ABSTRACT
there is only one preposition properly so called in the Mende language, viz. a, with. The others are all postposi- tions. As, however, the word preposition is a recognized grammatical term it is more convenient to adhere to it. The reason for the idiom is not far to seek. A large number of the words used as prepositions are actually nouns, and the others, of which the derivation is not immediately apparent, are probably so by origin. Taking, therefore, the phrase Ta pelei woma, he is behind the house, it is seen at once that it can be translated, ' He is (at) the house's back/ woma being a noun meaning back, and the qualifying or possessing noun coming first in Mende as it also does in English. The noun, therefore, which is employed as a preposition is placed last.
