Details

General

Morphemic form: V{-ŋa}V
New orthography: -ngavoq, -nngavoq
Old orthography: -ngavoĸ, '-ngavoĸ
Sources: [11, 14]
Combinations: Click here
See also: V{sa}V, V{ŋqa}V, V{-(u)ma}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Irregular,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Vowel stem
Diathesis: None
Valency change: Decreasing
Valency:
None,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This is a non-productive affix found in a number of lexicalised words. It denotes that 'Subject is in a state of having Vb'ed'. Thus, it indicates a state of being after the verbal action denoted by the stem has happened.

There are also three other affixes with the same meaning: V{-(u)ma}V, V{sa}V, and V{ŋqa}V. However, only the latter is used productively today.


Left sandhi:

The affix is generally truncative, but on k-stems it is additive according to Kleinschmidt [9]. This explains the cases where the affix appears as [ŋŋa] in some lexicalised words; for example uninngavoq from {unək}V, spelt unigpoĸ in the old orthography.

Note however that some lexicalised words built with this affix, where it has joined additively onto the base, are not historically k-stems according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16]. For example, nipinngavoq is historically from {nəpət-} according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16], and thus a t-stem, but in the old orthography, this word was variously spelt nipípoĸ (indicating a t-stem) or nipigpoĸ (indicating a k-stem). Thus, the affix may also be regarded as (sometimes) being additive on t-stems as well.


Meanings and examples

  • innangavoq, he is lying down [11]

    From innarpoq, 'he goes to bed'.

  • nakkangavoq, it is hanging down [11]

    From nakkarpoq, 'it falls down'. Note that Oqaatsit [14] has a different translation for nakkangavoq: 'he is doing less well'.

  • nipinngavoq, it is stuck onto something [11]

    From nipippoq, 'it sticks to something'. This was spelt nipigpoĸ in the old orthography, thus indicating that it is a k-stem, and the affix is therefore additive. However, according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16], the historical form is {nəpət-}, thus indicating that it originally was a t-stem.