Details

General

Morphemic form: N{sirə}V
New orthography: +seraa, +serinnippoq
Old orthography: -serâ, -seringnigpoĸ
Sources: [14, 8]
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: N{siq}V, V{-gə}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
ə-contraction,
Stem type: ə-stem
Diathesis: Reflexive (BP)
Valency:
Divalent,
HTR morpheme: nnək
HTR stem: sirənnək,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this affix is something like: 'Agent asks/encourages Patient to become his=Agent's N'. However, it will often be used with a nominalised verb, such that the combined meaning rather becomes something like 'Agent asks Patient to Vb with him', e.g. with V{-qatə}N; see also the combination V{-qatəsirə}V. However, other combinations are also possible.

The origin of the affix is unclear. It does not appear in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16], nor in any of the older dictionaries, except Oqaatsit [14]. However, they do mention a different affix, -serpâ, cf. N{siq}V, which seems to have a closely related meaning. My current best guess is that the present affix is a combination of that aforementioned affix and V{-gə}V, although the meaning seems more related to N{-gə}V. Thus, the proposed combination should only be viewed as an hypothesis.


Meanings and examples

  • ilaseraa, he asks him to accompany him [8]

    From ila, 'fellow/companion', so literally: 'he asks him to become his companion'.

  • aallaqatiseraa, he asks him to travel with him [14]

    From aallaqat, 'travel companion', so literally: 'he asks him to become his travel companion'.

  • aapparseraa, he asks if he wants to come along [14]

    From aappaq, 'companion', so literally: 'he asks him to become his companion'.

  • ikiortiseraa, he asks him to help him [14]

    From ikiorti, 'helper', so literally: 'he asks him to become his helper'.

  • kiffarseraa, he asks her to become his house maid [14]

    From kiffaq, traditionally a Greenlandic woman who works as a house maid.


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