226 A GRAMMAR OF THE MUNA LANGUAGE
When the speaker wishes to make a polite command he may choose the second person polite subject markers. With the ae-class, the irrealis prefix tae-
seems to be fairly common, next to the realis te-. The suffix -mo see below is normally added to this polite imperative:
260 to-kala Bapa please go, sir
2shR-go sir 261 tae-ngkora-mo
please sit down 2shI-sit-PF
262 to-lodo-mo Ibu please go and sleep, Madam
2shR-sleep-PF Madam Also, the unfamiliar second person subject markers do- and de- may be used in
the imperative mode to address a hearer whose status and position is not yet known to the hearer see 4.1:
263 de-ngkora ne ini please sit down here
2suR-sit loc this
8.7.2. The use of free pronouns in imperatives
The second person free pronouns hintu you and hintu-umu you pl may be added to imperatives. Depending on intonation and voice quality this conveys
either a very forceful command or merely contrastive emphasis not he, but you. These pronouns may either precede or follow the verb.
264 ala-mo aini hintu you take this
IMP-take-PF this you 265 ihintu me-ngkora te wawo-no kantei
you IMP-sit loc top-POS threshold you sit down on the threshold
266 mo-lodo ne ini hintu, inodi ne watu IMP-sleep loc this you I loc that
you sleep here, I will sleep over there
8.7.3. Modifying the imperative: affixes and adverbs
The imperative mode in Muna can be modified in certain ways to fit the situation and to convey the speakers emotion. Obviously, intonation and
intensity of speaking are extremely important as well. I will focus, however, on the verbal character of the imperative here.
The following is a list of affixes or affix combinations and adverbs that may modify imperatives. Since imperatives in English only allow for a small
range of formal modification, it is hard to get the impact of the imperatives in the translation. In a number of cases, I have therefore provided Dutch
equivalents. 1. Suffix -mo
The suffix -mo 10.2.29 usually softens the command when spoken with a neutral intonation. The command is not presented as an order, but almost
8 CLAUSAL MODIFICATIONS 227
as a recommendation: what is commanded is the natural thing to do for the hearer, who only needs a little extra stimulus to perform the action:
267 me-ngkora-mo do sit down Dutch: ga maar
IMP-sit-PF zitten
268 wula-mo just open your eyes Dutch:
IMP-open.eyes-PF doe je ogen maar open
When the command is said on a high pitch, the order may be more forceful. There is an urgency which is absent in the previous examples:
269 suli-mo go home, will you
IMP-return-PF 270 sampu-mo ghane
come down, boy IMP-come.down-PF boy
2. Prefix ta- and suffix -mo The combination of ta- 10.2.48 and -mo results in a very weak imperative; the
command is almost presented as a recommendation or as if the speaker gives permission. Dutch maar is a good equivalent of this affix combination:
271 ta-fumaa-mo do eat Dutch: eet maar
JUST-IMP-eat-PF 272 ta-sabara-mo deki
just be patient Dutch: wees JUST-IMP-patient-PF first
maar geduldig 3. Suffix -kaeta
As noted in 4.8.4 the pronominal object suffix -kaeta can be added to imperatives. Its usage is rather informal and it is most natural between
friends. There is an element of togetherness in the command, expressed by -kaeta; the speaker presents the command in such a way that it seems as if both
he and the hearer will benefit from the action:
273 ghindulu-kaeta-amu hintu-umu you pl go first please
IMP-go.first-us-PLUR you-PLUR 274 tei-kaeta-mo
please help yourself IMP-put-us-PF
standard phrase for inviting people to start eating or
drinking 4. The demonstrative itu
When the speaker adds the demonstrative itu see 5.5.6 to a command, it signals mild irritation and impatience on his part. The hearer may not have
performed the action after the first command and the speaker has to remind him again:
275 mai ne ini itu now come here Dutch: kom
IMP-come loc this that nou toch
228 A GRAMMAR OF THE MUNA LANGUAGE
276 wora itu now look Dutch: kijk nou toch
IMP-see that 277 me-ngkora itu
now sit down Dutch: ga toch IMP-sit that
zitten 5. The verb soba
When the imperative form of the verb soba try alternant form insoba is added to a command, it may convey two things:
1. On a neutral intonation it signals a new, unexpected command for the hearer.
The speaker wants the action performed so that he himself can do something else; the command is merely a necessary step in the process:
278 soba horo-kaeta ne itu a-[m]unda-ghoo try IMP-move-us loc that 1sI-jump-PURP
please move a little so that I can jump Dutch: ga eens opzij 279 soba ere
please stand up Dutch: ga try IMP-stand
eens staan 2. On a high pitch, soba may also convey mild irritation and impatience:
280 soba fumaa-mo why dont you eat? Dutch: eet
try IMP-eat-PF nou toch eens
281 soba mo-lodo why dont you sleep? Dutch:
try IMP-sleep ga nou toch slapen
282 insoba fetingke wamba-ku ini why dont you listen to what
try IMP-listen word-my this I say? Dutch: luister nou toch
eens 6. The adverb pada
The adverb pada already signals an emphatic command which is not impolite, nor is there impatience. The speaker is strongly convinced of the necessity of
the action being performed:
283 foroghu pada please do drink
IMP-drink already 284 poguru feka-taa-taa pada
make sure you learn well IMP-learn ADV-RED-good already
8.7.4. The prohibitive
