Details

General

Morphemic form: V{nəqvaaq}N
New orthography: +nerpaaq
Old orthography: -nerpâĸ
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: V{nəq}N, N{(q)vaaq}N,
Left sandhi:
Default,
ə-eliding,
Right sandhi:
/aq/ drop,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is a combination of comparative/superlative V{nəq}N and the affix N{(q)vaaq}N denoting 'the very most Vb'ing'. Thus, this is used in nominal comparative/superlative constructions with adjectival stems. Unlike V{nəq}N, which can mean either 'more' or 'most' Vb'ing, this affix only mean 'most Vb'ing'. Note that this form is never used with possessive endings; it is only with non-possessive case endings, or verbalised with N{-u}V.


Left sandhi:

Left sandhi is inherited from the left-most component, V{nəq}N. See this for details.


Right sandhi:

Right sandhi is inherited from the right-most component, N{(q)vaaq}N. See this for details.


Inflection sandhi:

Inflection sandhi is inherited from the right-most component, N{(q)vaaq}N. See this for details.


Meanings and examples

Unlike V{nəq}N, which can mean either 'more' or 'most' Vb'ing, this affix only mean 'most Vb'ing'. It is never used with possessive endings.

  • annerpaaq, the biggest
    [4]

    Or anginerpaa, if the word is formed without /ə/ elision. The base is {aŋe}V.'

  • minnerpaaq, the smallest
    [4]

    Or mikinerpaaq, if the word is formed without /ə/ elision. The base is {mikə}V.

  • pitsaanerpaaq, the very best
    [4]

  • ajunnginnerpaaq, the very best
    [4]

  • illu annerpaaq, the biggest house

    Here annerpaaq acts as a nominal modifier of illu.

  • illu annerpaavoq, the house is the biggest

    Verbalisation with copula N{-u}V. Thus, illu is here the subject, and annerpaaq is the (incorporated) subject predicate. This example is formed with /aq/ drop; i.e. /aŋneqpauvuq/ in phonemic notation. This combination may alternatively yield annerpaajuvoq without /aq/ drop, if the speaker does not use this rule.


References