ' t o b r i n g ' , is u s u a l l y p r o n o u n c e d

( h e n a n ) , b u t w e s o m e t i m e s h e a r ( h i n a n ) ; ^ J ^ ' : > ' h e , she, o ri t d i e s , ' is u s u a l l y p r o n o u n c e d ( d a m r e ) , b u t w e s o m e t i m e s h e a r

( d a m r i ) .

50. P r o l o n g e d P r o n u n c i a t i o n :T h e v o w e l s I j and ^ are n a t u r a l l y p r o n o u n c e d l o n g i n

s o m e w o r d s , in o t h e r w o r d s th e p r o l o n g e d p r o n u n c i a t i o n isdue to r h y m e in p o e t r y , and i n o t h e r w o r d s a g a i n th e prolon

g a t i o n is made fo r th e sake o f emphasis. E x a m p l e s^\ ( a k h i r ) ' l a s t ' , is p r o n o u n c e d ( a a k h i r )

J I ( a o ) ' w a t e r ' , is p r o n o u n c e d (aa).^ (drn) ' s e w i n g ' , is p r o n o u n c e d (drni) .^j^i(dakzhim) 'I kill', is pronounced (dakzhim).

^ ^ - ^ ( s e ) ' t h r e e ' , is p r o n o u n c e d ( s e e ) .


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> , . (esta) ' n o w ) , is p r o n o u n c e d (eesta).Sj (ishk) 'dry', is p r o n o u n c e d (iishk).

N o t e . M a n y o f t h e s e v o w e l c h a n g e s , a n d e s p e c i a ll y th e ' s u b s t i t u t i o n ' ,a n d th e ' p r o l o n g e d p r o n u n c i a t i o n ' , a re d u e to d i a l e c t i c d i f f e r e n c e s . T h em o r e e d u c a t e d c l a s s w i l l n o t u s e t h e m as m u c h a s th e m o r e i g n o r a n t ,

a n d s o m e w i l l n o t r e c o g n iz e t h e m a t a l l , b u t t h e y n e v e r t h e l e s s r e a l l yexist.

D I P H T H O N G S51. T h e K u r d i s h d i p h t h o n g s a re f i v e in n u m b e r . T w o o f

t h e s e a r e s o m e t i m e s f o r m e d b y v o w e l l e t t e r s , a n d s o m e t i m e sb y a v o w e l l e t t e r a n d a v o w e l m a r k , a n d s o m e t i m e s h t e y a re

l o n g a n d s o m e t i m e s s h o r t , a c c o r d i n g a s t o w h a t p o s i t i o n t h e yo c c u p y in a w o r d , a n d w e m a y c l a s s i f y t h e m as ' S i m p l e ' ,

' C o m b i n a t i o n ' , a n d ' L o n g D i p h t h o n g s ' . T h e o t h e r t h r e e , w h i c ha r e v e r y little u s e d , a r e f o r m e d b y v o w e l l e t t e r s o n l y , a n d a re

a l w a y s 's i m p l e ' or short,5 2 . S i m p l e Di pht hongs : The s mpl diphthongs a r e

f o r m e d b y t w o v o w e l l e t t e r s . T h e s e a r e : ( 1 ) ( j , \ ( a i ) , w h i c his a n interjection; ( 2 ) j\ (a) , w h i c h is s o m e t i m e s aD e m o n s t r a t i v e , a n d s o m e t i m e s a P e r s o n a l Pronoun; ( 3 . ) (J j

(oi) ; ( 4 ) ^_ (ei) ; a n d ( 5 ) y . (eii).53. T h e t w o first s i m p l e d i p h t h o n g s m a y s t a n d a l o n e as

a n i nt erj ec t i on o r a s a p r o n o u n , a n d o c c a s i o n a l l y constituteth e f i r s t s y l l a b l e in a c o m p o u n d w o r d . E x a m p l e s :j y ^ (J>t ci'

( a i ch d a k a i ) 'O , w h a t are y o u d o i n g ? ' jl (ap i a w a c h a k - a ) ' T h i s o r t h a t m a n is g o o d ' ; ^i \j j] (a w a

d a l l e ) ' H e , she, o r it s a y s s o ' ; ^jSiiUjU jl (a u j a r c h a kd a b c ) ' T h e n it w i l l be g o o d ' ; and th e c o m p o u n d w o r d s : jjj\(a-r) ' t o - d a y ' ; p . _ j l (a-sha) ' t o - n i g h t ' ; o ^ y ) ( a i - w a n )


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r e a s o n for t hei r b e i n g c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s long is , that t hei r in i t i a l I is d i s t i n c t i v e l y l o n g , e i t h e r b y v i r t u e o f th e o ' j j ' ( m a d -

d a ) or pr olongat ion mark p l a c e d over it, or by v i rt ue o f itsp o s i t i o n a s a medial.

T h e s e a r e : (i) (j\ ( a i ) , a n d (2) j| ( a i i ) .5 8 . The l o ng d ip ht ho ng s may s tand a l o n e , or o c c u p y any

p o s i t i o n in a w o r d . E x a m p l e s : (_$\ (ai) ' A h ' (Is a vulgarint er jec t ion e x p r e s s i n g d i s g u s t) ; _ j\ ( aii) ' w a t e r ' ; ^U (chal)

' t e a ' ; _5W- ( c h a d ) ' e y e ' ; _ j \ j ( t a i i ) ' s u n ' ; ^ ^ \ j f - (kh-rai)'free' ; ^\5C _\ ( a m - r i - k a i ) 'an A m e r i c a n ' ; j \ : > j j (zar-daii)

' b i l e ' ; A. ^ (dra) ' m o n e y ' , e t c .A C C E N T

5 9 . T h e K u r d i s h n o u n s , p r o n o u n s , adjectives a n d a d v e r b shave th re e d i s t i n c t a c c e n t s .

T h e s e a r e : ( 1 ) The i n d i v i d u a l a c c e n t o r t h e a c c e n t whicht h e wo r d h a s a s it s t a n d s a l o n e , w h i c h is u s u a l l y o n t h e last

syllable.( 2 ) T h e c o m b i n a t i o n a c c e n t o r t h e a c c e n t w h i c h t h e word

h a s in t h e s e n t e n c e , w h i c h is very i r r e g u l a r ; but it is u s u a l l yon the se co n d s y l l a b l e .

(3) The poetic accent or a s t h e w o rd is a c c e n t u a t e d inv e r s e , w h i c h is u s u a l l y a ' tr o c h a i c ' a c c e n t ( ' " ) o n t h e last

two syllables.6 0 . The a c c e n t u a t i o n of the K u r d i s h w o r d s is s o me w h a t

i r r e g u l a r , o w i n g to the fa c t t h a t w or ds b orr ow ed f ro m o t h e rlanguages a r e not a c c e n t e d alike, but h a v e , m o r e or l e s s ,

b r o u g h t t h e i r p e c u l i a r a c c e n t w i t h them.


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^ a L I j ( p i s h i l a - m e ) f e m a l e - c a t .J a Jy ( k o t i r - a - n e r ) male-dove.

ig o^ji ( k ot ir - a- me) female-dove.; (^j\j (qaz-i-ner) g a n d e r ( l i t . m a l e - g o o s e ) .

. ^ : ^ ( q a z - i - m e ) goose ( l i t . f e m a l e - g o o s e ) .^j\ ^ ( m i r a w i - n e r ) d r a k e ( l i t . m a l e duck)

- ( _ $ \ _ j ^ (m i rawi -m e) d u c k ( l i t . f e m a l e - d u c k ) .

6 5 . Y o u w i l l n o t i c e i n t h e e x a m p l e s g i v e n a b o v e , that w h e nt h e f i n a l letter o f t h e n o u n is a c o n s o n a n t , t h e v o w e l letter

'a ' o r fC '' is u s e d as a c o n n e c t i v e b e t w e e n t h e n o u n a n dthe g e n d e r s u f f i x .

66. Instead of ^;^^^]^ (&l-a-sag) and ^t^Sii (del-a - s a g ) , w e m a y a l s o e m p l o y t h e g e n d e r s u f f i . x e s j^ ( n e r ) a n d

^ ( m e ) a n d s a y J iSCj> ( s a g - a - n e r ) a n d ^ < 5 c L . ( s a g - a -m e ) .

6 7 . In a f e w i n s t a n c e s it s e e m s that t h e g e n d e r s u f f i x ^ ^(me) m a y b e prefixed t o t h e m a s c u l i n e n o u n to f or m t h e f e m

i n i n e . Example : js^j> (me-kar) 'female-donkey'. T his ,however, is n o t e x a c t ly u s e d , but s o m e t h i n g p r a c t i c a l l y thes a m e , n a m e l y S U ( m a - k a r ) .

