wii Verbs
The verb wii meaning "says" is used in a number of compound verbs, resulting in an idiomatic meaning.
These verbs are often describe the motion, sound, appearance, or nature of an object. When using these verbs,
only the "wii" part of the verb is inflected for person. Although the verb wii "says" has a plural, wip "they say", these
compound "wii" verbs only ever use the singular form of "wii". These verbs are generally intransitive.
These verbs are often describe the motion, sound, appearance, or nature of an object. When using these verbs,
only the "wii" part of the verb is inflected for person. Although the verb wii "says" has a plural, wip "they say", these
compound "wii" verbs only ever use the singular form of "wii". These verbs are generally intransitive.
Example sentences
Full list of verbs at bottom of page
Full list of verbs at bottom of page
Hwally wii.
He is silent. Hwally 'ii. I am quiet. Hwally mii. You are quiet. Hwally ki'! Be quiet! Shut up! 'Ellynyach 'iis. I'm getting worse. (with optional mild emphatic -s ending) Eyiiwch 'ehwatt mar wii. She blushed, red-faced. (Her face red, she blushed) |
Aawinn ki'!
Behave yourself! 'Ehattvech aawinn wiih umaaw. The horse didn't behave. Walwal ki'! Hurry up! 'Iipaych 'uy wii. There's no one here. (Literally, people are none, nonexistent) Mathaa 'uy wii. It's stuffy. (Lit. there's no air) |
When a "wii" verb is used to describe how another verb is done (e.g. "quickly), it is placed before the other verb and given the -ch/-k same-subject suffix:
Hully wiich waams.
She rushed out. (In a rush, she left) Wal 'iik 'aamhs. I'll go right away. I'll hurry and go. (I'll be quick-k and go) |
Wal wiich nurs.
He learns fast. (He is quick-ch and learns) Wal wiich naam maaykaam aayaaps. They quickly leave together with the dawn. (The use of wal wii with plural naam is evidence that "wii" verbs do not use the plural "wip") |
wii and eyay
Several verbs combine eyay "his (spiritual/emotional) heart" with wii to describe the emotional state or feelings of a person. In these cases, the noun eyay is the subject of the verb wii, so the wii is not inflected for person like in other "wii" verbs. Instead, a personal pronoun on the "eyay" shows whether it is "his heart", "my heart", or "your heart".
Examples:
Eyay hwattehwatt wii.
He's very angry.
(Literally, his heart is red all over)
'Eyay kwilkwil wii.
I feel weak.
(Lit. my heart goes round and round)
Mu'yuum meyay sakesak wiia?
Why are you nervous?
(Lit. why is your heart itchy?)
Since eyay is like a body part, it is in the "his/her/its" form when bare, and can become "my heart, your heart" simply by adding the prefixes '- for 1st person and m- for second person.
In addition to these, there are other "eyay" verbs that do not use wii.
Several verbs combine eyay "his (spiritual/emotional) heart" with wii to describe the emotional state or feelings of a person. In these cases, the noun eyay is the subject of the verb wii, so the wii is not inflected for person like in other "wii" verbs. Instead, a personal pronoun on the "eyay" shows whether it is "his heart", "my heart", or "your heart".
Examples:
Eyay hwattehwatt wii.
He's very angry.
(Literally, his heart is red all over)
'Eyay kwilkwil wii.
I feel weak.
(Lit. my heart goes round and round)
Mu'yuum meyay sakesak wiia?
Why are you nervous?
(Lit. why is your heart itchy?)
Since eyay is like a body part, it is in the "his/her/its" form when bare, and can become "my heart, your heart" simply by adding the prefixes '- for 1st person and m- for second person.
In addition to these, there are other "eyay" verbs that do not use wii.
