Details

General

Morphemic form: V{saq}V
New orthography: +sarpaa, +saavoq
Old orthography: -sarpâ
Sources: [14, 11]
Combinations: Click here
Variants: V{saaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: Reflexive
Valency change: Increasing
Valency:
Divalent,
HTR morpheme:
ði,
HTR stem: sai,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this affix is 'Agent (tries to) make Patient Vb'. Thus, the affix increases the valency of the stem by adding a new Agent role to the relation:

If used with intransitive endings without an intervening HTR-morpheme, the meaning seems to be reflexive, 'Agent (tries to) make himself be Vb'ing', which seems to be translated as just 'try to'. However, intransitive usage seems to be more common with the variant V{saaq}V, which may have stronger connotations of 'try' than the present affix. Because there is a HTR-stem, we therefore record this affix as reflexive, rather than agentive, although the difference in meaning between the intransitive form and the HTR-forms is difficult to discern.


Meanings and examples

See also the variant V{saaq}V with a similar meaning, perhaps with a connotation of try to cause.

  • kissassarpaa, he heats it up [14]

    From kissappoq, 'it becomes warm'.

  • neruttorsarpaa, he expands it [14]

    From neruttorpoq, 'it expands'.

  • qasusarpaa, he tires him [14]

    From qasuvoq, 'he is tired', literally 'he makes him be tired'.

  • kajumissarpaa, he encourages him [11]

    from kajumippoq, 'he is willing'.

  • katsorsarpaa, he heals/cures him (of an illness) [11]
  • tuppallersarpaa, he comforts him [11]

    From tuppallerpoq, 'he finds comfort'.

  • taassumunnga attornaveersarpara, I have ensured that he can no longer touch it [11]

    From attorpaa, 'he touches it'. The underlying Agent is given in the allative case (taassumunnga).