138 Nora C. England
The comparative of adjectives is formed with the relational noun -witz. The adjec-
tive is introduced in a non-verbal predicate whose subject is the noun being com-
pared. The noun to which it is compared is the complement of the relational noun.
Examples:
(65) B'ala kyja meeb'a-x t-oo' ky-witz nemaas nasyoon
maybe like.that poor-still EXisx-Bipl A3pl-RN:coMP the.rest nation
'Maybe because of that we are poorer than the rest of the nations'
(66) nim-0-x t-qan Xwan t-witz Luuch
big-I>3sg-still A3sg-foot Juan A3sg-RN:coMP Pedro
'Juan is taller than Pedro.'
Adjectives can be followed by relational nouns that introduce another argument
that specifies where the adjective applies. These arguments are always locative.
Examples:
(67) Jatuma nn-0-etz ky-ii-'n qa-j libra sb'akb'aj
where pROG-I>3sg-DiR A3pl-bring/take-ss PL-DEM book moldy
ky-i'j?
A3pl-RN:on
'Where did they take these mouldy books from?' (specifies that the mould
is on the surface)
(68) Poreeso 0-kyaj qb'n-kye xo'j ky-i'j kyaq b'ix q'anwoowj
that's.why B3sg-DiR give-3pl coyote A3pl-RN:on red and brown
t-xe t-xhkyin
A3sg-RN:under A3sg-ear
"That's why the coyotes are red and brown under their ears'
A number of adjectives can be used adverbially with no change in form. These
include at least adjectives that indicate VALUE, DIMENSION, and PHYSICAL PROP-
ERTIES, and definitely do not include COLOURS. If used in initial position, they re-
quire either split ergativity on an aspectless verb, or dependent forms of the aspect
markers on the verb. Examples:
(69) B'a'n t-b'ii-n-x.
good A3sg-hear-AP-still
'It still sounds good.'
(70) Nim x-0-b'aj w-aq'na-'n-a.
many RECENT DEP-I>3sg-DiR Aisg-work-ss-isg
T worked a lot.'
(71) Galaan 0-0-tzaaj jun nimaal cheenq' weena,
handsome PAST DEP-I>3sg-come one great bean (plant) very
kyeeyex 0-0-tzaaj.
beautiful PAST DEP-I>3sg-come
"The beans developed very well, very beautifully.'