First, a brief elaboration on –ka-. –ka– means ‘to have resolved to do something’, and therefore there is a temptation to interpret this resolution as purely external. This is a mistake. –ka– is in the same family of suffixes as –te– and –teka-, both expressions of internal state. The suffix –ka– is similar; although it is certainly possible to have an external expression of an internal state, it would be inappropriate to use –ka– of one who promised insincerely. In such a case, one would use the promissory suffix –kom-, to be discussed in a future post. This is not merely a grammatical nicety; the Simayamka ethical concept of ‘imaka’ combines both external and internal states.

Le koki iletulosumkanana.

Le kochi iletsulosungkanana.

I have resolved to help them.

Le koki iletulosumkomnana.

Le kochi iletsulosungkongnana.

I have promised to help them.

Further suffixes in this family are –teku– and –kaku-. These suffixes are derived from –te– and –ka-, respectively, with the addition of the negative suffix –ku-. –teku– does not mean ‘to not want to X’ (that would be –te– plus the PAM suffix –nu), but rather ‘to fear X happening’, where X must be a verb rather than a noun. Its origin, however, is shown by the requirement that the PAM suffix be in the imperfective aspect.

Leliketekunuma.

Leliketehunuma.

We (few) are afraid to die.

Lasiketekunumu.

Lashiketehunumu.

He is not afraid to insult us few.

The suffix –kaku-, from –ka– ‘to have resolved to X’ and the negative suffix –ku-, is translated ‘to waver on doing X’. ‘To waver’ would seem an imperfective notion, but the etymology of the suffix shows through because the suffix –kaku– requires the perfective aspect. It does so, however, only in the meaning ‘to waver at doing X’. The suffix –kaku– with the imperfective aspect is used to indicate that the subject of the verb is unreliable at performing the task designated by the verb.

Esu yiyemsosumkakutuna.

Esu yiyengsosungkahutsuna.

I hesitate to show them (2). I waver at causing them (2) to see it.

Layeke mena enupukakunama.

Layeke mena enufukahunama.

This girl is an unreliable worker.

Leyake mena enuluwepukakutuma.

Leyake mena enuluvefukahutuma.

This boy is an unreliable tracker.