A Grammar of the Yoruba Language

“an ass.” So, also, words taking a depressed tone throughout have a grave accent on the first syllable ; as, kùtukutu, “early in the morning;” gbòngbo, “root;” ìpese, “provision.”

When grave and acute accents happen together in a compound word, they are both employed; as, gùdugúdu, “a poisonous wild yam.”

The accent is always indicated when it is on the last syllable; as, ponsé, “a fruit;” gọmbọ́, “a small iron spoon;” tubọ̀, “persevere;” pipọ̀, “plenty, many.”

Words taking the middle tone generally carry the accent, as in English, on the first syllable, and are not, therefore, marked in the dictionary, as the simple rule will be a sufficient guidance in this case. Thus, the words sagbe, “to beg alms;” ọbbọ, monkey;” ọbbẹ, “knife;” omi, “water;” are of this class.

The circumflex is also employed, and generally to mark a long vowel, caused by contraction of a letter or syllable; as, kẹtí for kó etirì, “to be callous;” kẹrí for kó eríri, “to take out filth;” or, in a long primitive word, as, in ôrùn, “the sun.”

SYLLABLES.

Syllables usually consist of two letters—a consonant and a vowel, as, bá, de, mọ, &c. There is only one word of two letters beginning with a vowel, which is not a prefix—on, “he, and.” Words of three letters are chiefly with the nasal n, as, wọn, san, kọn, jìn.

CONTRACTION.

Contraction of vowels is very common, especially when one terminates a word, and another commences the succeeding word. The vowels are sometimes altogether changed into another vowel.

The vowel of the noun is most frequently cut off, and that of the verb is lengthened; as, nà ajá, “beat a dog,”

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