Third person singular and plural indirect imperatives
128 —¡Hiya-comun hinan-xanh -pu, huna copi -quin hinan-non,
me-indeed give -IMP -M.VOC mine pay -INF give -HORTPURPDS
quin -quiha
hinan xahu
yohi-ni -xo
-hqui. SEQSSTR-REPORT jaguar.ERG anteater say -REM.PAST -3PAST -DECL
‘ “Indeed, give it the tunic to me, in order to give you mine in payment,” said the jaguar to the anteater a long time ago.’ or ‘for me to give you mine to pay…’
129 ¡Miya vutza tari hinan-non -murocon min hiya you
other tunic give -HORT-really you me
hinan-xanh -quinh -non
nashi-yoo -non -hin
-pu give -IMP -in.exchange-HORTPURPDS bathe-IMM.ACN -HORT -for.sure-M.VOC
‘Really, let me give you another tunic so that you give me yours in exchange, but first let us go bathing for sure’
As the above examples show, the exact meaning generally depends on the context. The examples marked with will be discussed in Section 4.4.
While considering direct imperatives, we noticed that ti ‘encouragement’ is an alternative for the common or familiar commands softening the command to an encouragement. We used it in singular and
plural constructions. As we will see now, it can also be used in first person indirect imperatives. In this case, however, the speaker addresses either himself plus one addressee, which is considered the singular
form, or himself plus several addressees, which is considered the plural form. It should be noted here that Amahuaca in general does not distinguish between first person singular and plural. The speakers
always use the singular form whether they mean ‘I’ or ‘we’. As in direct commands, ti ‘encouragement’ is used in independent imperative clauses. However unlike in direct commands, in which these commands
end in the vocative, in indirect imperatives they terminate in -non -ca ‘hortatative plus first or second person actuality aspect’ or -non -vo -ca ‘hortative plus plural plus first or second person actuality aspect’.
130 a. ¡Ti quirica ha-non -ca
b. ¡Ti quirica ha-non -vo -ca
ENCOUR paper do-HORT -12ACT ENCOUR paper do-HORT -PL -12ACT
‘Come, let’s go to study’ ‘Come, let’s all go to study’
131 a. ¡Ti yono-non -ca
b. ¡Ti yono-non -vo -ca
ENCOUR work-HORT-12ACT ENCOUR work-HORT -PL -12ACT
‘Come, let’s go to work’ ‘Come, let’s all go to work’