Make Problem - parse error before "const"

[Joseph Maxwell]

Hello,

I am running an SGI Indigo2 platform, O/S IRIX version 6.5.22f and 
installing some GNU programs requiring an updating of ancillary files. 
One of which is the m4 suite.

The update is from "m4 (GNU M4) 1.4.10" to "m4-1.4.11"

The configuration (./configure) seemed to run fine to completion

make
ran until terminating

=>
    ---

   ---
   mv -f .deps/verror.Tpo .deps/verror.Po
   gcc  -I.      -g -O2 -MT version-etc.o -MD -MP -MF
   .deps/version-etc.Tpo -c -o version-etc.o version-etc.c
   version-etc.c: In function `version_etc_va':
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before ')' token
   *** Error code 1 (bu21)
   *** Error code 1 (bu21)
   *** Error code 1 (bu21)
   *** Error code 1 (bu21)

<=

Using gmake after distclean, same error seems to occur
GNU Make 3.80
=>

   mv -f .deps/verror.Tpo .deps/verror.Po
   gcc  -I.     -g -O2 -MT version-etc.o -MD -MP -MF
   .deps/version-etc.Tpo -c -o version-etc.o version-etc.c
   version-etc.c: In function `version_etc_va':
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before "const"
   version-etc.c:53: error: parse error before ')' token
   gmake[3]: *** [version-etc.o] Error 1
   gmake[3]: Leaving directory `/usr/local/appl/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.11/lib'
   gmake[2]: *** [all] Error 2
   gmake[2]: Leaving directory `/usr/local/appl/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.11/lib'
   gmake[1]: *** [all-recursive] Error 1
   gmake[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/local/appl/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.11'
   gmake: *** [all] Error 2

<=

could you advise

Thanks