Details

General

Morphemic form: V{-ruttuq}V
New orthography: -ruttorpoq
Old orthography: -rugtorpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: ?, N{ttuq}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: None
Valency change: Preserving
Valency:
None,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

Meaning:
This affix is used to describe the moment when someone or something, being in one state of Vb'ing, is just about to transition into another state of Vb'ing. Hence, we can describe it as 'Subject is at the height of Vb'ing' or 'on the cusp of Vb'ing' or similar, although this translation is rather abstract and must be adapted for each particular translation

The classic example is the verb tingivoq, meaning `it takes off', which could refer to an aeroplane or a bird etc.: It transitions from a state of being on the ground, to a state of flying. By adding this affix, we obtain tingeruttorpoq which describes that the aeroplane is now at the very moment of transitioning; just when the wheels lift off the ground.

Note that Schultz-Lorentzen (1958) gives a rather different definition of its meaning: 'Vb well' or 'a lot'. However, this translation is rather vague and seems to be an artefact of his Danish translations. It does not seem to adequately capture the intended meaning of its usage, such as the aforementioned example tingeruttorpoq, 'now it is taking off', but his translations do seem to be subsumed under the proposed translation given above.

Finally, according to Fortescue (1983), this affix also has a special meaning when used with the participial mood: 'just as Subject Vb'ed'. Oqaatsit (1997) also seems to give some examples of this usage, although all these examples are with a 3pl subject, and in conjunction also with the affix V{liq}V, i.e. it is listed as -ruttulersut, with the /t/ of the mood marker having become /s/ by assibilation caused by the preceding true /i/. Thus, we could alternatively record this meaning under a combination V{-ruttuliq}V instead, but according to Fortescue (1983), V{-liq}V is not required, so we record it here instead and merely note that it may be in conjunction with V{-liq}V. It is also not clear whether the subject is required to be plural or not.

Form:
This affix is not mentioned in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, so its origin is unclear. In the old orthography, it is spelt -rugtorpoĸ, suggesting the assimilated consonant is actually a velar. However, given the fact that it does not seem to occur in older dictionaries such as Kleinschmidt (1871), I assume it must be a fairly recent combination of other affixes, although exactly which is unclear. Based on its form and meaning, I suspect that the second component might be N{ttuq}V, which precisely was spelt -gtorpoĸ in the old orthography, although the authors of the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary reconstruct the initial consonant as /t/ rather than a velar. Because of this hypothesis, I give the morphemic form as V{-ruttuq}V, rather than with /gt/ or /kt/. However, the first component is still unknown, so this should only be viewed as a working hypothesis.

Note that Schultz-Lorentzen (1958) records this as a verbalising affix, i.e. N-V, rather than V-V. However, I believe this must be a mistake. All other dictionaries list it as V-V as expected, and all of the examples he gives are also on verbal stems.


Meanings and examples

Or 'Subject is at the height of Vb'ing'. It describes the moment right before the Subject changes from one state into another.

  • naaruttorpoq, it is well-grown
    [4]

    From naavoq, 'it grows', so literally 'it is at the hight of its growing'.

  • inuit qiimaruttorput, people were very merry
    [4]

    From qiimavoq, 'he is merry', so literally 'people were at the height of merriment'.

  • ulloruttorpoq, it is late in the day; it is high-noon
    [4]

    From ullorpoq, 'it has become day', so literally 'it has become as much day as it can'.

  • soqutiginngeruttorpaa, he cares very little about it; it does not interest him much
    [4]

    From soqutigaa, 'it interests him', and with the negation affix V{ŋŋit}V. Thus literally 'he is as not-interested in it as he can be'.

  • kiatseruttorpoq, It has really become hot/warm
    [8]

    From kiatsippoq, 'it has become hot'.

  • naleqqiuteruttorpoq, he is exactly aligned (with some point)
    [8]

    From naleqqiuppoq, 'he is (located) in line with something', which is a t(ə)-stem. Imagine an observer on a beach, observing someone sailing along the coast. The example could then e.g. refer to the moment when the boat is exactly aligned with the observer.

  • qaammaruttorpoq, it is as light as it will be
    [8]

    From qaammarpoq, 'it has become light'. Thus, this could e.g. refer to noon, when the sun is highest in the sky, or to the midsummer solstice when the day is longest.

When used in the participial mood, and seemingly often in combination with V{-liq}V and plural Subject according to the examples in Oqaatsit (1997). In this case, the participial mood is expressing a time specification. Presumably, the Subject of the main clause must be different from the Subject of this verb.

  • arparuttulersut, they were just in the middle of running, when ...
    [8]

    From arpappoq, 'he runs'.

  • nereruttulersut, just as they were eating, then ...
    [8]

    From nerivoq, 'he eats'.

  • tussiaruttulersut, just as they were in the middle of singing a hymn, then ...
    [4]

    From tussiarpoq, 'he sings a hymn'.


References