List of wii verbs:
'al 'al wii
'att wii 'aat 'aat wii 'attk 'attk wii 'echwilk 'echwilk wii 'ellynyach wii 'ephutt wii 'epturk wii 'esmilyp wii 'inn wii 'inn 'inn wii 'ir wii 'ir 'ir wii 'itt wii 'uy wii 'uuy wii aarp wii aawinn wii chach wii chamecham wii eyay hwattehwatt wii eyay kwilkwil wii eyay sakesak wii hallhall wii hallehaall wii hiish wii hully wii hunn wii huullp wii hwally wii ih wii lawh wii liplip wii lukeluk wii mar wii maremar wii mulemul wii pallpall wii pilly wii rii wii rur wii sakesak wii sall wii tulltull wii tulytuly wii tuy tuy wii uh wii wal wii walwal wii yur wii yuryur wii yuutt wii |
is wobbling, can barely walk
jerks rocks back and forth, staggers is rocking back and forth (more noisily) wiggles, wags its tail ('echwilk 'echwilk, wiggles something) is getting worse kicks her heels softly (dance move) kicks her heels, turns and lifts skirt (dance move) is turned over sideways moves slightly, shakes, stirs moves around is rough (in language or action) is rough (perhaps rougher than 'ir wii) is silent is nonexistent, there is nothing there is peaceful (Barona) steps to one side behaves, is still are scattered, plentiful is very bright, shining is angry at someone (his heart is red all over) feels very weak (his heart goes round and round) is anxious, nervous (his heart is itchy) makes a rattling or rustling noise makes a clanking noise is squeaky (hishehiish, squeaks) moves fast, starts in a rush, gets a headstart it is getting dark (hunn, it is dark) loses a lot of weight is quiet, silent makes a sneezing noise turns abruptly, turns and glances at flutters one's eyelids is twinkling, shining, sparkling blushes is bareheaded is round like a ball makes smoke says in a sarcastic way is still, placid, smooth, calm swings, swoops, drops down is itchy is ragged, fringed, has things hanging down is bumpy hops along hesitates comes pouring out noisily (uh, coughs) is quick, hurries (wal, soon) is very quick, hurries up reaches over, grabs grabs everything worsens, gets worse (Barona) |
Ed Brown has some unique "wii" expressions from the Los Conejos dialect that are similar to 'Iipay, but may not all be understandable to an 'Iipay speaker:
he'un yip wii
hwall wii nyach wii saksak wii tupa tupa wii yaynaak wii |
it is pitch black (dark)
keeps quiet is quiet itches, is itchy is stuffy (i.e. the air) is calm, contented (possibly an eyay verb) |
Tiipay has some "wii" verbs of its own, where "wii" is "wi" or "i":
kwiny wi
llyuu wi hemall llyuu wi shaw wi shally shaw wi tip wi yaylah wi metha 'uy i skayk i yaysu i or ya'su i |
is quiet
pours out in large amount slobbers (Lit. drool pours out) is knobby has paws (Lit. its feet are knobby) is flat remembers (possibly an eyay verb) it's stuffy (Lit. there is no air) is quiet it is a while |
Observations
As seen above, the front part of wii verbs is sometimes related to another independent word, as in wal wii, where wal by itself means "soon". Although most of these verb parts are only found as part of a "wii" verb, you can sometimes see them appear independently when you least expect them, in sentences like: " 'Emat rii 'echuw" (I make the land flat), where rii is used as a verb meaning "flat, clear", without using the verb wii.
Most of the time, however, you can't translate the first part of a "wii" verb, and it's often an auditory portrayal of the sound or action represented by the verb, which is most obvious in the verbs that contain reduplication.
As seen above, the front part of wii verbs is sometimes related to another independent word, as in wal wii, where wal by itself means "soon". Although most of these verb parts are only found as part of a "wii" verb, you can sometimes see them appear independently when you least expect them, in sentences like: " 'Emat rii 'echuw" (I make the land flat), where rii is used as a verb meaning "flat, clear", without using the verb wii.
Most of the time, however, you can't translate the first part of a "wii" verb, and it's often an auditory portrayal of the sound or action represented by the verb, which is most obvious in the verbs that contain reduplication.