Details
General
| Morphemic form: | N{-ucaaq}V |
| New orthography: | -usaarpoq, -asaarpoq, -jusaarpoq |
| Old orthography: | -ussârpoĸ, -russârpoĸ |
| Combinations: | Click here |
| Variants: | V{-ucaaq}V, N{-ucaaq}N, V{-ucaq}V, N{-ucaq}N, |
| Left sandhi: | Truncative,
|
| 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:
This is one of a group of affixes, which are all related either by origin or meaning:
- V{-ucaq}V, 'is semi-verbing',
- 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, 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.
Left sandhi:
The left-sandhi behaviour of this affix is regular, i.e. it is truncative and it will inject an epenthetic /j/ when following a long vowel. However, there are a few examples mentioned in the DAKA, where it seems this affix alternatively may drop its initial /u/ when following a long vowel /VV/, rather than inject /j/. For example:
- sakkutuusaarpoq, regular form: sakkutuujusaarpoq
- qallunaasaarpoq, regular form: qallunaajusaarpoq
These alternative forms should not be considered part of the regular behaviour of this affix, but as irregularly formed abbreviations.
Meanings and examples
Or 'acts like', 'pretends to be' etc., also in the sense of a child 'playing to be N'.
- palasiusaarpoq, he imitates a priest
- nakorsaasaarpoq, he pretends to be/impersonates a doctor
From nakorsaq 'doctor'.
- qatanngutaasaarpoq, he imitates one of (his) siblings
From qatanngut, sibling (i.e., a tə-stem).
- sakkutuujusaarpoq, he plays soldier
From sakkutooq, 'soldier'. Also irregularly formed sakkutuusarpoq with elision of /u/.
- qallunaajusaarpoq, he imitates the Danes
From qallunaaq, 'dane'. Also irregularly formed qallunaasaarpoq with elision of /u/.
References
- [4] C.W. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958): Den Grønlandske Ordbog.
- [8] Christian Berthelsen, Birgitte Jakobsen, Robert Petersen, Inge Kleivan & Jørgen Rischel (1997): Oqaatsit.