A not her e x a m p l e is m e t w i t h in t h e w or d QsJ \ ^( ma- n- ga)' c o w ' ( lit. ' f e m a l e o x ' ) . T h e U ( m a ) is u n d o u b t e d l y t h e s a m e

a s th e gender s u ffi x ^j * ( me ) , but p re fix e d t o the w or d^ ( g a ) ' o x ' . I n b o t h cases a v o w e l change f r o m 'e ' to 'a'

may have ta k e n place.


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3 2 A P R A C T IC A L K U R D IS H GR A MMA R

7 2 . T h e r e a r e a l s o o t h e r w a y s o f for m ing t h e plur al inKurdish, w h i c h w e f i n d e m p l o y e d i n s o m e l o c a l d i a l e c t s , a n d

w h i c h the s t u d e n t should k n o w .Around S i n n a , t h e s u f f i x J S (gal) i s u s e d a s a plural

ending. Ex. ^ ' : i ^ (kr-a-gal) 'boys', J ^ ^ (i^i^h-a - g a l ) ' g i r l s ' , e t c . T h e c o n n e c t i v e v o w e l 1 ( a ) is i n s e r t e d

between t h e noun a n d the pl ural e n d i n g

A r o u n d G a r r o o s e , and a t K e r m a n s h a h , th e s u f f i x Jj ( i l )is e m p l o y e d as a p l u r a l e n d i n g . E x . Jjjy (kr-l) ' b o y s ' ,

J ^ ( k i c h - i l ) 'girls', etc.In s o m e p a r t s o f Kurdistan, a c c o r d i n g t o P r o f . B e r e s i n , t h e

suffix j (te) or aJ ( t a ) , w i t h t h e c o n n e c t i v e v o w e l _( a ) i n s e r t e d , is e m p l o y e d as a p l u r a l e n d i n g . T h i s w o u l dmake the word ^ J ' ^ p (kiir-a-te) or a J J ^ (kr-a-ta)

f o r ' b o y s ' . It is n o t i m p o s s ib l e , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h i s


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ka) 'the forest', for a^ ^ p _jl ( a u kr-a) ' t h e b o y ' ( l i t . 'this or t h a tboy ') ; i^ j l ( ai J k i c h - a ) ' t h e g i r l ' ; ejL) j (aia p i a w - a ) ' t h e

man'; e _ j l j i jl ( a u d r a w - a ) ' t h e money'; 4 j \ > . jl (aii c h a y -a ) ' t h e t e a ' ; -ulr jl ( a i i ta y a ) ' t h e b a l e ' , etc.

N o t e . T h e d e m o n s t r a t i v e p r o n o u n j^ ( a u ) m a y a l s o b e u s e d in conn e c t i o n wi t h t h e s u f f i . K jU^ haspa-ka) ' t h e ( t h i s o r t h a t ) hor s e' ;s l* ^_v< jl4i\>?(a se h a s p a - k a n a ) ' t h e ( t h e s e or t h o s e ) t h r e e h o r s e s . '

7 9 . In t h e plural the d e f i n i t e article s u f f i x k ( a ) followst h e p l u r a l e n d i n g ^ j\ ( a n ) . E x a m p l e s : a J I j ^ jI ( a i i kr-a n - a ) ' t h e b o y s ' (l i t . ' t h e s e o r t h o s e b o y s ') ; < O U i jl ( a i ik i c h - a n - a ) ' t h e gi r l s '; AJljL jl ( a u p i a w - a n - a ' t h e m e n ' ;

AJ ljiji ji (a u d r a w - a n - a ) ' t h e m o n e y s ' ; A ' ^ j W r j l (a uc h a - y - a n - a ) 'the teas'; -llT _jl (a-ta-y-an-a) ' t h e b a l e s ' , e t c .

8 0 . T h i s f o r m o f expressing the d ef in it e a rt ic le , h o w e v e r ,is l e s s perfect a n d regular, a s it l e a n s heav ily towards t h eDemonstrative m e a n i n g , a n d il c a n n o t b e u s e d a s r egular ly

w i t h all substantives a s the simple s u ffi x o ( k a ) .8 1 . S u bs ta n ti ve s e n di n g in I j or |^ , f r e q u e n t l y o n l y

e m p l o y t h e Demonstrative P r o n o u n _} \ (aii). In c a s e t h es uf f ix 4 (a) i s u s e d , the connective t5 (y) is employed. Ex-


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A R T I C L E S 3 5

a m p l e s : \^ \ j\ ( a u a g h a ) ' t h e l a n d l o r d ' ( l i t . ' t h i s o r t h a tl a n d l o r d ' ) , m a y a l s o b e wr i t t e n 4 j l c . l jl ( a u a g h a - y a ) ; < ^ j\

( a t i q i s a ) ' t h e w o r d ' , m a y b e w r i t t e n 4) A . ^ j\ ( a u q i s a - y a ) ;( S j jI ( a i i r e ) ' t h e r o a d ' , m a y also be written4j^jjl(aii r e - y a ) ,

et c.

82. S u b s t a n t i v e s e n d in g in 4 \ o r ^ ^ , m a y e v e n o m i tth e D e m o n s t r a t i v e P r o n o u n , a n d . s t i l l r e t a i n t h e D e f i n i t e A r

ticle signification. Examples : 4) e j ^ b , 5 L (^padisha garay a ) ' t h e King is g r e a t ' ; .s^^ls ( q a z i m i r d ) ' t h e j u d g e

d i e d ' ; C j % - a L L ( p i s h i l a h a l a t ) ' t h e cat fled', etc.83. S u b s t a n t i v e s u s e d c o l l e c t i v e l y , v e r y o f t e n o m i t th e

D e f i n i t e A r t i c l e s u f f i x e s . E x a m p l e s : 4ijL>- oVj ( w a l a tchiln-a) ' H o w is th e c o u n t r y ?' ; j C ^ j dilt ( k h a l k r a h a t - a ) ' t h epeople are quiet' ; ^^ : , ' ^ (kurd faqir-a) 'the Kurds are

p o o r ( h u m b l e ) ' .84. O t h e r s u b s t a n t i v e s are so d e f i n i t e in t h e m s e l v e s , t h a t

no Definite Article is necessary. Examples: oU ^ U( h a k i m h a t ) ' t h e G o v e r n o r c a m e ' ; ^ c , ^ j ^^,SC>- ( h a k i m r o i )'the D o c t o r w e n t ' ; 4i^ ^ \^ ( k h a n i m nakhsh-a) ' t h e l a d yIS sick'; 4 j ^ o ^ J U ^ > : l , . ' ( s a h i b mal lera pia) 'the landlord

is n o t h e r e ' , e t c .85. T h e I n d e f i n i t e A r t i c l e is g e n e r a l l y expressed b y em

p l o y i n g th e n u m e r a l S o ( e k ) as a s u f f i x .Examples : S ^ j ^ (kr-ek) 'a boy' ; ^^ (kich-ek) 'a

g ' " ' ' ; ^ j \ ' _ (pi-aw-ek) 'a man'; ^ d . l . j l j : > (draw-ek) 'a c o i n ' ;tilW- (cha-y-ek) 'a tea'; ciXlJ (ta-y-ek) 'a bale', etc. ( d a ) or (ta) s o m e t i m e s p l a c e d afterth e (I), a n d t h u s forming t h e c o m b i n a t i o n ' I - d a ' o r 'i-ta', is

u n d o u b t e d l y t h e S j - r i a c G e n e t i v e - s i g n a , u n n e c e s s a r i l ya d d e d .

9 8 . 'The Dat i v e C a s e is f o r m e d by employ ing o n e of t h ep r e p o s i t i o n s 4i (ba) o r ^J^ (pe) 'to', or y (bo) 't o ' or ' f or' ,

o r t h e prepositional s u f f i x e s 4 ( a ) or ^ ^ (I) 'to ' w it h or

w i t h o u t the d e f i n i t e a r t i c l e suffix.9 9 . The p re p o s i t i o n s 4 j (ba) a n d (_y_ (pe) h a v e t h e s a m e

m e a n i n g a s our E n g l i s h 't o', d e n o ti n g 'to w h a t o b je c t' o r 'towhom' a n y t h i n g is ' sa id ', ' sh ow ed ', ' g i v e n ' , ' i n t r u s t e d ' , e t c .

