Ha dɛlɨdiya evena iyɛ, dona ludɨdɛn ɛmmena o ŋɛha mɛha no.
The more he sends out breaths, the closer the traveler pulls the cloak to himself.
The first clause is simple enough and adds the adverb iyɛ, which with an iterative verb means more. In the second clause we get a new verb ɛmɛmɛ (S A ↘↙), which is the opposite of evi:
| imperfect [imp] | perfect [prf] | iterative [itr] | |
| visual [vis] / Ø | ɛmɛmɛ | omɛtɛ | ɛmena |
| non-visual [nvs] | ɛmɛbi | omɛptɛ | ɛmbena |
| inferred [inf] | ɛmɛli | omɛttɛ | ɛmlena |
| reported [rep] | ɛmɛmo | omɛntɛ | ɛmmena |
There are no new nouns or pronouns, but what is that o doing before ŋɛha (which is reflexive here – singular subject) in the destination slot? Well, for one thing, neither evi nor ɛmɛmɛ have a destination slot, so this must be a peripheral phrase. O is a preposition meaning at, in, on and is used with locations. So o ŋɛha is in/on/at oneself. This meaning is supported by the use of the abverb mɛha inwards.
Finally, no is a modifier more, close modifying the adverb mɛha.
- ha
- pn.2.mt.sg
- he
- dɛlɨdiya
- n.4.mt.pl
- breath
- evena
- v.itr.rep
- ↖↗
- iyɛ
- adv
- more
- dona
- n.1.mt.sg
- traveler
- ludɨdɛn
- n.3.mt.sg
- cloak
- ɛmmena
- v.itr.rep
- ↘↙
- o
- prep
- on
- ŋɛha
- reflexive
- self
- mɛha
- adv
- inwards
- no
- mod
- more
Thoughts?