Many Hrmitt idioms revolve around their single eye, which, being mounted on a fragile eyestalk, is one of the most sensitive, fragile, yet important parts of their physiology, and one of their most distinguishing characteristics. Much of their self-identity derives from their identification with their eye.
The claws of the Hrmitt are bony and strong, and grabbing their fragile eyestalk with these claws amounts to killing or incapacitating them. Thus, the verb gruŋmi "to handle", "to grab", coupled with ipf "eye", is the equivalent of a death threat:
gruŋgemi ipfteku!
| gruŋ-en-mi |
| hands-1sg-v |
| ipf-tek-u |
| eye-2sg-pat |
I'll kill you!
Although the English is usually translated in the future tense, the Hrmitt uses the present tense, having the force of “I'm grabbing your eye right now!”, which is an even more dire threat. The future tense is not used because it sounds too weak in the contexts where this expression is usually used.
The eye of the Hrmitt is regarded as the most representative part of their body, and by extension, their self-identity. Thus, many expressions of intimacy involves the eye. Thus the verb pjutmi "to receive" is often accompanied by ipf in the dative case to express gratitude:
pjutemi ipftektu.
| pjut-en-mi |
| thank-1sg-v |
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
I thank you!
See section 6.4.
The verb ipfmi usually means "to see", taking the object in the patientive case. However, when the object is ipf in the dative case, it takes on a variety of idiomatic meanings, depending on context.
In the context of a statement about, or description of, something or someone, ipfmi ipftu is often used to express agreement:
fraht shai lishi!
| fraht |
| girl |
| shai |
| how |
| lish-i |
| pretty-pred |
That girl is so pretty!
ipfemi ipftektu.
| ipf-en-mi |
| eye-1sg-v |
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
We're in agreement on that.
ipfemi ipftektu is often contracted to simply:
ipftektu.
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
Agreed.
ipfmi ipftu is often used as a response to pjutmi:
pjutemi ipftektu!
| pjut-en-mi |
| thank-1sg-v |
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
Thank you!
ipfemi ipftektu.
| ipf-en-mi |
| eye-1sg-v |
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
You're welcome.
ipfmi ipftu is also used in responding to a hortative:
naŋ voluŋmi hraultu.
| naŋ |
| hort.1pl |
| voluŋ-mi |
| spaceship-v |
| hraul-tu |
| planet-dat |
Let's fly to the planet.
ipfmatmi ipftektu.
| ipf-mat-mi |
| eye-1pl-v |
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
Yes, let's go!
In conversations, the idiom is frequently simplified to just:
ipftektu.
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
Let's go!
The idiom ipfmi ipftu is also used for expressing solidarity or sympathy when the other party confides in the speaker.
hrverusmi voluŋgaunu, vdau shpraggtuvoluŋni, shai dahsht!
| hrver-us-mi |
| bullet-3pl.p-v |
| voluŋ-au-u, |
| spaceship-1sg.p-pat |
| vdau |
| but |
| shpragg-tu-voluŋ-ni, |
| bomb-3sg.p-spaceship-become.v |
| shai |
| how |
| dahsht! |
| trouble |
They fired at my spaceship, and my spaceship exploded; what calamity!
ipfemi ipftektu.
| ipf-en-mi |
| eye-1sg-v |
| ipf-tek-tu |
| eye-2sg-dat |
I'm sorry to hear that.