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 |