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Definition 2024


i-_-ana

i- -ana

See also: IANA and -iana

Malagasy

Circumfix

i- -ana

  1. Goal-focus or relative-voice formant, which creates verbs of instrument or goal (i.e., time, place, mode, or cause).

Usage notes

  • This circumfix is directly related to the mi- prefix, and focuses the subject of a Malagasy sentence on instrument or goal rather than on agent:
    (agent/active) Nilaza ny teninao taminy aho
    I spoke your words to them
    (goal/relative) Nilazako ny teninao izy
    I spoke your words to them.

Related terms

See also