Details
General
| Morphemic form: | V{-Vmi}V |
| New orthography: | -umivoq, -imivoq, -amivoq |
| Old orthography: | ^-mivoĸ |
| Sources: | [13, 17, 16, 19] |
| Combinations: | View list |
| Left sandhi: | Truncative |
| Right sandhi: | Default/none |
| Inflection sandhi: | Default/none |
| Stem type: | Vowel stem |
| Diathesis: | None |
| Valency: | Preserving |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
According to Kleinschmidt [13], the meaning of this affix is: 'Subject Vb a little'.
As he writes: "Not a lot, but enough that it can be felt/sensed."
He also notes that it is often combined with V{tciaq}V, here in the same sense as the present affix, so the combination actually is a pleonasm.
Left sandhi:
The affix is truncative. The initial /V/ represents a variable vowel, that always takes the sound of the preceding vowel, if possible. If the preceding stem (possibly after removal of a final consonant) already ends in a long vowel, the initial /V/ will simply be dropped, according to the examples in Kleinschmidt [13]. Thus, the affix will always begin with a lengthened vowel.
Meanings and examples
- appaamivoq, it has gone a bit deeper down
[13]
From apparpoq, 'it goes/falls down'.
- ajorunnaamivoq, he has become a bit better (after an illness)
[13]
From ajorunnaarpoq, 'he has become better'. Note that the extra vowel has been reduced away here.
- nipaalliimivoq, it has become more quiet
[13]
From nipaallivoq, 'it becomes quiet'.