' T h e r e is a great d i f t ' e r e n c e , h o w e v e r , a s t o t h e c o n n e c t i o n si n w h i c h t h e two prepositions a r e u s e d . 4j (ba) is us ually

w r it t en s e p a r a t e l y , a n d m a y b e e m p l o y e d in t h e d e c l e n s i o no f both nouns a n d pronouns, alike. The j (p e ), however,

c a n n o t s t a n d a l o n e , a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y c a n n o t b e u s e d in t h ed e c l e n s i o n o f n o u n s . It is u s e d wi t h t h e p r o n o u n s o n l y , a n dit is a l w a y s s u f f i x e d by o n e o f t h e pronominal s u f f i x e s ^

( m ) ' m e ' , ^ (t) ' t h e e ' , ^ ^ () ' h i m ' , ' h e r ' , o r ' i t ' , ^ j l o ( m a n )' u s ' , j\; ( t a n ) o r j ( ) ' y o u ' , ( y a n ) ' t h e m ' . '

' ' E x a m p l e s : ^JU 4) ( b a m a l - e ) 't o th e h o u s e ' ( W ith o u t a n yd e f i n i t e a r t i c l e s u f f i x ) : ^O U 4j (b a m a l a k a - T ) 't o th e h o u s e ' ,

^ J U ji 4) ( b a a fi mala-) o r ^^ j \ ) (b-a mala-) 't o th ehouse' ( l i t . 't o t h i s or t h a t house'), , X J U 4> (ba m a l e k - i )'t o a h o u s e ' , ^S ^^ U - 4 ) ( b a h a k i m - i - d a l l e m ) 'I s h a l l t e l lthe G o v e r n o r ' ; * J S ^ J 4) (ba t i j s h d a l l e m ) 'I s h a l l also

t e l l ^you' ; ^ 'x j ,j 4j ( b a k a s n a - i - d a m ) 'I g i v e it


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t o n o b o d y ' ; ( - i ( p e - m ) 't o m e ' , d-^ ( p e - t ) 'to t h e e ' , ^.( p e - i ) o r c o n t r a c t e d t o ( p e ) ' t o h i m , h e r , o r it', j U - J(pe-man) 't o us', \1j (pe-tan) or _^_ (pe-) 't o you', jLj

( p e - y a n ) s o m e t i m e s c o n t r a c t e d t o jL , b u t p r o n o u n c e d t h esame w a y , m e a n i n g 't o t h e m ' ; ^S ^ _ ( p e - m d a l l e ) 'he t e l l sm e ' ; ^ x ^ ^ sJ. (pe d a s p e r i m ) ' I i n t r u s t ( i t ) to h i m ' ;

v o S jliJ C^ ( p e - t n is h a n d a d a m ) 'I s h a l l s h o w y o u . '1 0 0 . S o m e t i m e s , for e m p h a s i s , t h e p r e p o s i r i o n s 4j ( b a )

a n d jJ ( p e ) a r e u s e d t o g e t h e r i n t h e s a m e s e n t e n c e . E x ample: f>^'^ ij i^,^^ (1^^ hakim-i pe dallem) ' I shall tellt h e G o v e r n o r ' , (l i t . 'To t h e G o v e r n o r , t o h i m , I s h a l l t e l l ( i t ) ' ) .

101. T h e p r e p o s i t i o n s 4j ( b a ) a n d ^ _ ( p e ) a r e a l s o u s e dt o e x p r e s s t h e 'Dative o f Instrument o r A g e n t ' , d e n o r i n g 'by','w ith ', o r 'through' w h a t 'instrument' o r ' a g e n t ' anything i s

accomplished. *' ' E x a m p l e s : S :> , > l j l J U 4j ( b a m a l - e a z a d d a b i m ) 'I s h a l l

be free by (means o f) the house' ; ^Jx) L 4j (ba m a l a k a - i )'by the house'; J'^ J^ . ^ _ ' S ( ^ j X ^ 4 j ( b a c h a k 5 - i d a - i - b r i m ) 'I s h a l l c u t it with t h eknife'; ^ j > ^ (^ ( p e d a b r i m ) 'I c u t w ith i t ' ; ( ^ 3 ' ^ l ) \ :

(peyan daniis im) 'I w r i t e w i t h th e m.'102. I n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a f e w w o r d s l i k e ( t a s l i m )

' d e l i v e r ' , ^ \ L ^ ( n i s h a n ) ' s h o w ' , e t c . , a D a t i v e is f o r m e d b yt h e suffix (J ( i ) , of t h e s a m e m e a n i n g a s 4j a n d ^ ^ , . Ex-


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D EC L EN SIO N 4 1

am pies: J ^ iS3 ( y ^ ^ ( t a s l i m - i w i dakam) ' I shall del i v e r ( i t ) to h i m ' ; iSS y ^^^ ( n i s h a n - i t i i da-da) 'he w i l l

s h o w y o u ' . This u s a g e , h o w e v e r , is quite lim ite d.103. T h e p r p e o s i t i o n y (bo) is th e s a m e a s o u r E n g l i s h 'to'

o r 'for', d e n o t i n g th e o b j e c t ' w h i t h e r ' , ' f o r w h i c h ' , o r ' f o r w h o m 'a n y t h i n g ' g o e s ' , 'i s s e n t ' , 'transferred', e t c . This p r e p o s i t i o n h a sth e p e c u l i a r i t i e s of b o t h t h e 4j ( b a ) a n d th e ^_ (pe), i n d i i s

r e s p e c t , t h a t it m a y s t a n d a l o n e l i k e th e 4j ( b a ) , o r it m a y t a k ethe pronominal suffixes Hke the ^ _ (pe). Examples: ^J^* y,(bo mal-e) 'to o r f o r the house' ; ^y ^^ y (bo malaka-i) 't oor fo r the h o u s e ' ; ^J^ 3^^ y. (bo a ii m a l a - i ) 't o o r f o r thehouse' ( l i t . 't o o r f o r t h i s o r t h a t h o u s e ' ) ; s > f : > ^ \ j y (b ow a n - e d a c h i m ) 'I a m g o i n g to W a n ' ; ^ ^ _ ^ y y (^ t d a - i -

n e r i m ) 'I w i l l send i t to y o u ' ; C * a - ' j j^j y y i S ^ J ^ i j u j ( z i m a n - k u r d - i b o t zr z a h m a t - a ) ' T h e K u r d i s h l a n g u a g e is v e r y d i f f i cult for you'; o ^ ^ y ( J j \ ojj (wara, awa-i b-m halgr-a)'Come (and) carry this for me ';j^:jd C>y (_5^' (ba-li b-t

h a l d a g r i m ) ' Y e s , I will c a r r y ( i t ) for y o u ' .104. T h e p r e p o s it i o n y ( b o ) is a l s o u s e d to e x p r e s s t h e ' D a

tive o f Cause o r Purpose'. E x . ( J \ a c ^ j b j\ _jj (bo au k a r a - ihatim) 'I came fo r this work (cause or purpose)' ; ^^ \i i j - ^ . f " f-

(b o k h w e n d i n - i h a t i m ) 'I c a m e f o r ( t h e p u r p o s e of) r e a d i n g ' ;( * i ^ < ^ i i L^ ( b a l l b-e h a t i m ) 'Yes, I came f o r it ( f o r t h a t pus-

p o s e ) '.105. T h e p r e p o s i t i o n a l s u f f i x 4 ( a ) , a t t a c h e d t o v e r b s , i s

v e r y m u c h u s e d i n s t e a d o f th e p r e p o s i t i o n ^ ( b o ) . E x .( ^ > > - 4 r U (hat-a chm-e) 'he came to the r i v e r ' ; ^J\ *^\a>


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ma l - a - w a c h i i ) 'h e w e n t w i t h his w h o l e h o u s e ( h o u s e h o l d ) ' ;_j>- e ^ J U I ^ 3 'j 3 J^ y j b v J U j ( _^* ^ (b a hasp manga

nkar z h i n m i n - d a l - a - w a ch) 'h e w e n t w i t h h o r s e a n dcow a n d servant a n d w i f e a n d c h i l d re n '.

1 1 2 . The A b l a t i v e C a s e is f o r m e d b y e m p l o y i n g the p r e p o s i t i o n 4] ( l a ) 'from', a n d t h e p o s t p o s i t i o n \j ( r a ) o r e_j

( w a - ) is sometimes u s e d w i t h it to e x p r e s s c o n ti n u a ti o n 'from

a c e r t a i n place, p o s i t i o n , or t i m e on'.113. ' x J U 4J ( l a m a l a k a - i ) ' f r o m the house' ; ^ \ j > _y-J

( 1 - a i i m a l a - i ) ' f r o m th e ( t h i s o r t h a t ) h o u s e ' ; ^^^So U 4 (l amalek-I) 'f r om a h o u s e ' . Or w i t h o u t t h e definite article s u f

f i x - . ^ V 4] ( la m a l - e ) ' f r o m th e h o u s e ' . \j ^j^ s ^ ^ ( las i b h a i n e - a - w a ) 'f r o m t o - m or r o w on' .

