A grammar and dictionary of the Malay language : with a preliminary ...

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DISSERTATION.
very widely from that of the Malay and Javanese, as may be
seen by a brief sketch of that of the Tagala. The noun is
devoid of all inflexions. Relation is expressed by articles
which vary with the case, and of these articles, there are two
classes, one for proper names and one for appellatives. With
proper names, that for the nominative is sa, for the genitive ni,
and for the other oblique cases ka. With appellatives, the
article for the nominative is ang, for the genitive nang, and for
the other oblique cases sa. When, however, the proper name
is accompanied by another proper name being itself the leading
word, the articles become, for the nominative sina, for the
genitive nina, and for the dative, accusative, and ablative, kana.
The same article is used when speaking respectfully of the
relations of consanguinity. A plural is formed, whether for
proper names or appellatives, by placing before the noun the
word manga, a particle expressly appropriated to this purpose.
There are no means of expressing gender, except by the use of
adjectives having the sense of sex. These are lalaki, which
is Malay for the " masculine," and babayi, Avhich is a native
word for the "feminine."
The adjective, which in composition follows the noun,
undergoes no change, except when it qualifies a plural noun,
and then the first syllable of the root of which it is com-
posed is doubled. A comparative degree is formed by the
use of the word lalu, " more," which seems to be the Malay
word lalu, '' to pass," or " pass." A superlative is expressed
by the word lubha, " much," or " in excess ;
" which may be a
corruption of the Malay word labih, " more," or to a greater
degree, and it is also expressed by the native word disapala, " in
a large measure."
The formation of the personal pronouns is singular. That
of the first person in the nominative singular is aku, in tlie
genitive, akin or ku ; and in the dative, accusative, and ablative,
saakin. It has three plurals. Tayu is a general plural in the
nominative, which has for its genitive atin and natin, and for
the other oblique cases saatin. Kita is a dual, and has for its
genitive kanita and ta, and for the other oblique cases sakanita.
Kami is a plural which excludes the party addressed, and it has