50 A GRAMMAR OF THE
The following forms are used for the vocative cases of the above
pronouns.
To persons of inferior degree, for the masculine singular, എടാ: femi-
nine എടീ, for both sexes നീ. As a greater mark of respect എടൊ is
sometimes used for the masculine gender among persons of this class.
Among all, but the upper classes and Sircar Officers, നിങ്ങൾ is used
for the plural Masculine and Feminine.
അങ്ങുന്നെ is a term of respect, corresponding to Sir, used, in general,
to Sircar Officers of all classes except Brahmins; these are called സ്വാ
മീ swāmy: but this and similar terms, being both servile and degrading,
ought not to be used by Europeans. It is safer, quite as agreeable to the
idiom of the Language, as well as most respectful, to address persons of
rank of influence in the third person, or by their title or office: as,
രാജാവ വന്നാൽ കൊള്ളാം; രാജാവ വന്നാലും.
Will the Rajah be pleased to come: for will you, &c.
കാൎയ്യക്കാരൻ വരുമൊ?
Will the Tahsildar come?
3rd. താൻ self, is a Reflective pronoun; the singular number of which
is seldom used except for the masculine gender. It is thus declined;
| SINGULAR. | PLURAL. | |
|---|---|---|
| N. | താൻ, self | തങ്ങൾ, |
| G. | തന്റെ, | തങ്ങളുടെ, |
| D. | തനിക്ക, | തങ്ങൾക്ക, |
| Ac. | തന്നെ, | തങ്ങളെ, |
| 1st Ab. | തന്നാൽ, | തങ്ങളാൽ, |
| 2nd. „ | തന്നൊട, | തങ്ങളൊട, |
| 3rd. „ | തന്നിൽ, | തങ്ങളിൽ, |
| 4th. „ | തന്നിൽനിന്ന. | തങ്ങളിൽനിന്ന. |
താൻ with its oblique cases, is used as the honourific of the second
person singular. When speaking to, or of persons a little above the lowest
classes നീ is used. തങ്ങൾ is used, as a more respectful term for the
singular താൻ.
