Details
General
| Morphemic form: | N{kkuutaaq}V |
| New orthography: | -kkuutaarput, -kkuutaarpai |
| Old orthography: | '-kûtârput, '-kûtârpai |
| Sources: |
[9]
[11]
[10]
[12]
[13]
|
| Combinations: | Click here |
| Constituents: | ?, V{taaq}V, |
| Left sandhi: | Default,
|
| Right sandhi: | Default/none,
Default/none,
|
| Inflection sandhi: | Default/none,
Default/none,
|
| Stem type: | q-stem |
| Diathesis: | Patientive |
| Valency change: | None |
| Valency: | Monovalent,
Divalent,
|
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This affix has two meanings:
With intransitive endings (in plural), it denotes '
Subjectsare grouped in Ns', i.e. in groups of size N. This is the common meaning, which is described by Kleinschmidt [9] , Schultz-Lorentzen [10] , Fortescue [12] , and in Oqaatsit [13] .Kleinschmidt [9] also notes that it can be used with transitive endings, with
Objectsin plural. According to him, the meaning then becomes 'Subjecttreats/processesObjectsin groups/batches of size N'.
Given this meaning, the affix is only used with plural endings, and on noun stems indicating a quantity; usually a numeral or qassiit, 'several'. Another possibility, mentioned by Kleinschmidt and Schultz-Lorentzen (loc. cit.), is that the affix alternatively can follow N{-giik}N when it denotes a group.
The transitive usage does not seem to be common today, but given the translation by Kleinschmidt cited above, it seems to be most correct to regard this affix as patientive, even though he does not give any indication of what its HTR-form should be. Presumably, it would never be used with a HTR-morpheme.
Both Kleinschmidt [9] and Schultz-Lorentzen [10] believe the affix derives from the Vialis case ending N{kkut}. This may be due to a confusion between this ending and the group affix, N{nkuq}N. However, according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [15] , the initial morpheme in this affix is actually a morpheme {qu-} or {ʀqu-}, 'one after the other', which has no direct descendant in Kalaallisut. The second morpheme is then V{taaq}V, denoted repeated action.
Meanings and examples
I.e. in groups of size N. This is the meaning with intransitive endings.
- marlukkuutaarput, they are grouped in pairs
[10]
From marluk, 'two'.
- qulikkuutaarput, they are grouped in groups of ten
[13]
From qulit, 'ten'.
- tallimakkuutaarput, they are grouped in groups of five
[13]
From tallimat, 'five'.
This is the meaning with transitive endings.
- pingasukkuutaarpai, he processes three at a time
[9]
From pingasut, 'three'.
- tallimakkuutaarlugit, taking five at a time
[9]
From tallimat, 'five'.
- qassiikkuutaarlugit, taking several at a time
[9]
From qassiit, 'several'.