56.1. TU¸- ‘kind of,’ I¸- ‘process,’ U¸- ‘contrast’
Models
| 1) | TU¸ X̱EṈ SEN. | ‘I’m somewhat fast.’ |
| 2) | TU¸ NOḰEȽ SEN. | ‘I was sort of sleeping.’ |
| 3) | TU, QENET SEN. | ‘I kind of looked at it.’ |
| 4) | TU¸ SNEW̱EȽ. | ‘It looks like a canoe. / |
| It seems like a canoe. / | ||
| It’s sort of a canoe.’ | ||
| 5) | I¸ŚETEṈ¸ SEN. | ‘I’m in the process of walking.’ |
| 6) | U¸ŚETEṈ¸ SEN. | ‘I’m walking (since you asked).’ |
‣ 1 Models 1, 2, 3, and 4 show TU¸, which is a prefix that is customarily written separate from the word it modifies. The range of meanings of this prefix is shown in the highlighted parts of the English translations.
‣ 2 The TU¸ prefix can occur on adjectives, intransitive, and transitive verbs, as shown in models 1, 2, and 3. It occasionally is used on nouns as in model 4.
‣ 3 The TU¸ prefix is very common and useful. It can be used on any word where it makes sense.
‣ 4 Model 5 shows the very common and useful I¸ prefix. This prefix indicates that the event is viewed as a process or as being in progress.
‣ 5 The I¸ prefix implies motion—being on one’s way. It has only been recorded with verbs, and usually the verb is in the actual aspect form (§42). It can occur on verbs like those meaning ‘sit’ and ‘sleep,’ where motion is not necessarily involved. In those cases, it implies that the person is in a boat, car, or anything that is in motion. So, for example, I¸ O¸MET is ‘They’re sitting,’ but it implies that they are in something like a boat or car in motion.
‣ 6 With this I¸ prefix, we see another case of homophones (see the introduction to §54 on homophones). Two other similar-sounding particles are the I¸ conjunction (§11) and the I¸ linker or I¸-class auxiliaries (§10.2). These three sounds the same but have very different meanings and functions. Look at point 4 of §10.2 to see the difference between the I¸-class linker and the I¸ conjunction. Study the following sentence to see the difference between the I¸ ‘process’ prefix and the I¸ conjunction:
I¸ ȻENIṈ¸ET I¸ I¸ W̱I¸TEṈ¸. ‘They’re running and jumping.’
proc running and proc jumping
‣ 7 The U¸ prefix shown in model 6 is very common. It is mentioned in §11.2, §19, §20.3, §23.6, §28.1, §30.2, §51.1, and §51.2. It is especially seen following the S-prefix (§51, §55). It also frequently occurs without the S-prefix. 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. Model 6, for example, could be used if someone asked you how you are after an illness. You answer U¸ ŚETEṈ¸ SEN ‘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.
‣ 8 The U¸ prefix typically attaches to the first verb in a main or subordinate clause.
 | I¸ ŚETEṈ¸ SW̱ I¸ TU¸ X̱EṈ. | ‘You’re walking kind of fast.’ |
 | I¸ ȽEȽI¸Ȼ SEN OL¸. | ‘I’m in a hurry.’ |
| TU¸ ȽĆIȻES SEN. | ‘I’m sort of tired.’ |
| U¸ LÁ¸E SW̱ OL¸. | ‘Just stay here.’ |
| 56.1A. Translate into English. 1. TU¸ CEḴ TI¸Á EN¸ SĆÁÁNEW̱. 2. I¸ I¸ȽEN¸ TŦE SḴÁXE¸. 3. U¸ EWENE NE TÁLE. 4. TU¸ I¸ W̱ITEṈ TŦE PUS. | 56.1B. Translate into SENĆOŦEN using the prefixes introduced in this section. 1. It was kind of like a dog. 2. My father is on his way home. 3. I do have a canoe. 4. I was sort of sleeping. |