ARTICLE II.

The New Testament in Karen. By FRANCIS MASON. Baptist Mission Press. Tavoy. 1843.

Karen Grammar. By FRANCIS MASON. MS.

BY REV. F. MASON, TAVOY.

THE Karen Grammar, if printed in its present state, would make a large volume. It is in four parts. 1. Etymology, containing seventy pages. This part is intended to show the formation of words, and to exhibit all the particles in the order of the parts of speech, except the adverbs, which are so numerous, that, for a Grammar, a selection only was deemed most appropriate. The selection, however, contains more than six hundred words, embracing more than three hundred and fifty pairs of roots imitative of sounds. 2. Syntax, about the same size as the etymology. 3. Figures of speech and prosody, containing all the examples of figures that I have met with, or, at least, noticed. It is about half the size of the preceding. 4. A vocabulary of the principal particles, with numerous examples of their various uses, occupying between four and five hundred pages. This is by far the most valuable part of the work, containing, as I estimate it does, thousands of examples of the manner in which the natives use the prefixes and affixes, in the right use of which the whole art of the language consists; a collection which it would have been laborious to make in a written language, but much more so in an unwritten one. I have been making the collection ever since I commenced the study of the language. I always travel among the people with paper and pencil in my pocket, and every expression that I hear, adapted in any way to illustrate the language, I secure on the spot. Again, I have had every assistant that has been about me at different times, write down all the traditions, poetry, and stories that he knew; and in this way I have collected some two or

three hundred articles, besides thirty or forty collected by other members of the mission. This does not include a collection of letters and written exhortations that I also made, but finally threw aside, as being often written by persons unused to original composition. I found them of less value, and unsuited to my purpose. Furthermore, my assistant San Qua-la is now so well trained, that he has been able to write me down sentences in common use, adapted to illustrate the manner in which words and particles are used. These are the sources whence the examples in my Grammar are derived; and whatever errors I may make in defining and explaining the different shades of meaning, which, from the examples, I infer the particles to have, the examples themselves will always be valuable, and by them I afford the means for others to correct my own mistakes; for I am far from flattering myself that I always take the true conception of the character of a particle. Many of them are as difficult to define as or in Greek; and those best acquainted with the language differ as much in the views they take of some of them, as Greek scholars do in relation to the force of the tenses in the derived moods. I ought to add that most of the examples remain as yet untranslated; and that, because it would occupy much of my time to no useful purpose; for the brethren that have taken copies understand the Karen as well as they would our English version. To give some idea of the work, I will extract a few articles.

FROM THE SYNTAX.

Tense.-Use of the Aorist.

"The simplest form of the verb, here denominated Aorist, denotes the existence of an action in the most indefinite manner. It may be finished or unfinished, present or past. Time does not appear to enter into its elements; but from the nature of the case, to exist it must be connected with the present or the past. Hence,

1. It sometimes denotes the present tense.

2. It is often equivalent to the English imperfect tense; embracing both the Greek imperfect and aorist in part.

3. It is used where the perfect tense is sometimes used in English; but such instances are usually susceptible of being rendered by the imperfect.

4. It is used by the prophets for the future tense; the event being represented as present or past.

5. When followed by dau, and, and a verb in the future tense, it is also used for the future.

Use of the Perfect Tense.

The perfect tense in the active voice denotes an action completed. 1. When used absolutely, the action is represented as 'completed in reference to the present time.'

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2. When the particular time of any occurrence is specified,' this tense is frequently used, where in English the imperfect is necessary.' When used, it indicates the completion of the action in reference to that time; but when the aorist is used, as in such instances it may be, there is usually an incompleteness implied.

3. When the act was completed before some past event mentioned, it is used to express the English pluperfect tense.

4. When the act would have been completed but for something in-. tervening to prevent, it is used for the pluperfect tense of the potential mood-should, would have.

5. With passive and neuter verbs, it is ambiguous. The act may or may not be completed; and hence admits of being rendered variously. Qualifying words are used, when it is deemed important to be definite.

Use of the Future Tense.

1. It designates an action to take place at any future period indefinite.'

2. It sometimes denotes that the act is about to take place; as, The king about to die (lit. will die) said to his wife.

3. It is sometimes used for the imperfect tense of the potential mood-should, or would; as, Were it not for the teacher, I would go (lit. I will go) to Mata.

4. Sometimes it is used for the pluperfect tense of the potential mood-should, or would have; as, Because the Python would have devoured (lit. will devour) thee, I slew him.

