Details
General
Morphemic form: | V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V |
New orthography: | -uppaa, -appaa, -ssuppaa, -ussivoq, -assivoq, -ssussivoq |
Old orthography: | -úpâ, -ússivoĸ |
Combinations: | Click here |
Variants: | V{ccut(ə)}V, V{'-t(ə)}V, |
See also: | V{-(cc)utə}N, V{kkut(ə)}V, |
Left sandhi: | Truncative,
/aq/ deleting,
|
Right sandhi: | t(ə) sandhi,
|
Inflection sandhi: | Default/none,
|
Stem type: | t(ə)-stem |
Diathesis: | Reflexive |
Valency change: | Increasing |
Valency: | Divalent,
|
HTR morpheme: | ði,
|
HTR stem: | -(cc)ucci, |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This affix is presumably related to the nominalising affix V{-(cc)utə}N, but exactly how (in terms of meaning) is not clear.
The general meaning is 'do with/for', but it works opposite to the other valency-increasing affixes in that it adds a new Patient
role to the relation (rather than a new Agent
role):
On monovalent stems it adds a new
Patient
, whereas the formerActor
is equated with theAgent
of the affix. This is in contrast to the other valency-increasing affixes, which instead add a newAgent
role to the relation and instead equate theActor
with thePatient
. Thus:Actor
Vb ⇒Agent
Vb for/withPatient
=Actor
.On divalent stems it exchanges the
Patient
of the stem (Patient1
) with the newPatient
role of the affix (Patient2
). Again, this is in contrast to the other valency-increasing affixes, which instead would equate the twoPatient
roles and have the newAgent
role (Agent2
) shadow the underlyingAgent
role (Agent1
) Thus:Agent
VbPatient1
⇒Agent
Vb (something=Patient1
) for/withPatient2
. Furthermore, this affix is patient-preserving, so one usage of V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V is to transform a non-patient-preserving stem into a patient-preserving stem, which therefore can be used to make a reflexive/reciprocal verb by adding an intransitive ending.On trivalent stems, which already have an indirect object role (
Object
, referenced in the Instrumental case, e.g. N{mək}), it exchanges theObject
andPatient
roles of the stem, such that the formerObject
now becomes equated with thePatient
role of the affix (Patient2
), whereas the underlyingPatient
role of the stem is shadowed and not marked in the ending. Instead, it can be referenced in the Allative case (e.g. N{mut}), or it can be omitted, so the purpose of this construction is to change the focus of the verb. Thus:Agent
Vb (something=Object
) toPatient1
⇒Agent
VbObject
=Patient2
(to someone=Patient1
)
When used with intransitive endings, the result may be reflexive (he Vb's with/for himself) or, if the ending is plural, reciprocal (they Vb with/for each other). However, this only makes sense if the subject of the verb is a person; if it is a thing the meaning may instead be resultative passive (subject is Vb'ed).
Left sandhi:
This affix will regularly remove a stem-final /aq/ from the preceding stem if possible, i.e. if the stem ends on /Vaq/. If the stem ends on /Caq/, it may just remove the final /q/ as an ordinary truncative affix. Alternatively, it may instead join directly onto /q/ and just weaken it to /r/, thus:
- /Caq/ + V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V ⇒ /Carut(ə)/
This behaviour is probably not regular, but it may be seen in some lexicalised constructions (see examples). The same may happen, if the stem ends on /əq/, to avoid triggering the ə-rule (similar to vowel-initial endings on strong q-stems ending in /əq/), thus:
- /əq/ + V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V ⇒ /ərut(ə)/
Alternatively, it may remove /q/ and actually cause /ə/ to take the sound [a]. Neither behaviour seems to be regular today, but may be seen in lexicalised examples.
Otherwise, the affix is regularly truncative. However, in the cases where an epenthetic /j/ otherwise would be injected for phonotactic reasons (e.g. following /aa/), this affix seems to instead prefer the variant V{ccut(ə)}V, i.e. injecting /cc/ instead of regular /j/.
Right sandhi:
This affix, together with its many variants, is presumably the source of all t(ə)-stems in Greenlandic. They all share some peculiar features, in particular w.r.t. their right-sandhi behaviour: They behave like t-stems (consonant stem) before additive affixes and endings, but as vowel stems (ə-stem) before truncative affixes and endings. This also includes t-truncative affixes, in particular V{tət}V.
As an example, consider the additive affix V{ðaq}V, the truncative affix V{ssa}V, and the aforementioned V{tət}. Combining with V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V regularly yields the following:
- V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + V{ðaq}V ⇒ /utðaq/ ⇒ -uttar-, the affix is additive so (ə) is elided.
- V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + V{ssa}V ⇒ /utəssa/ ⇒ -utissa-, the affix is truncative, so (ə) is inserted.
- V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + V{tət}V ⇒ /utətət/ ⇒ -utitit-, the affix is truncative on t-stems, so (ə) is inserted.
