Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-araq}N
New orthography: -araq
Old orthography: -araĸ
Combinations: Click here
Variants: N{-Vraq}N,
See also: N{ŋŋuaq}N, N{-aq}N,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Geminating,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This is a diminutive affix meaning 'small', but when used with nouns for living entities it may additionally have connotations of 'young N' or 'child'. Note also the marginally productive variant form N{-Vraq}N with the same meaning, but with a variable initial vowel.


Inflection sandhi:

The affix is a weak q-stem and it has regular gemination of /r/ to [qq].


Inflection

Declension pattern
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Geminating
Gemination type: r⇒qq

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -aqqa -ara
-araq
-aqqap
-aqqat
Phonemic orthography -arra -ara
-araq
-arrap
-arrat


Meanings and examples

Sometimes with connotations of 'young' or 'child' when used on living entities. It may also combine with the diminuative N{ŋŋuaq}N for further emphasis.

  • qimmiaraq, a small dog

    Or 'puppy', from qimmeq 'dog'.

  • nukappiaraq, boy

    From nukappiaq, 'young (unmarried) man', with drop of the final /aq/ (this is not standard).

  • matuaraq, a small door
    [8]

    From matu, 'door'. In this case, the meaning is just plain 'small', since 'door' is not a living entity.

  • mikisuaraq, (someone/something that is) tiny
    [4]

    From mikisoq, 'small'.

  • piaraq, young(ling)
    [4]

    E.g. of an animal. From the pro-root {pi}N, which gives the pure meaning of the affix. Thus we here see the connotation of 'young'.

  • savaaraq, lamb
    [4]

    From sava, 'sheep'.

  • inuarannguaq, dwarf
    [4]

    From {inuk}N, 'human' + N{-araq}N + N{ŋŋuaq}N, 'small'.

  • ukuninngaarannguaq allaffigaakkit, I write thee this tiny little bit (these few words).
    [4]

    Old orthography: ukuníngâránguaĸ agdlagfigâvkit. The root is uku, 'these', and the final morphemes are N{-araq}N + N{ŋŋuaq}N. However, it is unclear what morpheme is the source of the segment /niŋŋa/.


References