An saglaga pegin chogzha. ‗I told the chief about you.‘

190 Social Interaction

b. An saglaje pegin ekichis. ‗I asked the chief about you in general, How are

you?, etc.‘

c. An saglaje pebal ekichis. ‗I asked the chief about what you said.‘

14.4.10 Direct speech

The clause with a verb of speaking, for example, ―He said,...,‖ almost always precedes the quotation what is said. Occasionally, the response to a question or proposal will precede the clause of speaking, as seen in the boy ‘s response to the chief in the following example. Example 1. Sagla machiga chogal: ‗The chief began to say to the boy,‘ 2. --Pe negzhe nao. ‗―Go home‖‘ 3. --Nabir-- Nega chog. ‗―Fine‖ the boy replied to him.‘ 4. --Pedrodin ampak nao. ‗―Peter will go with me.‖‘

14.4.11 Verbs of thinking

In Kuna, three different verbs are used which can be translated by the English verb, ―to think.‖ A difference is made between an opinion held, the process of thinking cogitating and surmise. 14.4.11.1 Opinion The positionopinion of the speaker on a particular topicsituation is stated by using the habitual aspect of ―to thinksay ‖ followed by a direct or indirect quote, which is the stated positionopinion of the speaker. Example Antin chog: ―Nabir.‖ 86 ‗I think that is fine.‘ 14.4.11.2 Process of thinking The process of thinking is expressed by the verb pinzhe ‗to think about‘. The verb is preceded by the thought which is marked by the specific or general suffix -gin-kin or -bal-pal see 14.4.8.1 –4. Example An nangin pinzheji. ‗I am just thinking about Mother.‘ 14.4.11.3 Surmise Surmise is expressed by the verb ebinzhe ‗to thinksurmise‘. The content of the surmise is followed by the ebinzhe clause. Example Pabdin pato Pukurgin omos, an ebinzhe. ‗I think Father would have already arrived in Pucuru by now.‘

14.4.12 Exclusive noun suffix -bi-pi Ex. 26 –27

The use of the exclusive noun suffix -bi-pi parallels the English construction ‗only a certain thing‘, such as found in the sentence, ―I eat only cooked plantains.‖ This exclusive construction is used only with the noun phrase and is achieved by adding -bi-pi to the last word of the noun phrase, either a noun, an adjective, or a pronoun. Examples 1. An chiglibi takcha. ‗I saw only wild turkeys.‘ 2. Macherganbi ormanemal. ‗Only the men are all going to the meeting.‘ 86 Note that punctuation calls for no new paragraph for the content of a thought.