an- -ana

See also: anana and ananá

Malagasy

Etymology

Reduplication of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an.

Circumfix

an- -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 man- prefix, and focuses the subject of a Malagasy sentence on instrument or goal rather than on agent:

  (agent/active) Nanasa ny lamba amin'ny savony aho

  I washed the clothes with soap

  (goal/relative) Nanasako ny lamba ny savony

  I washed the clothes with soap.

Related terms

• man-

See also

• i- -ana