Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-kit}V
New orthography: -kippoq, -kitsoq
Old orthography: -kípoĸ
Sources: [14, 11]
Combinations: Click here
See also: N{tu}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Right sandhi:
tð⇒ts,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: t-stem
Diathesis: Subjective
Valency change: None
Valency:
Monovalent,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix means 'Actor has (a) small N' or 'Actor has few N', i.e. denoting a lack of size (in number or quantity, depending on context). It may be related to N{-it}V, 'is without N', although the relation is unclear according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary.


Right sandhi:

Note that this is a true t-stem, so with the intransitive participle V{ðuq}N and endings in the intransitive participial mood (mood marker {ðu}), /tð/ will not assimilate fully but instead yield 'ts'.


Meanings and examples

As usual, the incorporated noun has no number, so it can be either singular or plural.

  • imakippoq, it only contains a little

    From imaq, 'content', so literally 'it has small contents'.

  • isigakippoq, he has small feet

    From isigak, 'foot'.

  • isikippoq, he has small eyes
  • akikitsoq, (something that is) cheap

    Lexicalised, from aki, 'price', thus literally 'something with a small price'. The example also illustrates the 'ts' form with intransitive participle V{ðuq}N.

  • qanikippoq, he has a small mouth
  • oqarpoq qanikitsunga, he said I have a small mouth

    Illustrating the 'ts' form with the intransitive participial mood.

  • ikinngutikippoq, he has few friends [11]

    In this case, the meaning must be 'few', rather than 'small'. If the intention was to simply express 'he has small friends', this affix would not be used.