Details

General

Morphemic form: V{ðuq}N
New orthography: +toq, +soq, -tsoq
Old orthography: -toĸ, -tsoĸ, -soq, -ssoĸ
Combinations: Click here
See also: V{-ðaq}N, V{ðə}N, V{nəq}N,
Left sandhi:
Default,
tð->ts,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is used to create nouns from monovalent stems that represent the Actor role of the verbal action. It can perhaps be compared to the suffix -er, -or in English (compare e.g. English worker, painter, builder, visitor etc.). This morpheme is actually the same as the intransitive participial mood marker {ðu}, but here declined as a noun (weak q-stem), rather than conjugated as a verb.


Left sandhi:

"On old t-stems, this affix (usually) attaches to /t/ without assimilating it. This is especially the case with all verb stems formed with V{ŋŋit}V, N{-it}V and V{-it}V. Thus e.g. with V{ŋŋit}V, the combination yields

similar to the mood marker for intransitive participial mood (since it really is the same morpheme).


Inflection

Declension pattern
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Default/none

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography +tu +tu
+toq
+tup
+tut
Phonemic orthography ðu ðu
ðuq
ðup
ðut


Meanings and examples

Or 'a Vb'er '.

  • sulisoq, a worker (one who works)
  • igasoq, a cook (one who cooks food).
  • aggersoq, someone who is coming/approaching
    [8]

    This is a q-stem, so by the ð-rule we get /aggiqtuq/, but /t/ is then assibilated to /s/ by the preceding true /i/, thus yielding /aggiqsuq/ by the t-to-s rule.

  • tikiussisoq, someone who comes with/brings something
    [8]

    From the HTR-form of tikiuppaa.

  • qerisoq, something frozen
    [8]

    Note that the meaning here is something rather than someone. This affix covers both meanings.

  • pulaartoq, a visitor
    [8]

  • sinittoq, someone who is sleeping
    [8]

    Note, from {sinək}V, hence /t/ is not assibilated to /s/, since the vowel is /ə/.

  • ajunngitsoq, (something that is) good
    [8]

    Following V{ŋŋit}V, hence /tð/ do not assimilate.

  • maniitsoq, (something that is) uneven
    [8]

    From V{-it}V, hence /tð/ do not assimilate.

  • nuanniitsoq, (something that is) sad/boring
    [8]

    From V{-it}V, hence /tð/ do not assimilate.

  • ajortoq, (something that is) bad/evil
    [4]

  • naalattoq, someone who obeys
    [4]

    From {naalak}V, 'Agent obeys Patient'. Note that {naalak}V is a divalent, agentive stem, so when given intransitive form, the meaning remains active; e.g. naalappoq, 'he obeys'. This diathesis is also reflected in the noun resulting from combination with the intransitive participle, hence naalattoq is 'someone who obeys' (an obeyer).

  • iluaatsoq, (something that is) wrong
    [4]

    Or 'improper', from V{-it}V, hence /tð/ do not assimilate. Note that the stem here is adjectival, so the resulting noun would often just be translated as an adjective wrong, rather than as something that is wrong.

  • nuannersoq, (something that is) fun/enjoyable
    [4]

    From {nuanniq}V, hence /qð/ ⇒ /qt/, but then /iqt/ ⇒ /iqs/ by the t-to-s rule. This is again an adjectival stem, so the resulting noun will often just be translated as an adjective, fun/enjoyable.

  • nalusoq, someone who is ignorant
    [4]

    From {nalu}V, 'Agent knows not Patient'. The diathesis of {nalu}V is again agentive, albeit it seems to have acquired a stative meaning, 'is unknowing' when used intransitively, and this is again also reflected in combination with the intransitive participle.


References