Pointing Counting with fingers

6.4 Grammar 59 Example Figure 1. Finger Counting Count ―one‖ Count ―two‖ Count ―six‖ Count ―eight‖

6.4 Grammar

6.4.1 Positional verbs Ex. 4 –5

In EnglishSpanish it is relatively easy to talk about the general location or presence of a person or object by using the verb ‗to be‘ or estar. Examples English Spanish 1. The spear is on the floor. El chuzo está en el piso. 2. The spear is against the wall. El chuzo está recostado a la pared. 3. The basket is on the floor. La canasta está en el piso. You will note in the above examples that the same verb, is, is used throughout the English examples to refer to general location of the object. The verb está is used throughout the Spanish examples. A Kuna speaker, however, must choose one from several positional verbs to refer to the general location and position of a person or object. The above EnglishSpanish examples require three different positional verbs to be said in Kuna. Examples 1. Eswal napkin mai . spear on-the-ground is-lying ‗The spear is lying on the ground.‘ 60 Positional Words 2. Eswal ilagin kwichi . spear on-the-wall is-leaningstanding ‗The spear is leaning against the wall.‘ 3. Karpa napkin chi . basket on-the-ground is-sitting ‗The basket is sitting on the ground.‘ The general location of a personobject is always viewed in light of hisits position. There are five basic potential positions —lying, sitting, hanging suspended, standing, and ―on all fours‖—each of which is indicated by one of five 20 positional verbs. When a Kuna speaks of the location of a personobject, he must choose the positional verb which, in his point of view, reflects the position of the personobject. Examples 1. Aktigal mai. ‗The canoe pole is lying there.‘ 2. Nalas chi. ‗The orange is sitting there.‘ 3. Mol nai. ‗The blouse is hanging there.‘ 4. Eswal kwichi. ‗The spear is standing up there.‘ 5. Koe un. ‗The deer is on all fours there.‘ 6.4.1.1 Positional verbs with reference to objects Various situations or objects indicate to a Kuna speaker the specific positional verb which ought to be used. 1 Mai In general, the positional verb mai refers to objects which are ―lying down.‖ An object which occurs with the verb mai is generally a long object. From the viewpoint of a Kuna speaker, a long object cannot generally be doubled bent into a sitting position. It is either mai ‗lying‘ or kwichi ‗standing‘. Examples

1. Eswal mai.

‗The spear is lying on the floor.‘

2. Aktigal mai.

‗The canoe pole is lying on the floor.‘ 2 Chi In general, the positional verb chi refers to objects which are ―sitting.‖ An object which occurs with the verb chi is generally a squat object. The objects may be either large or small. Examples

1. Karpa chi.

‗The basket is sitting there.‘

2. Nalas chi.

‗The orange is sitting there.‘

3. Kan chi.

‗The bench is sitting there.‘

4. Pude chi.

‗The bottle is sitting there.‘

5. Esmed chi.

‗The pot is sitting there.‘ 3 Nai In general, the positional verb nai refers to objects which are ―hanging‖ or ―suspended.‖ Any object which is hung from rafters, as well as boats and planes which are viewed as being suspended presumably in water or air occur with the positional verb nai. 20 A sixth positional verb, ti, which involves motion, is dealt with in 18.4.2.