chzh syllable final ch

4.4 Grammar 37 Rule 1 : The form of a suffix beginning with chzhj varies according to the particular final consonant or vowel which occurs in the word in which the suffix is added. The ch form of the suffix is added to a word ending in a fortis consonant. Example nap ‗earth‘ + -che = napche ‗to the earth‘ The zh form of the suffix is added to a word ending in a lenis consonant. Example neg ‗house‘ + -zhe = negzhe ‗to the house‘ The j form of the suffix is added to a word ending in a vowel. Example ya ‗hole‘ + -je = yaje ‗to the hole‘ Rule 2 : If the addition of a suffix results in bringing any two fricatives or a fricative and affricate together, the two parts contract to ch. Example wis ‗to know‘ + chuli ‗no‘ = wichuli ‗don‘t know‘ Note : It should be noted that although suffixes that begin with ch are common in the Paya Kuna dialect, the cognate forms usually begin with s in the San Blas and Bayano dialects. In those dialects, ch sometimes occurs intervocalically, but j never occurs.

4.3 Culture

In Kuna, if someone answers a question you have asked, it is polite to acknowledge the answer before you ask another question. Such expressions as ajáj, aaaa, eye ‗yes‘, are used to acknowledge the answer to a question see 11.4.3.1. Most Kunas have a Spanish name and a Kuna name; they prefer to use their Spanish names with outsiders and for doing business. If you are referring to a Kuna while you are in conversation with someone, or if you need to attract the attention of a Kuna, it is more polite to refer to him by his role in society e.g., sagla ‗chief‘ or by his kinship to someone e.g., Luis pab ‗Louis‘ father‘, Alvaro machi ‗Alvaro‘s son‘, than directly by name. It is not polite to ask someone his Kuna name. Even if you know an individual ‘s Kuna name, you should use his Spanish name to refer to him. Only ifwhen in conversation with you, the Kuna people refer to someone by his Kuna name, are you at liberty to use his Kuna name.

4.4 Grammar

4.4.1 Verb tense in completive aspect

When an event is viewed by the speaker as being completed, i.e., the action has been finished, the aspect used is called the completive. This aspect roughly parallels the English past tense and the Spanish tiempo preterito. In using the completive aspect, you must keep in mind 1 the form of the verb used, and 2 that the time reference must be either stated or implied.

4.4.2 Verb form in completive aspect Ex. 8 –10

The completive aspect is formed by adding one of the following four forms of the completive suffix to the verb stem. -cha follows a fortis consonant. -zha follows a lenis consonant. -s follows a vowel. It may be word final or followed by other suffixes. -ja follows a vowel preceding certain suffixes such as -l ‗when‘, -na ‗contrary to fact‘, or -d ‗nominalizer‘. 38 Questions Examples 1. An mol pakcha. I blouse buy-completive ‗I bought a blouse.‘ 2. An madun kobzha. I chicha drink-completive ‗I drank chicha.‘ 3. Ti nos. river rise-completive ‗The river rose.‘ 4. Ti nojal ... river rise-completive-when ‗When the river had risen ...‘ Exception : kun + -cha = kucha ‗ate‘ This irregular form should be memorized. Exercise 8 . Completive aspect frame drill The teacher says Sentence 1 and the class repeats it; the teacher says Sentence 2 and the class repeats it, etc. This exercise should be repeated several times. Examples Teacher: An mol pakcha. Student: An mol pakcha. Teacher: An mol chikcha. Student: An mol chikcha. 1. An mol pakcha. ‗I bought a blouse.‘ 2. An mol chikcha. ‗I cut out a blouse.‘ 3. An mol ukcha. ‗I sold a blouse.‘ 4. An mol makcha. ‗I sewed a blouse.‘ 5. An mol enukcha. ‗I washed a blouse.‘ 6. An ua 16 chwas. ‗I caught a fish.‘ 7. An ua chus. ‗I fetched the fish.‘ 8. An ua tus. ‗I cooked the fish.‘ 9. An ua ches. ‗I carried the fish.‘ 10. An ua chabos. ‗I put away the fish.‘ Exercise 9 . Completive aspect substitution frame drill The teacher repeats the frame. The teacher selects any word from the list below and says it. The student then substitutes the word in the frame, adding the completive aspect. Examples Teacher: An mol pakcha. Teacher: uk Student: An mol ukcha. Teacher: An mol ukcha. Teacher: echu Student: An mol echus. 16 See 4.2.4, note on transitional w.