MALAYALIM LANGUAGE. 49
There is another form of this pronoun written നമ്മൾ, നമ്മളുടെ
etc., but this, though of very common use, is improper and ought to be
rejected.
നാം, with its oblique cases നമ്മുടെ etc, is also used as a pronoun
singular of distinction by the higher classes instead of ഞാൻ, etc.; and
if and inferior speak to a superior, about the property of the latter, he will
use the same form; as,
അത നമ്മുടെ വക ആകുന്നു, lit. That is our property.
2nd. നീ Thou Mas. And Fem. declined.
| SINGULAR. | PLURAL. | |
|---|---|---|
| N. | നീ, Thou, | നിങ്ങൾ, You, |
| G. | നിന്റെ, of thee. | നിങ്ങളുടെ, of you, |
| D. | നനിക്ക, to thee, | നിങ്ങൾക്ക, to you, |
| Ac. | നിന്നെ, thee, | നിങ്ങളെ, you, |
| 1st Ab. | നിന്നാൽ, by thee, | നിങ്ങളാൽ, by you, |
| 2nd „ | നിന്നൊട, with thee, | നിങ്ങളൊട, with you, |
| 3rd „ | നിന്നിൽ, in thee, | നിങ്ങളിൽ, in you, |
| 4th „ | നിന്നിൽനിന്ന, from thee. | നിങ്ങളിൽനിന്ന, from you. |
There is a curious anomaly connected with the use of the singular
number of this pronoun; viz. that while it is never used except to inferi-
ors of very low degree, it is the only form used in reference to the Diety.
To say to a respectable man,
നീ അപ്രകാരം കല്പിച്ചിട്ടില്ലയൊ?
Have you not so commanded? Would be gross insult: but this
form must be used in addressing the Supreme Being: as,
ദൈവമെ നീ അപ്രകാരം കല്പിച്ചിട്ടില്ലയൊ?
O God! Have you not so commanded?
This mode of addressing the Diety is in accordance with the laws of the
Sanscrit Language; from which it has, doubtlessly, been borrowed
The plural form of the above pronoun is used for the singular when
addressing females in the middle ranks of life: sometimes it is used
to men.
II
