Details
General
| Morphemic form: | V{-la}V |
| New orthography: | -lavoq |
| Old orthography: | -lavoĸ |
| Combinations: | Click here |
| Variants: | V{-lauq}V, |
| Left sandhi: | Truncative,
|
| 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 some lexicalised words. The meaning is not entirely clear:
- The Comparative Eskimo Dictionary reconstructs the historic ancestor of this affix as the morpheme {la(ʀ)-}, with the leaning 'repeatedly'. However, for the descendant in kalaallisut they give a very different meaning: 'back and forth, in all direction'.
- Kleinschmidt [13] gives a long, rather vague description of its meaning: 'Approximately:
Subjectis in a volatile state, and is currently (or at a given occasion) in such a form of motion as indicated by the stem.' - Schultz-Lorentzen [4] offers two different definitions: '
Subjectis liable to Vb' and 'Subjectis engaged in Vb'ing'. However, the examples he gives do not seem to point conclusively to these definitions.
The common denominator to these varied definitions seems to be something related to the Subject being engaged in some form of continuous motion, indicated by the verb stem.
Meanings and examples
Where the form of motion is indicated by the preceding verb stem.
- nakkalavoq; nakkaalavoq, it falls down gradually, in particles
[4]
From nakkarpoq, 'it falls down'. The form nakkaalavoq must be with V{-a}V.
- torlulavoq, he is yelling
[4]
Either 'repeatedly' or 'in all directions'. From torlorpoq, 'he yells' (through something).
- isaqqilavoq, it is flapping its wings
[13]
Either 'repeatedly' or 'in all directions'.
- pissikkalapput, they are jumping in all directions
[13]
Or: 'to all sides'.
- aqqalavoq, he eats greedily
[13]
Kleinschmidt comments that the connotation here is that 'something is continuously moving', in this case, the mouth.
References
- [4] C.W. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958): Den Grønlandske Ordbog.
- [6] Jonathan Petersen (1967): Ordbogêraĸ.
- [13] Samuel Kleinschmidt (1871): Den grønlandske Ordbog.