Details

General

Description and behaviour

This is a non-productive affix found in some lexicalised words. It denotes 'a collection of N', and is thus more or less equivalent in meaning to the (productive) affix N{(q)vak}N. It also has a verbalising variant, N{-ijak}V, with a somewhat related meaning, 'is full of N'.

The affix is generally truncative, but Ordbogeeraq (1951) gives several examples where it apparently has joined additively on to consonant stems and (optionally) weakened the consonant, i.e. /k/ ⇒ /g/ and /q/ ⇒ /r/. Thus, the affix may also appear as -giak on k-stems and -riak on q-stems; e.g. agssagiak from agssak and iseriak from iseq. However, not all words are formed in this way: for example inuiak from inuk is a counter-example.

The affix seems to normally decline like a regular k-stem, i.e. up-declined and with endings being added on to /k/ or removing it according to their own left-sandhi. However, in Ordbogeeraq is also mentioned an example, agssagiak, agssagiaup, agssagíssat, where the affix seems to decline with gemination in plural, but nevertheless still take the ergative singular ending -up. This declension is thus irregular, but it does not appear to be commonly used.

Inflection

Declension pattern

This is apparently the conventional declension.

Declension pattern

This is the declension where the affix seems to behave like a weak k-stem with the (unwritten) /j/ geminating to [cc]. However, it irregularly still takes the ending N{-up} in ergative singular, according to the example in Ordbogeeraq (1951). Thus, this declension is irregular.

Meanings and examples