Details

General

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This is a non-productive affix found in a number of lexicalised nouns. As Nielsen [11] notes, it appears to be related to the affix V{-ŋa}V, which denotes a state of being. The second component is unclear, but it seems to be a geminating morpheme V{'-q}N, which, given the meaning, might be a variant of V{nəq}N; cf. e.g. the first component of V{'-rik}V and V{'-qluk}V.

The affix denotes a state of being, but in nominal form, which therefore always is used with possessive endings to denote the Subject. The inflection is special and follows the nominative-accusative pattern; see further below.

Inflection

Declension pattern:

Notes on declension:

This affix forms a nominative-accusative stem. Thus, it is only used with ergative possessive endings, regardless of whether it is used to denote a Subject or Object; or with prepositional case endings (either possessed or unpossessed). Furthermore, in the 3rd/4th person, it follows a nominative-accusative pattern with 4th person used for both transitive and intransitive Subjects, and 3rd person only used for transitive Objects. See further in the inflection description for {tamaq}N.

The affix may be used with a few, noun-extending affixes, especially N{(q)cuaq}N and N{(q)luinnaq}N, but the resulting stem still has to be used with the ergative possessive endings and follow the nominative-accusative pattern as described above.

Meanings and examples

Tags

• Stem categorisation / Non-productive morpheme
• Stem categorisation / Nominative-accusative