Details

General

Morphemic form: V{si}V
New orthography: +sivoq
Old orthography: -sivoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Variants: V{li}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
ə-eliding,
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:

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, this affix is a variant of {li-}, 'become (more) Vb'ing' (i.e. V{li}V), which may display replacivity on t-stems. Presumably, the form /si/ has then been generalised from t-stems to form a new, independent morpheme, {si}. It is not used productively (or only marginally productively) nowadays, but it is found in a number of lexicalised forms and combinations. Given its meaning, it is only used on stems denoting a state of being (including adjectival stems).


Meanings and examples

Only with stems denoting a state of being.

  • ajornarsivoq, it is no longer possible
    [8]

    From ajornarpoq, 'it is impossible', i.e. it has become impossible, thus implying that at one point it was possible.

  • imaasivoq, it has come to be this way
    [8]

    I.e. it has become thus.

  • peqqissivoq, he has become well
    [8]

    I.e. in the sense that he is no longer ill.

  • ajorsivoq, it has become bad
    [4]

  • qaqorsivoq, it has become white
    [4]

  • itisivoq, it has become deep
    [4]


References