Another speciality of t(ə)-stems is that their HTR-form is always -ssivoq. This is the tell-tale sign of an underlying (ə), and thus they may always be recognised, even in a dictionary like the DAKA, if the HTR-form is provided: If the transitive form looks like a consonant stem, i.e. with a transitive ending -ppaa, but the HTR-form is -ssivoq, then it is a t(ə)-stem. All t(ə)-stems take the HTR-morpheme {ði}, and /ð/ becomes /c/ because of the preceding vowel, /ə/. However, for unknown reasons, /ə/ is then elided, and /c/ then assimilates the preceding /t/, which is also uncommon, since /tc/ usually yields 'ts'. Thus:
- {t(ə)}{ði} ⇒ /təði/ ⇒ /təci/ ⇒ /tci/ ⇒ /cci/
In the case of V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + {ði}, the result is therefore -ussi(voq).
There is also a similar speciality when a t(ə)-stem is combined with the passive participle V{-ðaq}V: In that case, the truncativity of V{-ðaq}V seemingly makes (ə) appear, such as to cause /ð/ to become /c/, but then /ə/ is nevertheless still elided. Then /tc/ assimilate to /cc/, rather than becoming 'ts', so the final result is -ssaq. This is a common sign of an underlying (ə). The process is thus:
- {t(ə)}{-ðaq} ⇒ /təðaq/ ⇒ /təcaq/ ⇒ /tcaq/ ⇒ /ccaq/ ⇒ -ssaq.
In the case of V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + V{-ðaq}N, the result is therefore -ussaq.
Inflection sandhi:
There are no special inflection sandhi phenomena besides the general right-sandhi behaviour for t(ə)-stems. Almost all verb endings are additive, so they elide (ə) and are added to /t/. Hence e.g.
- V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + V{vaa} ⇒ /utvaa/ ⇒ -uppaa.
Only a few imperative endings are truncative: V{-git}, V{-guk} and V{kŋa}, and they will instead join onto /ə/, as expected. Hence e.g.
- V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V + V{kŋa} ⇒ /utəkŋa/ ⇒ -utinnga.
Meanings and examples
When the stem is monovalent but contains some notion of an object, e.g. an incorporated noun.
- imertaappaa, he fetches water for him
From imertarpoq, 'he fetches water'.
Or 'at/with respect to' the Patient
.
- aggiuppaa, he comes with it
From aggerpoq, 'he comes'.
- majuuppaa, he brings it up
I.e., 'he goes up with it', from majuarpoq, 'he goes up/ascends', with drop of final /aq/ from the stem.
- pigaappaa, he watches over him
From pigaarpoq, 'he holds a vigil', with drop of final /aq/ from the stem.
- oqaluuppaa, he speaks with him
From oqaluppoq, 'he speaks'.
- kalaallisut oqaluutinnga!, speak (thou) Greenlandic with me!
With transitive imperative 2.sg/1.sg ending V{kŋa}; one of the few truncative verbal endings, which illustrates that (ə) also appears before truncative endings and not only truncative affixes.
- kamaappaa, he is angry at him
From kamappoq, 'he is angry'.
- aallaruppaa, he brings it with him
From aallarpoq, 'he departs', so literally 'he departs with it'. Note: This word is irregularly formed, because the stem ends on /laq/, so /aq/ cannot be removed. Instead, the affix joins onto /q/ and weakens it to /r/.
With trivalent stems that have an implicit Object
role (referenced in the Instrumental case). V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V switches the Patient
and the Object
roles, so the Object
now appears as a role that may be marked explicit in the ending, and the former Patient
may now optionally be indicated in the allative case.
- allagaq (Piitamut) nassiuppaa, he sends the letter (to Peter)
From nassippaa, 'he sends him (something)'. Thus, the same meaning could also be expressed without V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V as Piitaq (allakkamik) nassippaa, 'he sends Peter (a letter)', but here the focus is on Peter, whereas in the sentence with V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V focus is on the letter.
- nassiussaq, a sending
Literally 'something that is sent', from nassippaa + V{-(cc)ut(ə)} + passive participle V{-ðaq}N.
- allagaq (Piitamut) tunniuppaa, he gives the letter (to Peter)
From tunivaa, 'he gives him (something)'. Thus, the same meaning could also be expressed without V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V as Piitaq (allakkamik) tunivaa, 'he gives (a letter) to Peter'. Note that V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V irregularily causes gemination of /n/ in the stem in this word, although the variant V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V is not normally geminating (for the geminating variant, see V{'-t(ə)}V).
When used intransitively without HTR, and with endings in plural. Thus, this affix may be used to make a stem reflexive, if it does not inherently have reflexive diathesis.
- assortuupput, they contradict each other
From assortorpaa, 'he contradicts him'.
- saqitsaapput, they argue with each other
From saqitsaappaa, 'he argues with him'. Note: this stem already contains V{-(cc)ut(ə)}V, so this example directly illustrates the effect of replacing the transitive ending with an intransitive ending.
- isaapput, they enter together (in a group)
From {isəq}V, '
Actor
enters'. In this (non-standard, lexicalised) example, the combination /isəut(ə)/ has caused the stem-internal /ə/ to become [a] by the schwa-rule. The ending is plural, so the meaning is reciprocal, or 'in group', rather than reflexive.
References
- [4] C.W. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958): Den Grønlandske Ordbog.
- [8] Christian Berthelsen, Birgitte Jakobsen, Robert Petersen, Inge Kleivan & Jørgen Rischel (1997): Oqaatsit.