Details

General

Morphemic form: V{ðarijaqaq}V
New orthography: +tariaqarpoq, +sariaqarpoq
Old orthography: -iaĸarpoĸ, -tariaĸarpoĸ, -ssariaĸarpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: V{ðaq}V, V{-rijaq}N, N{-qaq}V,
Variants: V{-rijaqaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: None
Valency change: Preserving
Valency:
None,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

Form:
This affix denotes an obligation to Vb. According to Schultz-Lorentzen (1958), this notion of obligation derives from the component -iaĸ, i.e. the affix V{rijaq}N, and he records this affix as -iaĸarpoĸ. However, nowadays it is always used with a prefixed V{ðaq}V, thus giving the modern-day form V{ðariaqaq}V, but see the variant V{-rijaqaq}V for the older examples.

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, the historical form of this morpheme is {ɣiaqaq-}. According to these authors, it has been formed through a combination of N{-qaq}V with a historical morpheme {yaʀ-}, that does not have a descendant in Kalaallisut, and the resulting form {ɣiaqaq-} seems then to have been combined with V{ðaq}V, even though the former is a verbal stem, whilst the latter affixes to nominal stems. How the modern-day meaning should be obtained from the constituents is not clear.

Fortescue (1984, p. 265) remarks that this affix can also passivize a divalent stem. For example:

This is similar to the behaviour seen in another verbal affix formed with V{-rijaq}N, namely V{-rijainnau}V, which also preserves the Actor role of a monovalent stem, but removes the Agent role of a divalent stem. Given all of the above, it seems more reasonable to assume this affix is derived from V{-rijaq}N, i.e. {yaʀ}, rather than from a verbal affix {yaʀ-} with no descendant in Kalaallisut. Thus, we record the form of the present affix as V{ðarijaqaq}V, with /j/ reflecting a combination formed from V{-rijaq}N.

Meaning: The meaning of this affix is 'Subject must Vb' or 'ought to Vb' etc. It is regularly valency-preserving nowadays, but both Fortescue (1984, p. 265) and Schultz-Lorentzen (1958, p. 333) mention examples where it removes the Agent role from a divalent stem and equates the Patient role of the underlying stem with the Actor role of the resulting stem. In the latter case, the meaning is thus:

  • 'there must/ought to be Vb'ing' on monovalent stems, thus resulting in an avalent stem.
  • 'Actor=Patient must/ought to be Vb'ed' on divalent stems, thus resulting in a monovalent stem.

We shall therefore record this affix as valency-decreasing, but note that it is also used in a valency-preserving fashion.


Meanings and examples

Or 'needs to', 'ought to', 'it is necessary to' etc.. When followed by V{galuaq}V, 'ought to (but...)'.

  • atortariaqarpoq, it must be used
    [8]

    From atorpoq, 'it is used', i.e. the passive meaning of atorpaa when used intransitively. The example shows that diathesis is preserved by this affix.

  • makittariaqarpoq, he has to get up
    [8]

  • sinittariaqarpoq, he needs to sleep
    [8]

  • qimaasariaqarpoq, he must flee
    [8]

  • nerisariaqarpoq, he needs to eat
    [8]

  • sulisariaqarpoq, he needs to work
    [8]

  • utoqqatsertariaqarputit, you ought to apologize
  • pujortartariaqanngikkaluarpunga, I ought not to smoke (but ...)

    With V{ŋŋit}V (negation) and V{galuaq}V.

  • pisariaqarpoq, it is necessary
    [4]

    With the dummy root {pi}V, giving the pure meaning of the affix.

  • tigusariaqarpara, I must take it
    [4]

    From tiguaa, 'he takes it'.

  • taama taasariaqanngilaa, he ought not to call him thus
    [4]

    From taavaa, 'he names/calls him (something)', and with the negation affix V{ŋŋit}V.

Or 'it is necessary to Vb'. This is the valency-decreasing meaning.

  • kaattariaqarpoq, it must be hammered
    [4]

    Or 'there must be hammering', from kaappaa, 'he strikes it' (witha stone or hammer).

  • salittariaqarpoq, it must be cleaned
    [4]

    From salippaa, 'he cleans it'.

  • ornittariaqarpunga, I must be approached
    [4]

    From ornippaa, 'he approaches him'. This example is difficult to translate directly. The meaning is something like: 'they must come to me', but without mentioning who 'they' are; i.e. 'I must be come-to'ed'.

  • nersortariaqarputit, thou ought to be praised
    [4]

    From nersorpaa, 'he praises him'.

  • ingittariaqarpoq, (people) ought to sit down
    [4]

    From ingippoq, 'he sits down'. This is difficult to translate directly, since the meaning is avalent; i.e. something like 'there ought to be down-sitting', without directly saying who it is that ought to sit down.

  • uannut ataqqisariaqarpoq, he ought to be honoured by me
    [4]

    From ataqqivaa, 'he honours him'. Note that the underlying Agent 'I' is here added in the allative case (uannut), rather than the ablative case as usual. It is unclear why, or whether uannit could also be used.

  • paarisariaqartippara, I consider it necessary that it is looked after
    [4]

    From paaraa, 'he looks after it'. Here the stem is first passivized, paarisariaqarpoq, 'it must be looked after', and then transitivized with V{tət}V in the sense of 'think/consider'.


References

  • [3] Michael Fortescue (1984): West Greenlandic (Croom Helm Descriptive Grammars).
  • [4] C.W. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958): Den Grønlandske Ordbog.
  • [8] Christian Berthelsen, Birgitte Jakobsen, Robert Petersen, Inge Kleivan & Jørgen Rischel (1997): Oqaatsit.