Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-aqcuk}N
New orthography: -arsuk, -varsuk
Old orthography: -arssuk
Sources: [9, 12, 14, 11]
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: N{-aq}N, N{suk}N,
Variants: V{-aqcuk}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Irregular,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Regular k-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

A productive affix formed from a combination of the non-productive affix N{-aq}N, and a non-productive morpheme N{suk}N, according to Schultz-Lorentzen [11]. The latter sometimes alternate with N{cuk}N (spelt -ssuk in the old orthography). However, this latter affix does not appear in the list of affixes in the that dictionary, nor in Oqaatsit [14].

The (productive) combined affix means a 'bad/poor/pathetic N', sometimes also with connotations of 'small'. However, as with several other of these nominal affixes with a negative meaning, this affix can also be used in an endearing sense. There is also a verbal variant of this affix, V{-aqcuk}V, with a somewhat related meaning: 'Vb half-heartedly', maybe with connotations of 'in a poor/pathetic way', mirroring the meaning of the nominal form.


Left sandhi:

Left sandhi is inherited from the left-most component, N{-aq}N. See this for details.


Inflection

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

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -arsuk -arsu
-arsuk
-arsuup
-arsuit
Phonemic orthography -aqcuk -aqcu
-aqcuk
-aqcuup
-aqcuit


Meanings and examples

Also 'pathetic', 'bad' etc., sometimes with connotations of 'small'. It can also be used in an endearing sense with names.

  • aalisagaarsuk, a bad/pathetic(aly small) fish [14]
  • inuarsuk, a pathetic person [14]

    From inuk, 'human/person'.

  • maliarsuk, a small wave [14]

    Seemingly 'pathetic' implies 'small' here.

  • iputaarsuk, a bad/useless oar [14]

    From iput, 'oar', so a tə-stem, with /ə/ becoming [a] as expected.

  • saarullivarsuk, a bad/pathetic(aly small) cod [14]

    It is unclear why the /v/ should be injected here (compare maliarsuk). This may be an irregularity or just an optional form (but see notes under the variant V{-aqcuk}V).

  • unaavarsuk, a bad/useless harpoon [14]

    From unaaq, 'harpoon', with /VV/ triggering phonotactic epenthesis of /v/, as expected.

  • pulateriaarsuk, snake [14]

    Lexicalised, from pulateriaq, 'earth worm'.

  • piarsuit, rubbish [11]

    Literally 'useless things'. Note that DAKA instead gives the translation 'small things' for this word.

  • toornaarsuk, little helper spirit [11]

    A helping spirit of an angakkoq (shaman). Here, the affix is used in an endearing sense.

  • taannaraarsuk, the dear/sweet one [11]

    Here, the affix is used in an endearing sense.