Hupa Verbs

From A Short Practical Grammar of Hupa by Victor Golla, for the Hupa Language Program, Hoopa Valley Tribe, December 1985.

Basic Subject Prefixes with Modifying Prefixes - Examples

Subject

Subject Prefix

to paint

to pick up (filled container)

to tie shoe

I

wh

nawh-Leh

yawh-xawh

dahna:k'iwh-tL'o:

You

n (l,m,ng)

nan-Leh

yang-xawh

dahna:k'in-tL'o:

He/She

'

na'-Leh

ya'-xawh

dahna'k'i-tL'o:

We

di

na:di-Leh

ya:di-xawh

dahna:k'idi-tL'o:

You all

h or oh

nah-Leh

yah-xawh

dahna:k'oh-tL'o:

They

ya'

na:ya'-Leh

ya:ya'-xawh

dahna:ya'k'i-tL'o:

Comments Added by Danny Ammon

Notice the verbs all have specific "stems". To paint has a verb stem of -Leh. To pick up a container has a verb stem of -xawh. To tie shoe has a verb stem of -tL'o: .

The "You" form can take any of these sounds: n, l, m, ng.

The subject is determined by a piece of the word such as wh, 'i, di, ...

Verbs in this pattern are a little more complex than the Basic Subject Prefix pattern.

All of the above verbs have a modifying prefix. To paint has a modifying prefix of n-. To pick up a container has a modifying prefix of ya-. To tie shoe has a modifying prefix of dahna:ki- .