Details

General

Morphemic form: N{ŋŋuaq}N
New orthography: -nnguaq
Old orthography: '-nguaĸ
Combinations: Click here
Variants: V{ŋŋuaq}V,
See also: N{-araq}N,
Left sandhi:
Default,
Right sandhi:
/aq/ drop,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is the nominal variant of V{ŋŋuaq}V, 'Vb a little'. The meaning is likewise 'little N' or 'cute N'. It is a very common affix used for endearment and in names, but rarely with plain objects (like a rock, a house, a dog etc.), unless they have some significance to the speaker. To express the plain meaning of 'small N', without the connotations of affection/dear/cute, N{-araq}N would be used instead.

It also has a special meaning when used with spatial noun stems, where it denotes 'right/just in the N'. For example 'right above', or 'just below' or similar.

Besides being very common, the affix also has an uncommon combination of sandhi rules: It is a weak q-stem, so the final /q/ drops before all consonant-initial regardless of their sandhi. However, it is also up-declined, so it takes N{-up} and {-it} endings, just like most k-stems, which is very peculiar. Lastly, it also has aq-drop before all vowel-initial endings, which therefore includes the aforementioned N{-up} and {-it}, thus giving it a very peculiar behaviour pattern.


Right sandhi:

This stem displays aq-drop before all vowel-initial endings, and also before N{-u}V. See also N{(q)cuaq}N and N{galuaq}N which behave similarly with vowel-initial endings.


Inflection sandhi:

The stem is up-declined, and thus drops /aq/ before N{-up} and N{-it}, as well as before all other vowel-initial endings. Thus, with vowel-initial endings it behaves like a regular k-stem {ŋŋuk}. With consonant-initial endings it behaves like an ordinary weak q-stem. Thus, we have a very peculiar situation of a weak q-stem that is nevertheless up-declined.


Inflection

Declension pattern
Declension type: up-declined
Declension sandhi: Default/none

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -nngua -nngu
-nnguaq
-nnguup
-nnguit
Phonemic orthography ŋŋua ŋŋu
ŋŋuaq
ŋŋuup
ŋŋuit


Meanings and examples

With connotations of cute/sweet/dear.

  • Arnannguaq, sweet little woman

    From {aqnaq}N, 'woman'. This is a common name.

  • Angutinnguaq, sweet little man

    From {aŋutə}N, 'man'. This is a name.

  • ininnguaq, a cozy little room

    From {inə}N, 'room'. Here, N{ŋŋuaq}N adds a connotation of 'cozy' (or something similar) besides 'little', whereas iniaraq would just mean 'a small room'.

  • illunnguuvoq, it is a nice little house

    From {əŋlu}N{ŋŋuaq}N{-u}V{vuq}. This example illustrates that /aq/ is also dropped before N{-u}V.

With spatial nouns, to express 'right/just in the N', 'just below N' etc.

  • sissap qulinnguani, right above the beach
    [10]

    With spatial stem {qulə}N, 'area above', and LOC.3sg/sg ending N{-ani}. Without N{ŋŋuaq}N, sissap qulaani would simply mean 'above the beach'.


References