Sometimes the same act may be expressed either by the perfect [4] or the future [4], but the expressions differ, as, in English, 'I had died but for thee,' differs from,' I should have died but for thee.'

5. Analogous to the formation of the paulo-post future in Greek, it is used with the characteristic of the perfect tense to express the English second-future tense.

POTENTIAL MOOD.

Ability.

There are several specific words for the English generic term, can. The, in general, is used with the negative of such an inability as is supposed to be beyond the control of the subject at the time, but which labor and skill may overcome; but it is also frequently applied where the instrument of action is wanting, and thus embraces cases that involve natural impossibilities.

Kai, in general terms, is ability, moral or physical, in the subject supposed to be in the possession of all the faculties necessary for the

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action, but which may be so diseased as to render the performance naturally impossible. Hence it is applied in reference to sickness and bodily weakness from any cause, but not where a limb or member of the body is wanting with which the act is performed. It is also used with the negative of the inability that arises from indolence, reluctance to endure that which is painful or unpleasant, and of unwillingness.

Ne has reference to the ability of obtaining or attaining to an object. In other words, it denotes ability to overcome the obstacles that are offered by the object. Kai contemplates the subject, ne the object. It is applied to lifting and carrying things that are heavy, to crossing streams with a strong current, to inducing indolent or unwilling people to action; and the like.

Pghai contemplates the object also, but does it with direct reference to its quantity.

Khlu contemplates the object as reaching unto it at a distance. There are some other words of more specific application, that are used where we would sometimes use can,' in English; as tu, with verbs of motion, but the above are the principal ones.

In some cases, either of two or more of the above particles may be used with equal propriety; not that their significations coincide, as is sometimes supposed, but because two or more different conceptions may be taken of the subject. Thus, of a load, when I contemplate my own feelings, I use kai; but when I look at the weight of the object, I use ne. So when unable to cross a rapid stream, according to the difference of conception, kai, në, or the may be used."

It may be seen from the last extract how necessary it is for a translator to be able rightly to interpret the Scriptures, and to be sound in the faith. A translator must be an interpreter; he cannot avoid it. Wherever 4rauai occurs, I must determine its precise signification before I can render it correctly, and that is often no easy task. Neither is it easy to catch the true character of the Karen particles above. I have heard one brother say, if I recollect right, that kai designates natural ability, and the, moral; while a short time ago I heard another contend for the precisely opposite view, that kai denoted moral, and the, natural ability. Both had come to their conclusions after studying the language for years, independently of each other; and both, I am persuaded, were wrong in their general conclusions, though both were right in part; each word being used occasionally in both significations. We often err by trying to make the words and idioms of these eastern languages fit exactly to our occidental tongues. We see the real resemblance of a part, and then infer the resemblance of the whole. The truth is, the languages are run in different moulds; and though there are partial correspondences, they can only be learned to any purpose

by a patient study of all their parts; or by taking the results of those who have so studied them. The usus loquendi is paramount to all other considerations with me; and the views given above are founded on the usage I find in the seven or eight pages of examples that I furnish to illustrate their signification.

[Mr. Mason's manuscript furnishes several additional pages, illustrating the use of particles; but, though useful to a Karen missionary, they would furnish little that could be intelligible or instructive to a curious English scholar. The remainder of this article contains Mr. Mason's observations in respect to his translation of the New Testament into the Karen language. They are well adapted to show the difficulty of the work, and the importance of sending forth to the heathen men of the highest critical ability and learning. The same difficulties, substantially, which have been found by Mr. Mason, must recur in the rendering of the Scriptures into all other heathen languages.—ED.]

The translator of the Karen New Testament commenced his work with the two following canons. 1. A translation must give the ideas of the original. 2. A translation should be a picture of the original.

Two rules more just and comprehensive could not perhaps be adopted; but to follow them has been more difficult than the return of Eneas from Avernus.

"As one who, in thickets and in brakes
Entangled, winds now this way and now that
His devious course, uncertain, seeking home:
-Or lost in miry ways,

And sore discomfited from slough to slough
Plunging, and half despairing of escape."

The sources of some of his difficulties, and his mode of disposing of them, shall be mentioned.

1. The same tropical expressions in different languages, sometimes express different ideas. Thus, "a great mind," in English, denotes magnanimity; but in Karen, anger. "Nose of a mountain," in Arabic, is a peak, or summit; but in Karen, a promontory or cape. To "eat against a city," in Hebrew, is to make war upon it; but to "eat a city," in Karen, is to possess it, and enjoy its revenues. In instances of this character, the figure has been sacrificed to preserve the idea.