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A GRAMMAR OF THE MALAYALIM LANGUAGE

JOSEPH PEET

025 OF PEROSONAL PRONOUNS.

60. The Pronous are ഞാൻ I; നീ Thou; താൻ self; അവൻ He; അവൾ She; അത It; with their plurals.
1st. ഞാൻ I, Masculine and Feminine, is declined.

The above form of the plural can only be used in speaking of ourselves as distinct from some of the party spoken to, or of; or part a whole company: thus, if three persons were together, and one of them say ഞങ്ങൾ പൊകട്ടെ, Let us go: it would imply that two only were to go.
When the party spoken to, or of, are associated with us in the performance of any thing; or if one or more individuals speak about some matter in which all persons of the same class, whether present or absent, are concerned, the form of the plural is thus,

There is another form of this pronoun written നമ്മൾ, നമ്മളുടെ etc., but this, though of very common use, is improper and ought to be rejected.
നാം, with its oblique cases നമ്മുടെ etc, is also used as a pronoun singular of distinction by the higher classes instead of ഞാൻ, etc.; and if and inferior speak to a superior, about the property of the latter, he will use the same form; as, അത നമ്മുടെ വക ആകുന്നു, lit. That is our property.
2nd. നീ Thou Mas. And Fem. declined.

There is a curious anomaly connected with the use of the singular number of this pronoun; viz. that while it is never used except to inferiors of very low degree, it is the only form used in reference to the DietyTo say to a respectable man,
നീ അപ്രകാരം കല്പിച്ചിട്ടില്ലയൊ?
Have you not so commanded? Would be gross insult: but this form must be used in addressing the Supreme Being: as,
ദൈവമെ നീ അപ്രകാരം കല്പിച്ചിട്ടില്ലയൊ?
O God! Have you not so commanded?
This mode of addressing the Diety is in accordance with the laws of the Sanscrit Language; from which it has, doubtlessly, been borrowed
The plural form of the above pronoun is used for the singular when addressing females in the middle ranks of life: sometimes it is used to men.
The following forms are used for the vocative cases of the above pronouns.
To persons of inferior degree, for the masculine singular, എടാ: feminine എടീ, for both sexes നീ. As a greater mark of respect എടൊ is
sometimes used for the masculine gender among persons of this class.
Among all, but the upper classes and Sircar Officers, നിങ്ങൾ is used
for the plural Masculine and Feminine.
അങ്ങുന്നെ is a term of respect, corresponding to Sir, used, in general, to Sircar Officers of all classes except Brahmins; these are called സ്വാമീ swāmy: but this and similar terms, being both servile and degrading, ought not to be used by Europeans. It is safer, quite as agreeable to the idiom of the Language, as well as most respectful, to address persons of rank of influence in the third person, or by their title or office: as,
രാജാവ വന്നാൽ കൊള്ളാം; രാജാവ വന്നാലും.
Will the Rajah be pleased to come: for will you, &c.
കാൎയ്യക്കാരൻ വരുമൊ?
Will the Tahsildar come?
3rd. താൻ self, is a Reflective pronoun; the singular number of which is seldom used except for the masculine gender. It is thus declined;

താൻ with its oblique cases, is used as the honourific of the second person singular. When speaking to, or of persons a little above the lowest classes നീ is used. തങ്ങൾ is used, as a more respectful term for the singular താൻ.
4th. അവൻ He; അവൾ She; അത It; declined.


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