Details

General

Morphemic form: V{-(u)ma}V
New orthography: -mavoq
Old orthography: -mavoĸ
Combinations: Click here
See also: V{sima}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Irregular,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Vowel stem
Diathesis: None
Valency change: Preserving
Valency:
None,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This is a non-productive affix found in a number of lexicalised stems, and also in the productive affix V{sima}V. It denotes that 'Subject is in a state of Vb'ing'.


Left sandhi:

The affix appears to have been generally truncative. However, according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, it derives from a morpheme {(u)ma-}, and the /u/ appears to be present, when a preceding consonant was deleted (although there may be exceptions).

There are even cases, where it seems to have caused metathesis in the preceding stem, in cases where the stem ends in /əq/. One example is eqqumavoq, 'he is awake', which seems to derive from iterpoq, 'he wakes up'. The morphemic form of the latter is {ətəq}V, and the derivation therefore seems to have been thus:

i.e., instead of removing the final /q/, the affix attaches to /q/ and /ə/ syncopates, such that /tq/ finally assimilate to [qq]. This process is similar to the declension of noun stems with metathesis, e.g. qiteq + N{-a} ⇒ qeqqa.


Meanings and examples

  • eqqumavoq, he is awake
    [4]

    From iterpoq, 'he wakes up'.

  • eqqaamavaa, he remembers it
    [4]

    From eqqaavaa, 'he recalls it'. The translation does not really clarify the difference, but the point is that eqqaavaa denotes the moment where he recalls/remembers something, that he previously could not remember/had forgotten. In contrast, eqqaamavaa denotes that he is now in a state of remembering it; he now has it freshly available in his mind/memory.

  • ikumavoq, it burns; it is burning
    [4]

    This appears to have been derived from ikivoq, 'it burns', i.e. {əkə}V, with loss of the final /ə/.

  • inuttuumasoq, cannibal
    [13]

    From inuttorpoq, 'he eats humans', with /u/ inserted when the final consonant /q/ was deleted.

  • naamavaa, he has caught its scent
    [4]

    From naavaa, 'he smells it' or 'he gets the scent of it'.


References