114. T h e p r e p o s i t i o n 4J ( l a ) , in th e f o r m o f ^ J ( l e ) , isemployed w i t h t h e Pr o n o u n s only, a n d t a k e s s u f f i x e s in t h esame m a n n e r as ^j_ ( p e ) . (See 99.) E x a m p l e s : { ^ ' i r ' - ^ f r ^

( l e - m d a s t e n e ) 'he t a k e s (it) f r o m m e ' ; (-^r~ '* 3 ^ ( l e - i id a s te n i m ) 'I s h a l l ta k e it f r o m y o u ' .

1 1 5 . Th e V o c a ti v e C a s e i s e x p r e s s e d in t h e shortest p o s sible fo r m of the n o u n , w i t h o u t any a r t i c l e s u f f i x e s , or b ys uf f ix ing 4 (a) or ^ c (e) i n t h e singular, a n d o ( i n a ) in

t h e p l u r a l , o r b y e m p l o y i n g t h e I n t e r j e c t i o n s (^ ( a i ) o r \( y a ) ' O ' .

1 1 6 . M a s c u l i n e nouns e n d i n g in a consonant, or in ^ ^ ,u s u a l l y t a k e t h e s u f f i x 4 E x s . : ejy ( k i i r - a ) 'O b o y :


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D E C L E N S I ON 4 5

4jI) ( b a b - a ) 'O f a t h e r ' ; 4 ^ 1 . ( m a m - a ) 'O u n c l e ' ; oiji(kurd-a) 'O K u r d ' ; ^^y (n az-m i-a ) 'O polic e ', e t c .

1 1 7 . M a s c u l i n e n o u n s e n d i n g i n j \ or e , u s u a l l ye m p l o y th e I n t e r j e c r i o n s


48/284

4 6 A P R A C T I C AL K U R D IS H G R A M M A R

T a b le o f D e c l e n s i o n123. T h e d e c l e n s i o n o f t h e n o u n JU ( m a l ) ' h o u s e ' , w i t h

t h e Definite Ar t i c l e s u f f i x ^ 5 (ka). N o u n s e n d i n g in 4 ,b y virtue o f t h e article s u f f i x o (k a), t a k e (i) i n t h e O b l i q u e

C a s e S j a n d t h i s v o w e l is c o n t r a c t e d w ith t h e p r e c e d i n g 4 ,i n t o th e c o m b i n a t i o n d i p h t h o n g iS '- (ai).

S i n g u l a rNom,

G e n .D a t .

Ace.

L o c .A b l .V o c .

P l u r a lN o m ,

G e n .D a t .

Ace.L o c .

A b l .V o c .

1 2 4 .

J


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TA B L E O F D E C L E N S I O N 4 7

S i n g u l a rN o m , 4 3 U j\ _ ( - a u m a l a ) t h e (this o r t hat ) h o u s e

G e n . J J U _ji ,s\J\ a u m a l a - i ) o f th e ( t h i s o r t h a t ) h o u s eD a t . JIU j\ 4j ( b a a u m a l a - i ) t o th e ( t h i s o r t h a t ) h o u s eAce. ^ 1 jl _(-a mala-i) the (this or that) house

L o c . l o J L . jl e : > ( d a a u m a l - i - d a ) in t h e ( t h i s o r t h a t ) h o u s eA b L l j U U jl 4 J ( l a a u f n a l - i r a ) f r o m t h e ( t h i s o r that) h o u s e

V o c . 4 ]U jl iS \ ( a i a u m a l a ) O t h e ( t h i s o r t h a t ) h o u s eP l u ra l

N o m . 4 j V U 5^ ( au m a l a n a ) t h e ( t h e s e o r t h o s e )h o u se s

Gen. ^V U jl is\ ( i ail n i a l a n a - i ) of the ( o r )h o u se s

D a t . ^ *y i jl -^ (b a a ii m a l a n a - i ) t o th e ( o r )h o u se s

Ace. j_5*^^ 3^ ( au malana-i) the ( or )h o u se s

L o c . \ j u N V jl O i ( d a a u m a l a n a - i - d a ) in th e ( o r )houses

A b l . ij ( l i V U jl 4] (l a au m a l a n a -i r a ) f r o m th e ( o r) ho use s

V o c . 4 : J L jl (j\ ( a i a ir m a l - i n a ) O t h e ( o r )houses

125.. N o u n s which t a k e ( e ) a s c a s e - e n d i n g in t h e s i n g u l a r( S e e 9 3 ) , m a y b e d e c l i n e d w i t h o u t e m p l o y i n g a n y d e f i n i t e

a r t i c l e s u f f i x . Examples:-


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S i n g u l a rN o m . ^ J \ ^ ( m a l e ) th e houseG e n . JU (_^| ( i n i a l e ) o f t h e h o u s e

D a t . ^ U 4j ( b a m a l e ) t o th e h o u s eA c e . ^y ( m a l e ) t h e h o u s e

L o c . U J U e i ( d a m a l e - d a ) in th e h o u s eA b l . \j JU 4J ( la m a l e r a ) f r o m th e hou.se

V o c . JU ( ^ \ ( a i m a l ) O h o u s eP l u r a l

Nom. Oi w ( malan) t h e h o u s e sGen. jJVU ( ^ j , ( i m a l a n - i ) o f th e houses

D a t . J V U 4) (b a m a l a n - i ) t o th e h o u s e sA c e . J * y U ( m a l a n - i ) th e houses

L o c . l a J V U e i ( d a m a l a n - i - d a ) in th e housesA b l . \j J'yU4( la malan- r a ) f r o m th e h o u s e s

V o c .


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TA B L E O F DECLENSION 4 9

P l u r a l /N o m . ^pG e n . ^ j

D a t . JGen. \j\? ^ iS\

iLjJ 4)Ace. .JLjD

L o c . I-XJ LJD eiAbl. I j jGi 4J

Voc. 4L.wJD ( ^ 1

( k a te b a n ) the books( ka te b a n -i ) o f the books

(ba k a te b a n - i ) t o the booksk a t e b a n - i ) the books

(da kateban-i-da) in the books^ la kateban-i ra) f ro m the b o o k s

( ai k ate b- in a) O b o o k s1 2 7 . Nouns ending in 4 , m a y b e declined w i t h o u t e m

ploying a n y d ef in it e a rt ic le . In t h e Oblique C a s e s t h e C c i s e -e n d i n g (i) is c o n t r a c t e d w i t h t h e p r e c e d i n g t> , i nt o t h e c o m b i n a t i o n d i p h t h o n g e (_5 1 ( a i ) . E x a m p l e s : < ^ ( q i s a ) ' t h e

w o r d ' ; jU? iS \ ( i q i s a - i ) 'o f th e w o r d ' ; ^J^ 4j ( b a q is a - i )'to or by the w o r d ' , e t c .

128. N o u n s e n d i n g in ^ o r ^ ^ , s o m e t i m e s i n s e r t ' y ' bef o r e a d d i n g th e c a s e - e n d i n g ( ^ . E x a m p l e s : '-^V^ '" ^

( d a dunya-y-da) 'in t h e world' ; \jjj 4j ( b a r e - y i - d a ) 'in t h er o a d ' ; \j ( J y j 4) ( la r e w i - y i r a ) ' f r o m th e f o x ' , e t c .

129. F i n a l 3 > p r e c e d e d b y a v o w e l , is p r o n o u n c e d a n dt r a n s c r i b e d ' w ' , w h e n f o l l o w e d b y t h e c a s e - e n d in g (^ . E x

a m p l e s : ( j j T ( a w - e ' t h e w a t e r ' ; ]jjj\ 03 (d a a w - e - d a ) 'i nthe water'; ij S ^ /j (la-sar kew-i) 'on the mountain', etc.

