Details
General
| Morphemic form: | V{tqu}V (Combinations) |
| New orthography: | -qquaa, -qqusivoq, -qquvoq, -qqullugu, -qqulluni, -qqunagu, -qqunani |
| Proto-eskimoic root: | ðqə |
| Morpheme type: | Verbal modifier |
| Left sandhi: | Default (additive, epenthetic or phonotactically truncative) |
| Right sandhi: | None |
Description
Form and usage:
The meaning of this affix is 'Agent bids Patient Vb'.
Thus, it is valency-increasing and can form so-called 'double-transitive' verbs, if used on a divalent-stem:
- On a monovalent stem, the
Actorof the stem is identified with thePatientof V{tqu}V - On a divalent stem, the
Patientof the stem is identified with thePatientof V{tqu}V
In the latter case, an underlying Agent of the stem can optionally be added in the allative case.
Consider the sentence
- anaanap Evamut qitsuk paareqquaa, 'mother asked Eva to look after the cat'
This is a double-transitive construction: Evap qitsuk paaraa means 'Eva looks after the cat', but by adding V{tqu}V to the stem {paarə}V, we introduce a new Agent (who is doing the bidding), whilst the Patient remains the same.
The former/underlying Agent of the stem can the optionally be specified in the allative case (here Evamut).
Note also that the diathesis is reflexive.
Thus, if this affix is used in intransitive form without an intervening HTR-morpheme, the meaning becomes: 'Agent bids (someone) to Vb him', which perhaps best can be translated as 'Agent requests to be Vb'ed (by someone)', where someone likewise can be explicitly specified in the Allative case, as with the double-transitive constructions above.
Special constructions
Besides the above, this affix is also used in some special constructions with the contemporative moods:
With positive contemporative endings (i.e. mood marker {(l)lu}) it means 'in order to Vb'. The person who does something in order to Vb will be the object of the sentence (and the subject is unspecified).
With negative contemporative endings (i.e. mood marker {na}) it means 'without Vb'ing'. The person who does not Vb will be the object of the sentence (and the subject is unspecified).
In both cases, if there is coreference between the object of -qqu- and the subject of the main clause, and this is a 3rd person, then a 4th person contemporative ending is used, i.e. an intransitive ending. Consider the following examples:
- nikuippunga ilissinnut takoqqullunga, 'I stood up in order for you to see me'
- nikuippoq ilissinnut takoqqugu, 'he stood up in order for you to see it' ('he' ≠ 'it')
- nikuippoq ilissinnut takoqquni, 'he stood up in order for you to see him' (coreference, thus 4th person)
The same applies with the negative contemporative endings.
Verb stem
| Right sandhi: | Regular |
| Valency: | Valency-increasing |
| Diathesis: | Reflexive/reciprocal (BP) |
| HTR-morpheme: | {ði} |
| HTR-stem: | V{tquci}V |
Meaning(s)
| Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
Agent bids/asks Patient to Vb |
Examples | |
Agent requests to be Vb'ed |
When used intransitively, without an intervening HTR-morpheme. | Examples |
| in order to Vb | When used with positive contemporative endings {(l)lu}. The person who does something in order to Vb will be the object of the sentence. | Examples |
| without Vb'ing | When used with negative contemporative endings {na}. The person who does not Vb will be the object of the sentence. |