Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-ilaq}N
New orthography: -ilaq
Old orthography: -ilaĸ
Combinations: Click here
Variants: N{-it}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, the historical morpheme {ŋit-} alternates with the form {ŋila-}, although it is unexplained when this alternation happens. The first form is the origin of the affix N{-it}V, 'Actor is without N', and the second form is the origin of the present affix, which denotes 'something that is without N'. Thus, the present affix is semantically equivalent to the combination N{-it}V{ðuq}N ⇒ -itsoq. It is non-productive but is found in some lexicalised words.

Note that there also may be a relation to the special indicative/interrogative mood marker of the negation affix V{ŋŋit}V. According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, that affix derives from a combination of {nəʀ}{ŋit-} ⇒ {nʀit} with loss of /ə/, where /nʀ/ then apparently have merged to /ŋŋ/, thus yielding {ŋŋit}. The final part of that morpheme is thus exactly the affix V{-it}V, and with a similar alternation as the present affix, we thus obtain a form /ŋŋilaq/, which indeed looks like the 3sg indicative form of V{ŋŋit}V, i.e. -nngilaq. Thus, this may be the source of the special verbal mood marker.


Inflection

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

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -illa -ila
-ilaq
-illap
-illat
Phonemic orthography -illa -ila
-ilaq
-illap
-illat


Meanings and examples

  • inuilaq, desert
    [4]

    From inuk, 'human', so literally 'something that is without humans'.

  • imeqqutaalaq, arctic tern (Sterna macrura)
    [4]

    From imeqqutak, 'groin', so literally 'something without a groin'.

  • qajaalaq, a lone kayaker
    [13]

    From qajaq, 'kayak', so literally 'a place (at sea) that is without kayaks (except one's own)'. Also from derived from this: qajaalarsiorpoq, 'he keeps away from the other kayaks', with N{siuq}V, 'searches for N'.

  • uuilaq, (something that is) raw
    [13]

    I.e., unboiled meat/fish. The base is unclear, but compare uueq, 'meat that is being cooked'.


References