Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-liqcaaq}V
New orthography: -lersaarpoq
Old orthography: -lerssârpoĸ, -erssârpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
See also: V{-liqcaaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Replacive,
/VC/ deleting,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: Subjective
Valency change: None
Valency:
Monovalent,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this affix is 'Subject tells about N'. The affix is not listed in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, so its origin is unknown.

There is also another affix, V{-liqcaaq}V, with seemingly the same form, but with a very different meaning: 'Subject intends to Vb'. It is unclear whether this is related to the present affix.


Left sandhi:

The affix is regularly truncative, and it may cause replacivity on stems ending on /tə/, i.e. /təl/ ⇒ /s/. Finally, it may also delete a final /VC/ from a stem (in particularly weak stems with gemination), with loss of the initial /l/, and trigger compensatory gemination in the stem.


Meanings and examples

In the sense of 'tells a story'.

  • takorluukkersaarpoq, he describes a vision (that he had); he prophesies
    [4]

    From takorluugaq, 'vision'. This is formed from takorloorpaa, 'he envisions it', with the passive participle V{-ðaq}N. Thus, this is a weak q-stem with gemination, and the affix deleted the final /aq/, whilst dropping its initial /l/, and caused compensatory gemination of /g/ to [kk]. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958) also mentions an alternative term, takorloornilersaarpoq, which seems to have been formed with the abstract participle V{nəq}N instead of V{-ðaq}N, but apparently with the same meaning.

  • angalanilersaarpoq, he tells about (a/his) journey
    [8]

    From angalaneq, 'travel/journey'.

  • angutilersaarpoq, he talks about men
    [8]

    From angut, 'man'. This is the form given in the example in Oqaatsit (1997), but presumably angusersaarpoq with replacivity is also possible.

  • tululersaarpoq, he tells (a story) about Englishmen
    [8]

    From tuluk, 'Englishman'.

  • tuttulersaarpoq, he talks about caribou
    [8]

    From tuttu, 'caribou'.


References