. 1 3 0 . T h e d e c l e n s i o n o f t h e n o u n jU , w i t h t h e I ndef init eA r r i c l e s u f f i x d X ( e k ) :

N o m . d L S U ( m a l e k ) a h o u s eGen. L s ^ U (S[ ( i malek-i) of a houseDat. ^ J i U 4) (ba malek-i) to a house


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5 0 A PR AC T ICA L K U R D ISH GRAMMAR

Ace. ( S - ^ ^ ( malek-i) a houseLoc. I j i i C j U o i (da malek-i-da) in a houseAbl. \j ^^ U 4] (la malek-i ra) from a houseV o c . SJ\a (S^ (^ m a l e k ) O a h o u s e

1 3 1 . V O C A B U L A R YjU ( p i a u ) m a n L^ ( m e s h a ) f o r e s t

t _ > l ( b a b ) f a t h e r^ ( k u r ) b o y

_ j| ( aii) w a t e r4LiL> ( p i s h i l a ) c a t

, _ ^ ( k a t e b ) book( m i r i s h i k ) hen

Av ( z h i n ) woman, wi fe

( k i c h ) g i r l^f^ ( c h o m ) r i v e r^ (qisa) w o r d

t ^ y , - ' (rewi) f o x

E X E R C I S E IT h e m a n ( n o m . ) . I n t h e f o r e s t . O f a t h e r A m a n . In

th e h o u s e . Of t h e w o m a n . T h e b o y ( n o m . ) . O f t h e m a n .F r o m t h e f o r e s t . T h e g i r l s ( n o m . ) . In th e h o u s e s . O f t h e

f o r e s t s . T o th e b o y s . O b o y s F r o m t h e h o u s e s . T o th ew a t e r . In t h e r i v e r . T h e c a t s ( n o m . ) . O f th e g i r i s . O f th e

w o m e n . T h e w o r d s ( n o m . ) . O f t h e m e n . F r o m th e b o o k .T o th e w o m e n . T h e w i f e ( n o m . ) . T o th e m a n . O m a n iT h e c a t ( n o m . ) . In t h e w a t e r . T h e f o x ( n o m . ) . O n th e h e n .

T h e c a t f l e d . F r o m th e h o u s e . T o t h e f o r e s t . T h e h e n( n o n R ) . F r o m t h e f o x . T o t h e w o m a n . F r o m t h e w o r d s .

In the book.N o t e .T r a n s l a t e t h i s E x e r c i s e i n t o K u r d i . s h , w r i t i n g e a c h s e n t e n c e as

neatly a s p o s s i b l e .


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ADJECTIVES 5 1

C H A P T E R III

A D J E C T I V E S

1 3 2 . In K u r d i s h the adjectives undergo no c h a n g e of t e r m i n a t i o n for g e n d e r , number, or c a s e ; being t h e s a m e whetherit qualifies a sin gu la r o r p l u r a l substantive, a masculine or afe m i n i n e noun.

Position1 3 3 . In a g r e a t m aj ori t y of i n s t a n c e s , t h e K urdi s h adjective

f o l l o w s its n o u n , a n d v o w e l (j (i) is s u f f i x e d to t h e p r e c e d i n gn o u n , as c o n n e c t i v e . E x a m p l e s : i3l>- j-X)jj3 (krek- c h a k )'a good b o y ' ; ejy r J ^ ^ (malek-i gatira) 'a large house;

j^ ( ^ y ^ _ 3 \ i ( p i - a w a k a - i p i r ) ' t h e o ld m a n ' ; ipj ^SC^(haspaka- r a s h ) ' t h e b l a c k h o r s e ' .

134. I n a f e w i n s t a n c e s th e a d j e c t i v e p r e c e d e s th e n o u n ,e i t h e r f o r th e sake o f e m p h a s i s , o r t o f o r m c o m p o u n d s . I n

th e l a t t e r case, th e v o w e l o ( a ) is g e n e r a l l y i n s e r t e d as aconnective. E x a m p l e s : ( F o r emphasis). /^ jjj (zr kas)'many people'; j\ jjj (zr b a r ) ^'many l o a d s ' ; J L d l l f(galak sal) 'many years' ; j\:>. dJlT (galak jar) or j U jjj

( z o r j a r ) ' o f t e n ' ; and n e a r l y a ll c o m b i n a t i o n s w i t h th e d e f i n i t eo r i n d e f i n i t e N u m e r a l A d j e c t i v e s .

E x a m p l e s : ( I n c o m p o u n d s ) , i^ ^ e^ ( p i r - a - m e r d ) ' o l dm a n ' ; ^ - j oj^ ( p l r - a - z h i n ) ' o l d w o m a n ' ; j \ j \ , ^JX^ ( k o n - a -D a z ^ r ) ' o l d m a r k e t ' ; jjo^ (niw-a-r) ' m i d - d a y ' o r ' n o o n ' ;

3'^''3^ (nw-a-sha) ' m i d - n i g h t ' , etc.


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5 2 A P R A C TI C A L K U R D I S H GRAMMAR

C o m p a r i s o n135. T h e r e are t h r e e degrees to the K u r d i s h a d j e c t i v e : the

P o s i r i v e , t h e C o m p a r a r i v e , a n d t h e S u p e r l a r i v e .( 1 ) T h e P o s i t i v e degree is th e a d j e c r i v e in it s u n i n f l e c t e d

form. Examples: ^^ (garm) ' w a r m ' ; ij^ (sard) ' c o l d ' ;i J U (chak) 'good'; 0^^ ( i " a n ) ' b e a u r i f u l ' ; , x L ( b l i n d )

' h i g h ' ( t a l l ) , e t c .(2 ) T h e C o m p a r a t i v e degree is formed b y s u f f i x i n g ^

( t i r ) to the positive. Examples : J^ ^ (garm-rir) 'warmer' ;_ / , > ^ ( s a r d - r i r ) ' c o l d e r ' ; _ p U ( c h a k - r i r ) o r _ / U (cha-

t i r ) 'better'; p \ y : - (jan-tir) 'more beautiful'; _/Adj( b l i n d - r i r ) ' h i g h e r ' ( t a l l e r ) , etc.

N o t e . T h e n o u n o r p r o n o u n w i t h w h i c h c o m p a r i s o n is m a d e , is p u tin the ablative case, except that the postposition \j ( r a ) o r o^ ( w a )are omitted. Ex. o j e j f ^ 4J jl (au la min gara-tir-a) 'He isgreater than (from) I o J c S ^ ^ ^ J ^ ^ O^ (nan la ganam-i

b a q-mat-t ir-a) ' B r e a d is d e a r e r t h a n (fro m ) w h e a t ' , e t c .

( 3 ) T h e S u p e r l a t i v e d e g r e e is f o r m e d b y p u t t i n g th e w o r d s( S y ^ 4J la ham-i) o r ij^^ 4) (la ham- garmrtir) 'warmer than all'

( w a r m e s t ) ; y>j^ t,? j * " * 4) ( la ham- s a r d - t i r ) ' c o l d e r t h a na'lr (coldest) ; _ / W (J^ ^ (l a hamii- c h a - r i r ) ' b e t t e r thanair ( b e s t ) ; ^ ^ jJ l_y*A 4) ( la h a m i i a n - i j u a n - t i r ) ' m o r e beau

r i f u l t h a n a i r ( m o s t b e a u t i f u l ) ; _ / j d j ^J\^ 4 J ( l a haman-b l i n d - t i r ) 'higher t h a n a l l ' (highest), e t c .


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5 4 A P R A C T I C A L KURDISH G R A M M A R

T abl e:

\Yr

i0

*\Y

A

\W\r\r\i

lA

rrrr

i

4

oi^

J ,5 J

J ?

( y e k )( d o )

(se)( c hiiar )( p e n j )

(shash)(hat)

( h a s h t )(n o )

(d a )( y a z d a )

( d t i a z d a )( s e z d a )(c h t i a rd a )( p a z d a )( s h a z d a )(hada)( h a z h d a )

( n o z d a )( b i s t )( b i s t y ek )( b i s t do)(sr)

( c h i l )( p e n j a )

(shest)

12

345

67

8

91 01 1

1 21 31 4

1 51 6

1 71 81 9

2 02 12 2

3 04 0

5 06 0


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A D J E C T I V E S 5 5

YA '- (umin) t o t h e c a r d i n a l s e n d i n g i n a c o n s o n a n t , a n d

y J i i (yumin) t o t h e c a r d i n a l s e n d i n g i n a v o w e l . E x a m p l e s :y^ (yek-umin) 'first', Cj^.3> (d-yumin) 'second'

,.. ( s e - y u m i n ) o r ^ ; ^ . . ^ ' t h i r d ' , Cxf'3^ y : : (char-umin)'fourth', ( j - J ' C . ^ ( p e n j - u m i n ) 'f i f t h ', ^^M^i ( s h a s h - u m i n )

' s i x t h ' o ^ y ^ (hat-umn), ' s e v e n t h ' , ( j r * * - " * ( h a s h t - u m i n ) ,CyJ>y (n-yumn) ' n i n t h ' , ^ j^ j> > ( d a - y u m i n ) ' t e n t h ' , e t c .

1 4 4 . A nother form of the o r d i n a l s , w h i c h is n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l wi t h t h e P e r s ia n , i s a l s o m u c h u s e d . It is f o r m e d b y

d r o p p i n g th e f i n a l Oi. ( i n ) o f th e o r d i n a l s g i v e n a b o v e . E x -


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A D J E C T I V E S 5 9

a n d t h r e e q u a r t e r s o ' c lo c k ', o r ' t h r e e q u a r t e r s o f a n h o u r p a s tt w o ' ; j>r d l _j 5xlo ( p e n j y e k c h a r a k ) ' f i v e a n d a. quar

t e r o ' c l o c k ' . T h e l a t t e r m a y also be rendered S ,j^ j ^^_^(penj charak-ek).

