Details

General

Morphemic form: V{nəq ajuq}V
New orthography: +neq ajorpoq
Old orthography: -neĸ ajorpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: V{nəq}N, {ajuq}V,
See also: V{ðaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
ə-eliding,
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:

This 'pseudo-affix' is a special construction with abstract participle V{nəq}N and {ajuq}V, denotes that the subject categorically does not Vb. It is commonly used to express the inverse of the habitual affix V{ðaq}V, and the corresponding word is formed by replacing V{ðaq}V by this construct, V{neq ajuq}V. Compare for example:

I have decided to regard this construct as a single morpheme, even though it forms two separate words, because its meaning is not at all obvious from the individual meaning of the constituents; and furthermore, because valency is preserved by the construction: Thus, if the stem is divalent, then the resulting 'stem' after adding this construct will still be divalent. This means that {ajuq}V can actually take a transitive ending in this construction, which would otherwise be impossible, since {ajuq}V itself is monovalent.

The resulting word is sometimes even written with a hyphen, i.e. +neq-ajor-, which further signifies that this should be regarded as a single affix. There is also some doubt as to whether even an enclitic such as *{lu} can be added onto -neq, or whether it must be moved al the way to the end of the ajor- stem. Thus, some speakers may prefer e.g. kaffisorneq ajorlunilu over kaffisornerlu ajorluni.


Left sandhi:

See V{nəq}N for left sandhi.


Meanings and examples

This construction is used to negate the meaning of habitual V{ðaq}V thus to create a word with the opposite meaning of habitual V{ðaq}V, replace that affix with this 'pseudo-affix'. It denotes that the subject categorically does not Vb (not even occasionally).

  • kalaallisut oqalunneq ajorpunga, I do not speak Greenlandic

    Compare kalaallisut oqaluttarpunga, 'I speak Greenlandic' (habitually).

  • pujortarneq ajorpunga, I do not smoke
    [11]

    Compare pujortartarpunga 'I smoke (habitually)', that is, 'I'm a smoker'.

  • akilerneq ajorpara, I do not (habitually) pay it
    [11]

    Here akilerpaa is transitive (the stem is divalent) so we therefore here get ajorpara with a transitive ending V{vara} (indicative 1.sg/3.sg).


References