The adjectives are indeclinable, and generally follow the noun ; and
these are sometimes formed from nouns by prefixing a particle. . The comparative
degree is. sometimes formed,by prefixing a wor dmeaning higher or
larger, but more frequently ..by placing adverbs, significant of “ wijh,”
before that with which the comparison is made, as if.jŸS'iyshould say \* by
“ the side of.”; The superlative degree is, formed by annexing adverbs sig-
: nifÿing “ very, exceedingly, entirely, alone,” .
The cardinal numbers aré placed sometimes before and sometimes after the
nouns to- which they are attached. When prefixed, they undergo, for the
sake of. the sound, a variety in their termination, or drop the first .syllable.
The ordinals are formed by prefixing a distinguishing word to the cardinals.
Ten characters, which, .'are all either alphabetical letters or signs slightly
altered in form, serve to express all numbers, the notation being decimal,
and the numerals being combined in thersame manner as the Indian and
Arabian..
The pronouns of the first and second person are always significant, gnd
vary with the relative rank of the parties. There is no proper pronoun of
the third .person, but a word signifying ^ .alone,, self,” with, the addition
of .the possessive particle, is used, as a personal pronoun of the third person.
The personal pronouns may all be used as possessive,pronouns, by being
placed as such after the, noun to which, they bçjqng» The. relativeL.and
demonstrative pronouns correspond, very: nearlywith those of the Maldyu.
With regard to the verb, it may be noticed that many o£‘ the observations
in Mr. Marsden’s grammar, on the nature and formation of-.ihe different
parts of the Maldyu verb, are applicable to the Javan. It belongs rather
to the detail.of the grammar to point, out these ; but it may be remarked,
that the.use of,-these inflexions in the. Javan appears to he*so. varied and
undefined, that it is impossible, without a much more, extensive knowledge
of the language than Europeans at present possess, to make out a perfect
conjugation, or to lay. down any fixed rules for them.- All that could perhaps
be done, in the present state of the language and of -.our knowledge of
it, would be to give a number and variety of correct idiomatical expressions
in the Javan, by which their nature and irregularity may be shewn ; and our
present limit&'do not admit of • this.',:
The Javan.language has never been reduced within the grammatical rules
adopted by Europeans, nor. have the Javans themselves any notion of
grammar.
grammar. The construction is generally,simple and regular; but owing to
prosodial refinements (every writing'nof importance being written in verse),
syllables’an d /o r ds necessary to express a perfect sënse 'are often omitted;
at öt'bér'times, Unnecessary syllables or words are added, arid letters at the
beginning, middle, and end:of. a -word* arei'transposed. .Hence, and also
from thé'nsuah ellipsis" of thej verb transitive and .personal pronouns, the
meaning of many passages, appears óbsdujjëïviri
<r--‘ The ‘ language -is re mar tab leiföti/tfhê 'profusi on; of words which it contains,
for the minute distinctions an'd shades ofmeaning, andjhè consequent extent
of synonimes, and-for difference of dialect.
Of the profusion.tof,words,-fit may be observed, that thé Javan, in this
respect, iriay be; put in 'competition! \yxth many bf the more' cultivated
languages of Europe' and Asia,/and that a dictionary would perhaps be far
from complete, if it'comprehended-less than twenty thousand.
Of the extent of-synonimes and the minute shades of distinction which
are found in this language, some notion may be formed from the extracts
from the Ddsa Ndma which are annexed.* In order to facilitate the acquirement
of'the language, it, is .usual to' collect all the'words in the different
dialects with-their synonimes, and > to connect them' together ,by stringing
them in classes following, each other Recording to ‘the natural chain1 of our
ideas. Thus after comfoiencing, with the word man, and giving an explanation
of every word in the vernacular, polite and Kawi languages, applicable
from his birth to,bis death, as infant, boy, youth, and the like, it proceeds to
woman, child,',' from thence to the deities, I afterwards; tö the various avocations
rif mankind, &c. This collection o f, synoniraes'us called Ddsa Ndma
literally the ‘‘ ten names” a term probably given to it on account of few important
words in the language having .less than ten synonimes. Children are
no: sooner taught to know the letters of the alphabet (which' they first describe
on the sand) and to'connect them in syllables and words, than théy are'lri-
structed in the Ddsa Ndma, without a partial knowledge of which, no youth
is jGOnsjdered competent to enter upon any public office of can advance to a
knowledge of the written compositions of -the country^ These collections
are varied in their contents and order of arrangement, according to the
acquirements and notions of the compiler. As- books cof reference they
may be considered to supply the place of' dictionaries, and if les»' convenient
for this purpose than works alphabetically arranged, they have certainly