M u l t i p l e s -152. T h e m u l t i p l e n u m b e r s a r e f o r m e d b y s u f f i x i n g 4

( a n a ) t o t h e c a r d i n a l s . E x a m p l e s : 4 J \ 9 l " ( t a q - a n a ) ' t h e onl y

o n e ' ( o n l y b e g o t t e n ) . T h e P e r s i a n 4J \ X ) ( y e k - a n a ) is a l s ou s e d . 4J l j i ( d o - a n a ) 'twin' ; 4 j L - . > ( s e - a n a ) 't r i pl et '; 4 J l j l ^ -(char-ana) ' q u a d r u p l e t' , e t c .

153. F o r t h e multiple t e r m 'fold', l i k e 'two f o l d ' , ' f i v e f o l d ' ,' t e n f o l d ' , 'a n h u n d r e d f o l d ' , e t c . , t h e K u r d i s h e m p l o y s di j

(yek) ' o n e ' , a s t h e b a s i s . A f t e r s a y i n g dl (yek), th e y s t a t et h e number of t h e ' fo l d ' , a n d put t h e c o n j u n c ti o n _j () 'and'

b e t w e e n t h e m . E x a m p l e s : ji j dl ( . y e k d o ) ' t w o f o l d '( l i t . ' o n e a n d two'); r d o j dl ( y e k p e n j ) ' f i v e f o l d '

( l i t . ' o n e and f i v e ' ) ; 6.> j d l ( y e k da) ' t e n f o l d ' ; X p j d\j_(yek 5 sat) 'a n hundred f o l d ', e t c .

1 5 4 . For t h e t e r m s ' p e r c e n t a g e ' a n d 'interest', t h e K urdi s hh a s n o u n i fo r m a n d com plete system of reckoning. Th e re

a r e t h r e e d i ffe r e n t a n d v e ry incomplete s y s t e m s , however, ingener al u s e . A ll of t h e s e e mp l o y oi (da) ' te n ' , a s t h e i r b a s i s .

T h e f i r s t s y s t e m : d l J 4j o5 ( d a b a n e w - e k ) ' 5 % ' (l i t .' t e n for (by) a h a l f ) ; dl 4, ei ( d a b a y e k ) '10%';

_jJ J d l 4) 0.3 (da ba y e k ne) ' 1 5 % ' ; ji 4j e i (d a bado) ' 2 0 % ' , etc. T h e second s y s t e m : d\3 o i ^ ^oi (d a bane da-yek) ' 5 % ' ( l i t . ' t e n f o r ( b y ) h a l f a t e n t h ' ) ; d l e i 4j e i


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( d a b a d a - y e k ) ' 1 0 % ' ; ^ J j dl o i 4j oi ( d a b a d a - y e k ne)' 1 5 % ' ; i oi j i - h ei ( d a ba d o d a - y e k ) ' 2 0 % ' , e t c . T h e

t h i r d s y s t e m : ^ .J j ei > ( s a t ba y e k ' 1 % ' ; _ }i 4j Jl/

( s a t b a d o ) '2%'; ^S ^h J . ^ ( s a t b a s e ) '3%'; j\^^Xf>( s a t b a char ) ' 4 % ' ; t^ 4) X^ ( s a t b a penj) '5%', e t c . And

in t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h e J i . ^ m a y a l s o b e written ^Ji^ ( s a t i ) .D i s t r i b u t i v e s

155. T h e distributive n u m b e r s in Kurdish a r e f o r m e d b yemploying t h e c a r d i n a l s i n p a i r s , w i t h or w i t h o u t using t h e

preposition ai ( b a ) 'by', or t h e prepositional s u f f i x 4 ( a )' t o ' , as a c o n n e c t i v e . E x a m p l e s : d l d l ( y e k y e k ),d l 4) dli

( y e k ba y e k ) , o r d l 4^ (yek-a y e k ) 'one b y o n e ' ; j^ j:>( d i i d), o r ji ( d o b a d o ) ' t w o b y tw o '; Oj^ C ' > '

( j u t j t i t ) , o r Cjy^Ai Cjy>-( jt b a j u t ) 'pair b y pai r' ; ^ - d - ^(se s e ) , o r ^^ Ai ^^ (se ba se) ' t h r e e b y t h r e e ' , etc.

156. VOCABULARYJ i j * - (chiiar) four i_. * ( h a s p ) h o r s e

OsJU ( m a n g a ) c o w d ' J ^ ( h a i i t ) seveny> ( m a r ) sheep J ^ i ^ ( h a u w a l ) f i r s t

3^ (ne) half C>y>- ( j u t ) pair


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P R O N O U N S 6 3

D a t. y. 4^ (ba t t i ) to theeAce. y' - (- a t i i ) thee

L o c . \i y 0.5 ( d a t d a )in t hee

A b l . Ij y 4J ( la t r a )f r o m thee

V o c . y\ t ^ l ( a i at) O t h o u T h i r d Person

Si n g u l a r P l u r a l

yt^ \ 4j ( b a a n g o ) t o y o uy\ . ( - a n g 5 ) y o u

1.5 y s J l o(da a n g o d a ) in y o u

Ij y v J l 4 ] ( l a a n g o r a ) f r o m y o u

jX J I ( J \ ( a i a n g o ) O y o u

N o m . y - (- aii) h e , s h e , itG e n . ( ^ j (_^1 ( wi)

o f h im , e t c .Dat. ^ j 4j ( b a wi )

to h i m , e t c .Ace. i S ^ - (- a w i )

h i m , her, itL o c . l _ b j oi ( d a wi d a )

in himA b l . l j (_5j < J ( l a wi r a )

f r o m himV o c . ^S3\ c 5 l ( a i a w i ) O h e

jljl - ( - a w a n ) t h e y^j L ^ U ' w a n ) o f t h e m

( j l j ^J (b a w a n ) t o t h e m

^J' - ( - awan t h e m

\i j l _ j oi(da w a n d a )in t h e m

I J jlj 4 J ( l a w a n r a )fr o m them

j j l j l 1 ^ ( a i a w a n ) Q t h e y 160. O c c a s i o n a l l y , w h e n s p e c i a l e m p h a s is is r e q u i r e d , t h e

i n i t i a l I is a l s o r e t a i n e d in t h e o b l i q u e cases. E x a m p l e s :iy\ 4j (ba a m i n ) 't o m e ' ; y l ^(la at) ' f r o m t h e e ' ; l j b j l e i(d a a w i - d a ) 'i n h i m ' ; _jX; I 4j ( b a a n g o ) ' t o y o u ' ; jl^ t^J. ( i

a w a n ) 'o f t h e m ' ; \ X y A ei ( d a a m a i - d a ) 'i n u s ' .


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D a t . j^ji 4 j (ba d a r s - ( i ) m )t o m y l e sso n

Ace. ^3^ - ( - d a r s - ( i ) m )

Loc. \ X , r ^ j i o i ( d a dars -(i )mda) i n m y lesson

A b l . ^ . ^ j i 4] ( la d a r s - ( i ) m )f r o m my lesson

V o c . f^ji (j \ ( a i dars-(i)m)O my l e s s o n

N o t e . F o r th e o m i s s i o n o f th e p o s t p o s i t i o n U (ra ) in t h e A b l a ti v eC a s e , s e e 1 1 2 a n d 1 1 3 .

R e f l e x i v e P r o n o u n s1 6 7 . T h e r e f l e x i v e p r o n o u n s a r e f o r m e d b y a d d i n g t h e suf

fix p r o n o u n s to the p ro n o m i n a l adverb ^ > - (kh) ' s e l f .

A\j-ji 4) ( b a dar s an- ( i) m)to my l e s s o n s

J >\ ^ j i - ( - d a r s a n - ( i ) m )m y l e s s o n s

i J U i U j i o:> ( d a d a r s a n ) - i ) mda) .in my l e s s o n s

| J \^ji 4 j ( l a d a r s a n ) - ( i ) m )f r o m m y l e s s o n s

J> V j i ( ^ l ( a i d a r s a n - ( i ) m )O my l e s s o n s

S i n g u l a r^ j > . ( k h 5 - m )

> Z j y - (kh-t)j ^ ^ i - (kh-)

h i m -

m y s e l ft h y s e l f

h e r-, i t s e l f

P l u r a ljU^(kh-man) o u r s e l v e s(jl i'(kh-tan) y o u r s e l v e sijl^(kh-yan) t h e m s e l v e s

D e c l e n s i o n of a R e fl e x i v e P ro n o u n1 6 8 . A r e fl e x i v e p r o n o u n is declinable a s f o l l o w s : -

S i n g u l a r P l u r a lN o m. C j y - . (kht)

y o u r s e l fGen. 0 - t ^ U i kht)

o f y o u r s e l f

l'y-. (- khotan)y o u r s e l v e s

of your selves


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t a n ) ' y o u i y o u r s e l v e s ' ; ' t j \ $ > - y O ' j ' ( a w a n b o k h o y a n ) ' t h e yt h e m s e l v e s ' ; ^ W - ^ b ^ ( a w a n a c h a k i n ) ' t h e s e a r e g o o d ' ;|,-Lw':> ^ y 1 j V ( a w a n a i d a s t e n i m ) 'I s h a l l t a k e t h e s e ' ; ' g l j l^j J W (awaachatirin) 'those are better' ; I ^ ^ y r J Ijl (awanid a g r i m ) 'I s h a l l c a t c h t h o s e ' ' .

