Details
General
| Morphemic form: | N{-ucaq}N |
| New orthography: | -usaq, -asaq, -jusaq |
| Old orthography: | -ussaĸ |
| Sources: | [19, 16] |
| Combinations: | View list |
| Variants: | V{-ucaaq}V, N{-ucaaq}N, N{-ucaaq}V, V{-ucaq}V |
| Left sandhi: | Truncative |
| Right sandhi: | Default/none |
| Inflection sandhi: | Default/none |
| Stem type(s): | Weak q-stem |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This is one of a group of affixes, which are all related either by origin or meaning:
- V{-ucaq}V, 'is semi-Vb'bing',
- N{-ucaq}N, 'something resembling N',
- N{-ucaaq}N, 'something resembling N',
- N{-ucaaq}V, 'act like N',
- V{-ucaaq}V, 'keep on Vb'ing'.
According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [21], they derive from two different morphemes, which however presumably are related:
- {ŋ(ŋ)uðaʀ(-)}, which is the source of N{-ucaq}N and N{-ucaaq}N,
- {ŋuðaʀaʀ-}, which is the source of V{-ucaq}V, N{-ucaaq}V, and V{-ucaaq}V.
Inflection
Declension pattern:
| Stem type: | Weak q-stem |
| Declension type: | p-declined |
| Declension sandhi: | Default/none |
| Stem before consonant | Stem before vowel | Notable forms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New orthography | -usa | -usa | -usaq, -usap, -usat, |
| Phonemic orthography | -uca | -uca | -ucaq, -ucap, -ucat, |
Meanings and examples
Or 'looks like', 'imitates' etc.
- illuusaq, something resembling a house
e.g. a mountain top
- inuusaq, doll
From inuk, 'human', i.e. something resembling a human
- qajaasaq, Rhododendron groenlandicum
A type of plant, often in plural qajaasat. It is named after the leaves which are shaped like a kayak (qajaq).
- isaasat, quotation marks
From {əcə}N, 'eye' (a true ə-stem so /ə/ becomes [a]). Literally 'things that look like eyes'. This may be influenced from Danish, where they are known as gåseøjne (goose eyes).
- a-jusaq, @ (the symbol)
Literally 'something that looks like an a'.
- angutaasaq, someone that looks like a man
From angut, 'man' (a tə-stem).
- arnaasaq, an effeminate man
From arnaq, 'woman', so literally 'someone who looks/behaves like a woman'.