Note 20 — Chapter I · THE SOCIAL ORGANISATION (continued 2)

In the Andamanese languages a large number of words are formed from a stem and a prefix. E-, ot-, aka-, ara-, ab- etc. are prefixes of this kind. The function of the prefixes is (1) to show that the object denoted by the word is in a dependent relation to some other object understood, as for instance that it is part of that other object, and (2) to modify the reference of the stem, as for instance while e-tire means the offspring of an animal or an human being, era-tire means the offspring of a tree or plant (the young shoots). For a description of these prefixes the reader may be referred to the work of Mr Portman, Notes on the Languages of the South Andaman Group of Tribes. ↑