52.1. nuʔ- ‘kind of,’ k̕ʷ- ‘casually,’ ʔiʔ- ‘process,’ ʔuʔ- ‘contrast’
| nuʔx̣ʷə́ŋ cn. | ‘I’m kind of fast.’ |
| nuʔíɬən cn. | ‘I kind of ate.’ |
| nuʔswə́y̓qaʔ cn. | ‘I’m somewhat a man.’ |
| k̓ʷštə́ŋ cn. | ‘I walked casually around.’ |
| ʔiʔšə́təŋ̓ cn. | ‘I’m in the process of walking.’ |
| ʔuʔšə́təŋ̓ cn. | ‘I’m walking (since you asked). |
► 1 The first three models shows the prefix nuʔ‑. The basic meaning of this prefix is ‘somewhat, kind of, sort of, like, seems like.’ Put this on any word to add the meaning ‘somewhat (whatever the stem means)’.
► 2 In §16.2 nuʔ‑ is shown on a number of adjectives in the comparison constructions. It rarely occurs on nouns, but it can if it makes sense. For example, nuʔ‑ added to sʔíɬən ‘food’ makes nuʔsʔíɬən, which means ‘It’s kind of like food’ or ‘It looks like food.’
► 3 The prefix k̓ʷ‑ can go on any verb that describes some kind of motion, such as walking, swimming, diving, running, and so on. It adds the idea that the motion is directionless or casual. On the word for ‘walk,’ as in the model, it means ‘walk around casually or aimlessly’ or just ‘wander around.’ On the word for ‘swim,’ k̓ʷt̓əŋúʔəŋ, it means ‘tread water.’
► 4 ʔiʔ- is a common and useful prefix. It indicates that the event is viewed as a process or as being in progress.
► 5 Sometimes ʔiʔ- gives the idea of being in motion. For example, on ʔéʔtt ‘sleeping,’ ʔiʔéʔtt cn can be translated ‘I was sleeping while in motion,’ such as while in a moving vehicle.
► 6 Since it refers to an ongoing process, the ʔiʔ- prefix often occurs with the actual (§42), and it often follows the prefix kʷɬ‑ ‘already’ (§21).
► 7 While ʔiʔ- is often translated as something like ‘in the process of,’ it usually has no special translation at all. So ʔiʔšə́təŋ̓ cn is usually just translated ‘I’m walking,’ but in Klallam the ‘process’ idea is still being expressed.
► 8 In very careful pronunciation, most elders pronounce this hiʔ-.
► 9 There are two other similar-sounding words: ʔiʔ the conjunction (§17) and ʔiʔ the intensifier connector (§29.2). Be careful not to confuse these three; their meanings and functions are very different.
► 10 The ʔuʔ- prefix is very common and is especially seen following the s‑ prefix (see §35.2). It also frequently occurs without the s‑. In these cases, it always indicates a situation that the speaker contrasts with some other situation in the shared context. The shared context can be something that has previously been mentioned or something that the speaker knows or thinks is shared. This can be pretty vague, so a good rule of thumb is to use it whenever you think your statement contrasts with something else.
► 11 The ʔuʔ- prefix typically attaches to verbs, and usually to the first verb in the sentence.
► 12 The model for ʔuʔ‑ might be used in answer to someone who asked you how you are after your accident. You would answer ʔuʔšə́təŋ̓ cn ‘I’m walking,’ with the implication provided by the prefix that you are walking, in contrast to your previous condition or in contrast to some other possible condition.
 | nuʔx̣ʷə́ŋ cn ʔəɬ ʔiʔšə́təŋ̓ən. | ‘I’m walking kind of fast.’ |
 | ʔuʔáwə cn c x̣ʷə́ŋ. k̓ʷštə́ŋ cn. | ‘I’m not fast. I wander around.’ |