Grammar of colloquial Tibetan - learning tibetan

CHAPTER IX.
Peonodns.
1. Pronouns are, generally speakings declined in the
same way as nouns. Exceptions to this general rule will be
noted below under the pronouns concerned.
*2. Personal Pronouns*—These are C^' ^iga or C^'^C^*
nga-rang, I ; I^^' khy'6 or [JS'^^' khyo-ravgyTHOU, you; p'
kho, or p'^^C kho-rang, he; ^' wo^, she ; e.g.y will you stay
HERE TO-MORROW ? H^' ^C ^^' ^^^'S^' ^' V^S!^' ^^ ] hhyo
sang-nyi de do-kyi yim-'pe ? The system of honorific
language in Tibetan is dealt with below in Chapter XIII, but
here it must be briefly noted that there is a separate class
of words which must be used in reference to a person of good
position, both when speaking to and when speaking of such
person. Not to do so will lay the student open to the
charge of speaking what is known in India as ^^ Cooly
language.'^ Even if his rudeness is known to be merely the
result of ignorance, every sentence he utters will jar upon
the person he addresses.
3. As regards personal pronouns the ordinary honorific
form for thou, you is R^' hhye or R^'^C khye-rang and for
HE or SHE pi;' lihong. Of course the first person has no honor-
ific form ; nor in the Lhasa colloquial language are any
other forms used for it except Z.' nga or C^'-^C nga-rang
;