Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-maaq}V
New orthography: -maarpoq
Old orthography: -mârpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
See also: N{-licaaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: Agentive
Valency change: None
Valency:
Monovalent,
Divalent,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This is a peculiar affix. It is briefly mentioned in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary under the entry for {(u)maʀ(aʀ)-}, 'continually', which does not seem to have anything to do with the meaning of the present affix. In fact, it seemingly has two entirely different meanings, and it is unclear if these meanings are originally from the same morpheme:

Only the first meaning is mentioned Fortescue (1984), and also in Ordbogeeraq (1967), but apart from these two sources, and the brief mention in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, this affix does not appear to be mentioned elsewhere. The second meaning is only indicated in Ordbogeeraq (1967), and this dictionary does not actually provide any translation of the affix. It only gives some usage examples, some of which include lexicalised words that also appear as individual entries in Oqaatsit (1997). Thus, the second meaning is tentative and derived from a comparison of the lexicalised words.


Meanings and examples

This meaning is similar to N{-licaaq}V.

  • qaqortumaarpoq, he is wearing a white anorak
    [6]

    From qaqortoq, '(something) white'. The white anorak is part of the national costume for men in Greenland.

This meaning is not productive, but found in some lexicalised words.

  • eqqarlimaarpaa, he is kind to him because he is a family member
    [6]

    From eqqarleq, 'family member'. This word is recorded with a transitive ending in Oqaatsit (1997), thus explicitly indicating the object. However, in Ordbogeeraq (1967) it is only given with an intransitive ending, erĸardlimârpoĸ. The word is also found in Kleinschmidt's dictionary (1871), where he gives the translation: 'he gives him something, because he is related to him', or 'he says/mentions that he is related to him' or, when used intransitively, 'he says that he is related (to the person he is speaking to)'. In either case, it is about highlighting the fact of the relationship.

  • pimaarpoq, he is kind (to `someone`) because they are related
    [6]

    From the dummy base {pi}N, giving the pure meaning of the affix. This word is lexicalised, and is listed in Oqaatsit (1997). It is not clear from the translation, how the someone should be indicated, but based on the example eqqarlerpaa, it could presumably also be indicated with a transitive ending.

  • ikinngutimaarpoq, he is kind (to `someone`) because he is a friend
    [6]

    From ikinngut, 'friend'. Presumably, ikinngutimaarpaa is also possible.

  • utoqqaqatimaarpoq, he is kind (to `someone`) because he is a fellow elderly person
    [6]

    From utoqqaqat, 'a fellow elderly person', i.e. utoqqaq and N{-qatə}N. Presumably, utoqqaqatimaarpaa is also possible.


References