Re: The Bitha overview

Hello again... sorry this took so long, working bizzare hours this week :(

Nik Taylor wrote:

> Larry Schelin wrote:
> > > I don't understand why you have _bith_ there?
> >
> > I don't understand why you don't understand. Perhaps it's because I wrote it, and I
> > already understand what I mean. Could you explain what confused you?
>
> If the action occurred 15 minutes ago, why's there a form that means
> "one minute ago", and why are there two tense particles?  Both "vith"
> and "bith"?
>
I understand... I wasn't thinking as clearly as I should have, let me try again

Bimaghah ghengah vith ju mi ghengah ishadzi bith zija

Bima-(noun-minute) -ghah (plural suffix-5 or more) ghengah (number- 15) vith
(tense marker-past) ju (pronoun) mi (tense marker, present) ghengah (verb-throw)
isha-(noun-ball) -dzi(prepositional suffix, at) bith (tense marker, 1 minute ago)
zija (noun-dog)

What I was thinking, tell me if this makes no sense, is that the first 'vith' can be
translated as 'ago'. The 'bith' I wasn't thinking clearly about, it should be 'dith' (one
hour ago). Does that make more sense, or do you think it would be better without the
'vith' at all?

                                                                                    Joe