Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-atciaq}N
New orthography: -atsiaq
Old orthography: -atsiaĸ
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: N{-aq}N, N{tciaq}N,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Irregular,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Geminating,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix denotes something like 'rather N' or 'quite N', where N is a noun with an adjectival meaning, usually formed with V{ðuq}N from an adjectival stem (although there also are a few noun bases with an adjectival meaning). The second component is N{tciaq}N according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, but they do not explain the origin of the initial /a/. I assume that it is from a combination with N{-aq}N, but this should only be seen as a working hypothesis. It is also currently unclear whether this affix also displays gemination of /a/ like the second component N{tciaq}N.


Left sandhi:

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


Right sandhi:

Right sandhi is inherited from the right-most component, N{tciaq}N. See this for details.


Inflection sandhi:

Inflection sandhi is inherited from the right-most component, N{tciaq}N. See this for details.


Meanings and examples

Or 'quite N' or similar, where N is a noun with an adjectival meaning.

  • angisuatsiaq, (something that is) rather big
    [4]

    From angisoq, '(something that is) big'.

  • qinngortuatsiaq, A fjord that stretches rather far inland
    [4]

    This word seems to be formed from qinngortuvoq, 'it has a great depth' (i.e., 'it is deep', when speaking of a fjord), but since this is a verbal stem, we must consider it irregularly formed. Alternatively, if it were from qinngortoq, the meaning would be 'something that is rather bright', which does not fit with the translation given by Schultz-Lorentzen (1958).

  • amerlasuatsiaapput, they are quite numerous
    [4]

    Or 'they are rather many', presumably from the same root as amerlasuut, 'many' (pl), followed by this affix and then verbalised with N{-u}V, 'is'.


References