Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-ruaq}N
New orthography: -guaq, -ruaq
Old orthography: -guaĸ, -ruaĸ
Combinations: Click here
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Irregular,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Geminating,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This is a non-productive morpheme found in a number of lexicalised words. Its meaning is difficult to pin down, and dictionaries do not at all agree. For example:

Based on the examples, I think perhaps 'something that extends N' in some way, i.e. either extending the capabilities of N, or extending N in a physical sense by being added on top of N, may be the most fitting translation.


Left sandhi:

The left-sandhi rules for this affix are not clear, and since the affix is not used productively, the following is based on examples from various dictionaries:

Furthermore, there are some examples, where a preceding /ə/ also has become [a] before this affix for no apparent reason, but since this is in lexicalised words, we shall not attempt to account for this change also.


Inflection sandhi:

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, the affix derives from {ŋ(ŋ)uðaʀ(-)}, where /ð/ seems to have been dropped. This consonant resurfaces as /cc/ in the geminated forms, e.g.

in plural.


Inflection

Declension pattern
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Geminating
Gemination type: ua⇒ucca

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography -russa -rua
-ruaq
-russap
-russat
Phonemic orthography -rucca -rua
-ruaq
-ruccap
-ruccat


Meanings and examples

Either in a physical sense, or extending the capabilities of N. Note: this is a tentative translation based on the examples.

  • qanaguaq, auxiliary tent pole; auxiliary roof beam
    [4]

    From qanak, 'ridge pole of a tent'. This is a k-stem, so here we see the form {-guaq} with initial /g/.

  • uliguaq, cape
    [4]

    From ulik, 'cover' or 'blanket', 'shawl', 'tarpaulin' or similar. This is a k-stem, so here we see the form {-guaq} with initial /g/.

  • paaguai, the guards of the sealing bladder/float
    [13]

    The root of this word is not clear since there is not noun stem {paak} in Greenlandic. However, the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary gives the verb {paɣuɣ-}, 'fasten witha peg', which ends in a velar. Hence, we see the g-initial form here.

  • ipaguaq, fiber
    [6]

    From ipak, 'fibre; vein; grain' in wood, horn, bone, meat. This is a k-stem, so the g-initial form is used.

  • itersaruaq, pock mark
    [6]

    Old orthography: iterssaruaĸ. This is a q-stem, itersaq, 'depression; low place on a surface', so we see the r-initial form as expected.

  • nukeruaq, sinew; tendon; ligament
    [6]

    Also in Kleinschmidt (1871): 'roots extending from a tree'. From nuki(k), '(muscle) strength; power'. We might have expected the g-initial form to have been used here, since this is usually a k-stem, so this may be a counter-example to the proposed left-sandhi rules.

  • isarussat, glasses
    [4]

    Singular form: isaruaq, although the word is always used in plural. The root is {əcə}N, 'eye', with /ə/ irregularly having taken the sound [a] here for no apparent reason.

  • quleruaq, railing (on the deck of a ship)
    [4]

    Presumably from the spatial noun {qulə}N, 'space above'.

  • kameruaq, pull-over boot
    [4]

    From kamik, 'boot'.


References