Maa

` or [L]: Low tone over the verb, excluding certain suffixes conj. 1 • Grammatical tone morpheme indicating 'while, during' (an action), as'. Kóre [L]ɛgɨrá alotoó, nɛ́dɔl ɔlásʉ́ráí. While he was walking, he saw a snake. (W). Étáráwá yieyíô [L]ɛɨdɛlà. He has chased our mother while she was still nursing. Áyíéú shái [L]adáa. I want tea while I am eating. (W). Kóre [L]adáa áyíéú enkijíko. While I am eating, I need a spoon. (W). Kóre [L]adáa nélōtū. When I am eating, he/she will come. (W). [L]Aɨnɔsɨ́ta nanʉ̂ ɛɨ́látá nɛ́sha. While I was eating fat, it rained. (W). Nɛ́sha [L]aɨnɔsɨ́ta nanʉ̂ ɛɨ́látá. It rained while I was eating fat. (W). [L]Ɛ̀kwɛtɨtà eterriée He fell down while running. (SN) (Contrast: Kɛ́kwetɨ́ta. He is running.). Óre apá peê [L]kɨlaŋʉ́ ɛnaɨpɔ́sha... when we crossed the sea... Ɛgɨ́ra ɨnkɛrâ kʉ́tɨtɨ́ áairrugo [L]ɛgɨrá áaɨgʉran. The small children are bending down as they play. (Pk). Máwaitá [L]eidoŋo. Let's take it when it is in a beat condition.

2 • After (in time). Ɛtarapóshe [L]ɛtamá ɛndáa. He was satisfied after eating food.

3 • Subjunctive mood following certain subordinators like peê, peyîê, óre peê, ɛɨtʉ́, or in other irrealis contexts. The Low tone also follows the bound negative m-, evident on Class I verbs. (However, it is overriden on Class II negative verbs by a High verb-stem tone, and certain other High-toned prefixes.). Óre taá amʉ̂ áyíéú nápók ɛnkɛ́ráí, níyíólo siî íyīē [L]ɛɨŋatɨ́shɔ ɨnkɛ́râ, tɛlɛjʉ́. Okay now that I want to whip the child, and you know very well that children will flee, deceive him/her to come. (W) (Contrast: Ɛɨnátɨ́shɔ̄. He will flee.). Kóre peê [L]ɛɨtàshe, ɛɨtʉ́ [L]ɛdɔl ɔlásʉ́ráí. When he stopped, he didn't see the snake. (W). Ɛɨnyáŋūā sháai ɛ Kɛnya ɛ́tɔ̂n ɛ́ɨ́tʉ̂ [L]elotú. He bought Kenyan tea before he came. [L]Mayíólo. I do not know. [L]Matúm sháái ɛ Kɛ́nya tené nɛ́ākʉ̄ mashɨ́pa. I don't find Kenyan tea here (eg. in Europe), so I am sad. Ɛɨtʉ́ [L]aníŋ ajó kélotú kɛnyá entókî naíjō ɨ́nâ I did not hear that there is s.o. like that coming. Ɨ́roríéki ɛnkʉ́tʉ́k ɔɔ́ lMáásâɨ̂ peê [L]ayíólōū. Speak to me in the Maasai language so that I learn. peê áaâny So that he will refuse me [peé āāāɲ].

^ or [F]: Falling tone on last syllable of verb num. Grammatical tone morpheme indicating 1st or 3rd plural subject, in certain morpheme combinations only, including Perfect(ive). Occurs on end of word. [Falling tone is normally evident only if the word occurs at the end of a phrase, as Falling tone simplifies to High when another word follows within the phrase.]. Nɛ́ɨ́sardâk téíne. And they disperse there. Áatɨmɨrâ. They (have) chased me. (W). Kɨ́tɨ́mɨ́râ. They (have) chased you (sg.) (W). Ɛtɨ́mɨ́râ nɨnyɛ́. They (have) chased him. (W). Néponunûî áaranyɨshɔ tɛ́nâ dúóó áji, nɛ́shɨpâɨ̂. And people come to sing in the relevant house, and people rejoice.

Comparison of Singular versus Plural Tone Patterns in Perfect(ive) Aspect Verb Forms

SINGULAR PLURAL

Ventive ɛtadálūā "He played coming" ɛtadálutûâ "They ..."

Ventive+Middle ɛtadalʉ́nyɛ "He played coming" ɛ́tádálʉ́nyɛ̂ "They ..."

Instrumental ɛtadálarɛ "He used it to play" ɛ́tádálárɛ̂ "They ..."

Dative ɛtadalákā "He played for her" ɛtadalákɨtâ "They ..."

Causitive áaitadotúó "He made me pull it out" áaitadotutûô "They ..."

Comparison of Singular versus Plural Tone Patterns in Perfect(ive) Aspect Verb Forms
	SINGULAR		PLURAL
Ventive	ɛtadálūā	"He played coming"	ɛtadálutûâ	"They ..."
Ventive+Middle	ɛtadalʉ́nyɛ	"He played coming"	ɛ́tádálʉ́nyɛ̂	"They ..."
Instrumental	ɛtadálarɛ	"He used it to play"	ɛ́tádálárɛ̂	"They ..."
Dative	ɛtadalákā	"He played for her"	ɛtadalákɨtâ	"They ..."
Causitive	áaitadotúó	"He made me pull it out"	áaitadotutûô	"They ..."