Details

General

Description and behaviour

This affix is a straightforward combination of intransitive participle V{ðuq}N and copula N{-u}V. This combination has two usages:

• According to Schultz-Lorentzen [11], the meaning is similar to N{-tuau}V, i.e. 'Subject is the only one who Vb'.
• According to Fortescue [6], this combination is used with adjectival bases to indicate a more permanent quality.

The adjectival stems normally only describe a state of being relative to some specified context: For example, {mikə}V means 'Actor is small', but this may be understood as relative to other entities being described. Compare the following:

• mikivoq, 'he is small' (in the current context, e.g. relative to his surroundings).
• mikisoq, '(someone who is) small'.
• mikisuuvoq, 'he is (characteristically) small'.

Note, however, that a number of adjectival bases do not form their intransitive participle (i.e. the nominal adjectival form) with V{ðuq}N, but instead use the non-productive morpheme V{suuq}N. These stems then also use the morpheme V{suu}V instead of the present affix to indicate a characteristic quality. Likewise, verbal stems formed with N{tu}V also form their intransitive participle with N{tuuq}N, and these stems then use the morpheme N{tuu}V instead of the present affix.

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

Meanings and examples