Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-ijak}N
New orthography: -iak, -giak, -riak
Old orthography: -iak, -giak, -riak
Combinations: Click here
Variants: N{-ijak}V,
See also: N{(q)vak}N,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Irregular,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Geminating,
Stem type: Regular k-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

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'.


Left sandhi:

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.


Inflection sandhi:

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

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -iak -ia
-iak
-iaap
-iaat
Phonemic orthography -ijak -ija
-ijak
-ijaup
-ijait

Notes on declension:

This is apparently the conventional declension.


Declension pattern
Declension type: up-declined
Declension sandhi: Geminating
Gemination type: j⇒cc

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -issa -ia
-iak
-iaap
-issat
Phonemic orthography -ijja -ija
-ijak
-ijaup
-ijjat

Notes on declension:

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

  • inuiaat, a people
    [4]

    I.e., plural of inuiak, from inuk, 'person'.

  • assagiak, crab
    [6]

    From assak, 'hand/finger', literally 'a collection of hans (or fingers)'. This is formed with weakening of /k/ ⇒ /g/. Note that this word apparently is spelt assagiaq nowadays.

  • aagiak, coagulated blood
    [6]

    From aak, 'blood'. This is formed with weakening of /k/ ⇒ /g/.

  • iseriak, mist
    [6]

    From iseq, 'steam/smoke', especially from a house. This is formed with weakening of /q/ ⇒ /r/.


References