Details

General

Morphemic form: V{si}V
New orthography: +sivoq
Old orthography: -sivoĸ
Sources: [14, 11]
Combinations: Click here
Variants: V{-(c)i}V, 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:

Kleinschmidt [9] describes this affix thus: "it denotes 'become (or 'has become') so', i.e. the Subject gets the quality or property denoted by the stem."

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16], 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 [14]

    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 [14]

    I.e. it has become thus.

  • peqqissivoq, he has become well [14]

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

  • ajorsivoq, it has become bad [11]
  • qaqorsivoq, it has become white [11]
  • itisivoq, it has become deep [11]