1 7 2 . The s e p a r a t e p e r s o n a l p r o r i o u n s , 3 r d . p e r s o n singulara n d plur al, a r e e m p l o y e d a s d e m o n s t r a t i v e s .

Singular P lur aloj l (awa) t hisjl ( a u ) t h a t

'jy' (hwa) t h a t y o n d e r

4 ; | j l ( a w a n a ) t h e s ejljl (a w a n ) t h o s e

4>\_j& ( h o w a n a )t hos e y on de r

D e c l e n s i o n of the D e mo n st ra ti ve P ro no un173. T h e d e m o n s t r a t i v e p r o n o u n s jl ( a w a ) and |4J\_5l

( a w a n a ) a r e th u s declined :S i n g u l a r P l u r a l

N o m . 4J\_j^ - ( - a w a n a )t h e s e

Gen. f ^ ^ 3 (S^ ( i w a n a i )of t h e s e

N o m . o j\ - ( - a w a ) t h i s

G e n . ( S 3 ij,\ (i w a i ) o f t h i s

Dat. { S 3 ^. ( b a w a i ) to this

Ace. S^ - ( - a w a i ) t h i s

L o c . Ijb J o i ( d a w a i d a )in t his

A b l . S 3 ^ ( la w a i )

D a t . (_^>lj 43 ( b a w a n a i )to t h e se

Ace. (y'j' - ( - a w a n a i )t h e se

L o c . IJLJ l_j ei ( d a w a n a i - d a )in t h e s e

A b l . ( J ^ 3 ^ ( la w a n a i )


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a m p l e s : eyt> oj\ ( a w a h a w a ) 'this is h e ' , o r 'this is t h e o n e ' ;o^fc j\ ( a u h a w a ) , 't h a t is h e ' , or 't h a t is t h e o n e ' .

1 7 8 . For a distant p a s t t i m e , s e a s o n , or p e r i o d , t h e A c c u s a t i v e o f jl ( a u ) is e m p l o y e d . E x a m p l e s : t^jjj ( _ ^ j | ( a w erzhe) ' t h a t d a y ; ^^ p ijj\ ( a w e s h a w e ) ' t h a t n ig h t', o r ' t h a t

s a m e n i g h f ; ^i (jj] (awe d a m e ) ' t h a t rime', or ' t h a t s a m et i m e ' ; j [ i ^ ' j ^ _ ^ j \ ( a w e z i s t a n e ) ' t h a t wi nt er' , o r ' that s a m e

w i n t e r ' .1 7 9 . In s o m e districts o f S i n n a a n d S a k i s , is s u b s t i

t u t e d f o r ^ , in t h e d e m o n s t r a t i v e s . T h e y s a y 4.^1 ( a m a )f o r e j l ( a w a ) , - (c hi )

'what?', a n d 4Li (kieha) 'whi ch?', or 'which of two?'.N o t e . T h e interrogativ p r o n o u n 4^ is e q u a l l y a p p l i c a b l e t o p e r

s o n s a n d i n a n i m a t e t h i n g s .D e c l e n s i o n of the I n t e r r o g a t i v e P r o n o u n s

1 8 2 . T h e y a r e th u s d e c l i n e :Nom. ^ - ( k i e ) who?

G e n . f^ t ^ l ( i k i e ) o f w h o m ? , o r w h o s e ?


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PRONOUNS 7 1

Dat. (_^ ^^ (ba k i e ) to whom?A c e . (_ ^ - ( k i e ) w h o m ?

L o c . \i ^ 0.5 (da k ie da) in w h o m ?A b l . ^ y ^ ( l a k i e ) f r o m w h o mV o c . ^ ( 5 l ( a i k i e ) O w h o ?

N o m .

G e n .D a t .

A ce.

L o c .

A b l .V o c .

(_^ - ( c h i ) w h a t ?>-.(_^l (i chi) of what?

j> . - - ( c h i ) w h a t ?

\i ^ oi ( d a c h i d a ) i n w h a t ?(_j>- 4J (l a c h i ) f r o m w h a t ?(_j>- c ^ l (a i c h i) O w h a t ?

N o m . 4. > - ( k i e h a ) w h i c h ?yG e n . 4^ ( ^ l ( i kieha) of which?

D a t . 4^*S 4j ( b a k i e h a ) t o w h i c h ?^ ~ y \

A c e . 4^ - (k i e h a ) which?L o c . b 4-.J) oi ( d a k i e h a d a ) in . which?

yA b l . 4 ^ 4) ( la k i e h a ) f r o m w h i c h ?

V o c . 4 ^ (_jl ( a i k i e h a ) O w h i c h ?

T h e I n t e r r o g a t i v e P r o n o u n i^ , W i t h P r o n o m i n a l S u f f i x e s183. T h e i n t e r r o g a t i v e p r o n o u n 4 ^ m a y t a k e th e p l u r a l

' S u f f i x P r o n o u n s ' , as f o l l o w s :( j l o 4^ ( k i e h a - m a n ) w h i c h o n e of u s ?(ju 4 j^ ( k i e h a - t a n ) or

^f-5 ( k i e h a - i i ) w h i c h one o f y o u ?(jl \ ( k ie h a - y a n ) w h i c h one o f t h e m ?

Note. The l a t t e r is occasionally contracted to ( j l f - 5 ( k i e h a n ) .


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P R O N O U N S 7 Z

Note. The pronunciation o f 4$ ( k a ) is not 'k', as in Persian andT u r k is h , b u t it is p r o n o u n c e d likp ' c o ' in ' c o p y ' .

1 8 7 . Nouns preceding the re l a t i v e p r o n o u n j Jljl. d l i _ 5 \ j( p i a w e k c h a w a n i k i i e r , h a t a kin a m i n ) 'A m a n , h is e y e s

b l i n d , c a n i e t o m e ' . W e s h o u l d e x p e c t t o f i n d t h e s e w o r d s :; j j i ^ ^ 4 jU oy jJi < y b W ^ { ^ . 3 ^ (piawek- ka cha-


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i ' R O N O U N S 7 5

^ jti ( h a r c h i )d A . . " , T ( t i s h t e k )

d X Z s r ( c h i t e k )t i L l > - j , ( h a r c h i t e k )

( i L l > . ( b a r y e k )

j_j- ^a (h a m i i je)d i s . ^ M.4> ( h a m u j e - e k )^ y > (h a r je)

d J L > - y ( h a r j e - e k )cjV M.a ( h a m i i l a i )^ jA ( h a r l a i ) i

d X j V ^* ( h a r l a i e k )j^_j y (h a r w a k h t )

d J L l i - j . ( h a r w a k h t e k )Oi-j _^4> ( h a mu w a k h t )

4 ( h a m i s h a )( r j j ^ ( d a y i m )

(jlj|.5 ( d a y i m a n )j _ j j _^* (har, ro z h )

d X j 3 j y k ( h a r rzhek)3 _ j j M .* (hamu ro z h )

_yi _^ (har s h a t i )d J l i j ( h a r s h a w e k )^ _yA ( h a m i i s h a u )

w h a t e v e r

1j- a n y t h i n g

e v e r y t h i n g

o n e (so m e on e)anyone

everyone

e v e r y w h e r e

w h e r e v e r

everywhere ( d i r e c t i o n )w h e r e v e r ( w h a t e v e r

d i r e c t i o n )

w h e n e v e r

- a l w a y s

e ve ry day

all day

e v e r y n i g h t

all n i g h t


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V E R B S ^ 7

1 9 2 . V O C A B U L A R Ye j l ( a w a ) t h i s

j1 ( a u ) t h a t , t h i s^/T ( c h i ) w h a t ?

(J> (kie) who?^j> ( d a r s ) l esson\^ (kieha) which?

