Details

General

Morphemic form: V{ŋŋitciaq}V
New orthography: -nngitsiaraa
Old orthography: '-ngitsiarâ
Sources: [14]
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: V{ŋŋit}V, V{tciaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: None
Valency:
Increasing,
Divalent,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This combined affix is used in a rather special construction: 'right before Subject Vb'ed'. This is a time expression, and as such it is only used with transitive participial endings, even if the preceding stem is monovalent. In that case, the Object marker does not refer to anything, and the affix is therefore only used with endings with 3sg markings for the Object.


Inflection sandhi:

The stem is only used with the transitive participial endings.


Meanings and examples

With Subject always marked as Agent.

  • ininngitsiaraa, just before he finished it [14]

    From inerpaa, 'he finishes it'. Here, the Subject and Object markers refer to the Agent and Patient roles in the underlying stem, since it is divalent.

  • qaammanngitsiaraa, right before dawn; right before it became light [14]

    From qaammarpoq, 'it becomes light' (i.e. 'it dawns'). Here, the stem is avalent, and neither the Subject nor the Object marker refer to anything.

  • sianinngitsiaraa, right before it/the bell chimed [14]

    From sianerpoq, 'it rings/chimes' or 'a bell sounds' or similar. The stem is monovalent, and the Object marker in this case does not refer to anything.