Details

General


Morphemic form: N{ttiaq}N (Combinations)
New orthography: -tsiaq
Proto-eskimoic root: tciaq
Variants: V{ttiaq}V
Morpheme type: Nominal modifier
Left sandhi: Default (additive, epenthetic or phonotactically truncative)
Right sandhi: None

Description



Declension information


Stem type: Weak q-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Gemination
Gemination type: /a/ => /aa/
ABS.sg ERG.sg ERG.pl ALL.sg ABS.3sg/sg Special forms
New orthography -tsiaq -tsiaap -tsiaat -tsiaamut -tsiaa
Phonemic notation ttiaq ttiaap ttiaat ttiaamut ttiaa
Notes on declension:

This affix has a very peculiar feature: It geminates /a/. The origin of this behaviour is unclear. In the old orthography, it may have been up-declined, i.e. -tsiaup, -tsiait, which would explain the lengthened vowel in these cases. However, if viewed as an ordinary, geminating weak-q stem, then we still get a lengthened /a/, because of the gemination, i.e. -tsiaap, -tsiaat, so the up-declension may be spurious. The lengthening of /a/ is recorded at least as far back as in Rasmussen (1888), who has the example arriitsuatsiaamik (here transcribed in new orthography).


Meaning(s)


Meaning Notes
a fair-sized N It may also have connotations of 'good', especially in combination with other affixes Examples