2 · sorae rihe
Chapter one told you what things are. This chapter shows what they do. One shape carries all of it: the doer first, then (if something is acted on) the acted-on, and the doing itself always last. The verb closes the sentence the way nai did. Wait for it; that waiting is the language.
I
sorae rihe.
lopia rihe.
phao rihe.
lohau rihe.
misheko nulae.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| sorae | so · ra · e | sun |
| rihe | ri · he | rise |
| nulae | nu · la · e | sleep |
The sun rises, and one by one the household rises with it. One member of the household does not.
II
lopia thalo.
lohau thalo.
wheo thalo.
misheko nulae.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| thalo | tha · lo | walk |
Walking, walking, walking, sleeping. When only the doer and the doing are present, the sentence is two words, and the doing still comes last.
III
Now a thing is acted on, and it stands between the doer and the doing:
phao nuora pilewa.
lopia nuora nuola.
lohau nuora nuola.
misheko rihe.
misheko phialu milau.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| nuora | nu · o · ra | food |
| pilewa | pi · le · wa | make |
| nuola | nu · o · la | eat |
| phialu | phi · a · lu | water |
| milau | mi · la · u | drink |
The parent makes food; the child eats it; the dog eats it too. And the smell of breakfast accomplishes what the sunrise could not.
IV
lopia lohau nila.
lohau lopia nila.
wheo lopia nila.
lopia misheko nila.
misheko lopia nila.
misheko nulae.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| nila | ni · la | see |
Child sees dog; dog sees child: the same two words, and the order alone tells you who is looking. Read that pair again until the order speaks by itself. Then the cat, having seen everything worth seeing, returns to what it does best.
Read the chapter once more, aloud and unhurried. You now hold both of Phi's great shapes: what things are, and what things do.
The machinery, when you want it: word order and the verb-final principle are the manual's Part IV, chapter 10.