E X E R C I S E ST h i s is m y b o o k . W h o s e b o o k is t h a t ? T h a t is y o u r

b o o k . W h a t is t h i s ? T h i s is a l e s s o n , a n d it is a b i g l e s s o n .W h a t is h e d o i n g (b:>'daka')? T a m r e a d i n g ( ^_f-:>

d a k h u e n i m ) m y l e s s o n . T h i s is g o o d . W h o is y o u r f r i e n d( C^ji ' d o s t ' ) ? M y b o o k is m y f r i e n d . T h e r e a re ( ( j * ^

h a n ' ) m a n y l e s s o n s in t h i s b o o k . W h o s e ( ^ ^ ^ o ' k t e ^ n ' b o o k sare these? T h e s e are ( i s ) m y f a t h e r ' s books. VVhich b o o kis the most beauriful, this one or ( V ' ^ ^ ^ ' ^ *^^^ " ^ ^T h i s one. Is t h a t y o i i r h o u s e ? T h i s h o u s e i s l a r g e r a n db e t t e r f o r m e . W h i c h o n e o f t h e m is b e t t e r f o r y o u ? Thatone. What are-^ou doing ( , ^i 'dakai') ? Nothing. Who

d i d ( iji ' k i r t ' ) this? N o b o d y .N o t e . A l w a y s p u t th e v e r b a t t h e e n d of th e s e n t e n c e .

C H A P T E R VV E R B S

193. T h e K u r d i s h v e r b s a re o f t w o l a r g e classes, t r a n s i t i v ea n d i n t r a n s i t i v e , a n d i o e a c h o n e o f t h e s e c l a s s e s t h e r e a r eb o t h r e g u l a r and i r r e g u l a r , b o t h s i m p l e a n d c o m p o u n d v e r b s .

N o t e .A transitive verb expresses an action which passes f r o m & eagent to a n o b j e c t , and an i n t r a n s i t i v e v e r b expresses a n a c t i o n State.

t h a t is limited t o th e a g e n t .


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(1) A re g u l a r v e r b is o n e t h a t employs o n e stem in all it st e n s e s . E x a m p l e s : (jU J ( t i r . s a n ) 't o f e a r ' , (j-'^ ( b i t i r s e )' f e a r t h o u ' ; i j \ iy ( s t i t a n ) 't o b u r n ' ; (^ yi ( b i s i i t e ) ' b u r n

t h o u ' ; -^y- ( k hw endin) 'to r e - a d ' , ij^y^ (bikhwene) ' r e a dt h o u ', e t c .

(2) A n ir r e gu la r v e r b is o n e i n w h i c h n o connection is tob e s e e n between its fu n d a m e n ta l p a r t s or s t e m s . E x a m p l e s :

^y l * ( h a t i n 't o c o m e ' , ^ ^ ( b e ) o r ojj ( w a r a ) ' c o m e t h o u ' ;^ ( k u t i n ) 'to . s a y ' , Jj b i l l e ) ' s a y thou ', e t c .

(3) A s i m p l e v e r b is o n e t h a t d o e s n ot e m p lo y a n a u x i l i a r yverb. A ll the e x a m p l e s given a b o v e under re g u l a r a n d i r r e g

u l a r verbs a r e simple verbs.(4) A compound ve rb i s o n e t h a t employs a noun or a n

a d j e c t i v e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a n aux iliar y v e r b . E x a m p l e s :( j " " ^ J : > ( d i l l s i j t a n ) o r ^y slS j ( z i g s i i t a n ) t o p i t y ( l i t .

't o h e a r - b u r n ' o r ' t o s t o m a c h - b u r n ' ) ; ^^U -jj ( w a - b i r hat i n ) o r 6 ^ _ o l * j - ^ o } ( w a - b i r h a t i n - a - w a ) to r e m e m b e r ( l i t .

'to c o m e memory-ward') ; J : > ^ _ ^ U ( h a z i r k i r d i n ) t o prep a r e ( l i t . 'to m a k e r e a d y ' ) ; ^jll^ ^i\ ( a z y e t k e s h a n ) tos u f f e r ( l i t . 'to d r a g torment'), e t c .

The 'Stems' of the K u r d i s h V e r b1 9 4 . Al l t h e t e n s e s of t h e Kurdish v e r b a r e b a s e d o n t w o

f u n d a m e n t a l p a r t s c a l l e d ' s t e m s ' o f th e v e r b . T h e s e a r e m o s tc o n v e n i e n t l y f o u n d in t h e In fin itiv e a n d I m p e r a t i v e , a s in th eTur k is h a n d P e r s i a n l a n g u a g e s .

( 1 ) T h e i n f i n i t i v e , w h i c h f o r m s t h e b a s i s or. ' s t e m ' f o r a llt h e p a s t t e n s e s o f a l l m o o d s , e n d s in j ( n) . E x a m p l e s :


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tw o k i n d s , separable, and inseparable( 1 ) T h e s e p a r a b l e p r e f i x e s a re \i ( d a ) o r jj ( r o ) f o r

' d o w n ' , ^ } ^ ( h a l ) f o r ' u p ' , ji ( d a r ) o r jioj ( w a - d a r ) f o r'o u t ', j_j ( w a r ) for ' b a c k ' , or 'a ro u n d ', \j (ra) for 's t r aight ',

o r ' f i r m ' , ^ ( l e ) f o r ' o n ' , V ( l a ) f o r ' a w a y ' , ^J ( t e ) fo r' i n ' , and o c c a s i o n a l l y ej ( w a ) fo r ' w a r d ' ( di r ec ti o n) . V e r b s

e m p l o y i n g any of t h e s e separ abl e prefixes a r e called ' C o m p o sit e V er b s' .

( 2 ) T h e i nse para bl e p ref ix es a r e J ( b i ) a n d i (da).T h e p r e fi x > ( b i ) f o rm s the i m p e ra t i v e , the pres ent, p e r

f e c t , a n d p lu p er f ec t s u bj un c ti ve , a n d i s considerably u s e d inall t e n s e s of the c o n d i ti o n a l a n d o p ta ti v e . The p r e f i x i

( d a ) , when s u b s t i t u t e d for the i m p e ra t i v e p re f i x > ( b i ) , formsthe present a n d f ut ur e i n d i c a ti v e , a n d when p re fixe d to t h e

p re te ri te , f or ms t h e i mp e rf ec t i nd ic a ti ve . In 'composite verbs't h e p r e f i x e s J ( b i ) o i ^ ( da) , a r e inserted b e t w e e n t h e v e r b

a n d t h e s e p a r a b l e p r e f i x . E x a m p l e s : j , J L J . > b ( d a - d a - n i s h i m )o r ^^ijj (r-da-nshim) 'I s it d o w n ' ; e S j l * ( h a l - b i - g r a )

o r o^^lst ( h a l - g r a ) ' c a r r y t h o u ' , o r 'take t h o u u p ' ;O j > ^ , 3 3 (war-bi-gra) or o y 3 3 (war-gra) ' r e c e i v e thou '

o r ' t a k e t h o u b a c k ' . T h e p r e f i x > (bi) is v e r y o f t e n o m i t t e d incomposite v e r b s .

( 3 ) T h e p r e f i x , e j ( w a ) , g i v e n u n d e r ' s e p a r a b l e p r e f i x e s 'a b o v e , is o n e o f t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t s u b j e c t s i n t h e K u r d i s h

l a n g u a g e . It is s o m e t i m e s e m p l o y e d as a p r e f i x , a n d somet i m e s as a s u f f i x . In s o m e w o r d s it is s e p a r a b l e , a n d i n o t h e r s

it is i n s e p a r a b l e . S o m e d ia le c t s e m p lo y it as a p r e f i x t o a


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V E R B S 8 1

c e r t a i n w o r d , a n d o t h e r d i a l e c t s u s e it a s a s u f f i x t o t h e s a m ew o r d . In g e n e r a l it m e a n s ' a g a i t i ' , o r ' r e p e a t e d ly ' . In c o n n e c t i o n wi t h v e r b s , it h a s t h e s a m e m e a n i n g w h e t h e r it is

e m p l o y e d a s a p r e f i x or a s a s u f f i x . T h e purer a n d betterK u r d i s h , h o w e v e r , generally u s e it a s a s u f f i x . In t h e f o l l o w i n g w o r d s i t m a y be c o n s i d e r e d as i n s e p a r a b l e : ^ e_y_llJ(listin-a-wa) or ^ ^ ^ " 3 (wa-listin) 'to l i c k ' ; " j - ^ ^ J (rish-

a n - a - w a ) o r .jlijoj (wa-rishan) 'to v om it' (lit. 'to spill repeatedly') ; e^iji ( k ir din- a- w a) o r J ) : > ^ oj ( w a - k i r d i n )

'to o p e n ' ( l i t . 'to d o o v e r again), e t c . In t h e f o l l o w i n g w o

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A Practical Kurdish Grammar