Details

General

Morphemic form: V{naq}V
New orthography: +narpoq, +naq, +nat
Old orthography: -narpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Left sandhi:
Default,
ə-eliding,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: Patientive
Valency change: Decreasing
Valency:
Avalent,
Monovalent,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is difficult to translate into English. Its meaning can perhaps best be expressed as 'is such as to be Vb'able' or just 'is Vb'able' as e.g. in English it is understandable, from the divalent relation Agent understands Patient. It can be used on both monovalent and divalent stems and reduces the valency in the following way:

In any case, the affix is used to express a less personal (or impersonal) relationship, similar to the impersonal use of 'one' in English, or rewriting a sentence to use 'it' as subject; e.g. 'I am tired of it' ⇒ 'it is tiresome'. It may even be used without a verbal ending at all, i.e. +naq!, in an exclamatory sense, meaning something like 'how Vb'able (it is)!'. This form can inflect for number, i.e. singular +naq!, plural +nat! like a weak q-stem, if the exclamation concerns multiple objects, but otherwise this form does not inflect.


Left sandhi:

The affix may elide /ə/ on the preceding stem, especially in lexicalised constructions. See the examples with tupigaa and usoraa.


Meanings and examples

On divalent stems

  • paasinarpoq, it is understandable

    From paasivaa, 'he understands it'.

  • tupinnarpoq, it is strange
    [4]

    From tupigaa, 'he is puzzled by it', or 'he finds it strange/surprising' or 'such as to make one wonder' etc. Note: The base is a ə-stem, {tupigə}V, but the affix causes ə-elision so we get /tupignaqvuq/.

  • usornarpoq, it is enviable

    From usoraa, 'he wishes to be in his place' (he envies him). Note: The base is a ə-stem, {usurə}V, but /ə/ is elided by the affix, so we get /usurnaqvuq/.

  • usornarpusi, you are fortunate
    [4]

    I.e. 'you are enviable'. The example illustrates that the affix also can be used in a personal sense.

On monovalent stems. Only with 3sg endings. The subject 'it' generally does not refer to anything.

  • qiianarpoq, it is cold
    [4]

    From qiiavoq, 'he is cold', so literally 'it is such as to be(come) cold'.

  • qasunarpoq, it is tiresome

    From qasuvoq, 'he is tired', i.e. 'it is such as to be(come) tired'.

  • sila illuliornarpoq, the weather is suitable for building houses
    [4]

    From illuliorpoq, 'he builds (a) house', so literally 'the weather is such as to be house-building (in)'.

  • sinilluarnarpoq, it is such as to sleep well (here)
    [4]

    I.e., 'it is sleep-well-able', from sinilluarpoq, 'he sleeps well'

When used without any verbal ending in an exclamatory sense.

  • qujanaq!, thanks!
    [4]

    From qujavoq, 'he says thanks'. This is naturally a very common exclamation.

  • kusanaq!, how beautiful! (it is)

    When speaking of a single thing, e.g. a flower.

  • kusanat!, how beautiful! (they are)

    When speaking of multiple objects, e.g. some flowers. The form is inflected with a plural ending N{t}, like a weak q-stem.


References