Details

General

Morphemic form: V{sinnau}V
New orthography: +sinnaavoq
Old orthography: -sínauvoĸ
Combinations: Click here
See also: N{-(g)innaq}N, V{sinnaq}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
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:

This affix denotes the ability to Vb, which often can be translated as 'can Vb'.

Historically, this affix is apparently a combination of {ŋinnaʀ} and {ŋu-} (modern day: N{-(g)innaq}N and N{-u}V), according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, although it is not clear how the meaning 'ability' should derive from the meaning of these constituents. It is also not explained how the initial /ŋ/ became /s/, but it appears to be (or have been) used on q-stems. However, this change seems to be fairly recent: at the time of Otto Fabricius, the form -ginnau- with initial /g/ rather than /s/ was still in use, as seen in his translation of the Old Testament.

The present affix is the generalised from the s-initial form, that initially only was used on q-stems, but nowadays is used on all stem types. Therefore, we record this as a single morpheme, rather than as a combination of the morphemes N{-(g)innaq}N and N{-u}V, since the combination is historical, and the present-day form cannot be obtained from the combination of the present-day forms of the constituents.


Meanings and examples

This affix expresses the ability of the subject to Vb, so it could also be translated as 'is able to Vb'.

  • atuarsinnaavaa, he is able to read it

    Or 'he can read it'.

  • katassinnaavoq, it can fall off
  • timmisinnaavoq, it can fly
  • aallarsinnaavoq, he can travel
  • naalassinnaavaa, he can obey him
  • tikissinnaavaa, he can reach it

    I.e., 'reach the destination'.

  • tigusinnaavakka, I can take them
  • ima portutigisinnaavoq, it can be as long as this

    Where the length then may be indicated e.g. with the hands


References