Details

General

Morphemic form: V{surə}V
New orthography: +soraa, +sorinnippoq
Old orthography: -sorâ, -soringnigpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Variants: V{gasurə}V, V{gasugə}V, V{nasugə}V, V{nasurə}V, V{sugə}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
tð->ts,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
ə-contraction,
Stem type: ə-stem
Diathesis: Reflexive
Valency change: Increasing
Valency:
Divalent,
HTR morpheme:
nnək,
HTR stem: surənnək,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is one of the few that may follow even the sentential segment of a verb stem. It denotes 'Agent thinks that Patient Vb'. With intransitive endings without HTR, the meaning becomes reflexive 'Agent thinks that he himself Vb's'. The affix can be used on both monovalent and divalent stems, affecting the meaning similar to other valency-increasing affixes such as V{tət}V, V{t(s)aili}V, V{niraq}V etc.:

This affix exists in two different forms, V{surə}V and V{sugə}V, which can seemingly be used interchangeably with no difference in meaning. Furthermore, both forms can optionally be preceded by a morpheme {ga}, again with no change of meaning. Lastly, this optional {ga} can also be {na} instead, which is particularly common in North Greenland. According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, the morpheme {na} is the same that appears in the variant 2sg imperative ending V{na}, and in the affixes V{naviiq}V and V{naviaq}V.

Thus, there are no less than 6 variants of this affix:

and with a corresponding number of HTR-forms, which are all formed with {nnək}, i.e. V{surənnək}V, V{sugənnək}V, ..., V{nasugənnək}V. However, this form, V{surə}V, seems to be the most common.

It may be that the forms with {na} were originally used on t-stems (compare the special form of the causative mood marker {ga} following V{ŋŋit}V, which is also {na}). However, this variation does not seem to be regular nowadays, so all forms of the affix may seemingly be used interchangeably.


Left sandhi:

Schultz-Lorentzen (1958) mentions the form atúsángitsoralugo (new orthography: atussanngitsoralugu), where V{surə}V seemingly does not assimilate the final /t/ of V{ŋŋit}V. It is unclear whether this behaviour is optional or mandatory, and whether it affects all t-stems and t(ə)-stems or only V{ŋŋit}V.


Meanings and examples

  • aallarsoraara, I think that he has departed
    [4]

    From the monovalent stem aallarpoq, 'he has left/departed/travelled'.

  • tikinnasoraa, I think he has arrived
    [4]

    This example is with the variant form with initial {na}, but with no difference in meaning. Note that the base is a t-stem, {təkit}V. Presumably, the form without {na} is tikitsoraa.

  • atussanngitsoralugu tiguinnarpara, I just took it, since I thought it should not be used
    [4]

    Or more literally translated: '(I) thinking that it should not be used, I just took it'. From {atuq}V{ssa}V{ŋŋit}V. This illustrates the /ts/ form following V{ŋŋit}V.

  • ilinnut eqqarlerinasugigakku, (because) I assumed he was related to you
    [4]

    This example is with the variant form V{nasugə}, but with no difference in meaning. The base is eqqarleraa, 'he is related to him'. Thus, this is a double-transitive construction, with the underlying sentence being of the form eqqarlerigakku, 'because thou are related to him'. The former Agent, 2sg 'thou', is shadowed by the Agent of the affix, and it therefore appears in the allative case instead, i.e. ilinnut.

When used with contemporative mood. This affix can be used to pose indirect questions somewhat similar to V{niq}V. It is often considered a polite form of request, but may be less common (or more formal) than V{niq}V.

  • naluara napparsimasoralugu, I don't know whether perhaps he might be ill(?)
    [4]

    This is posed as an indirect question.

  • aperiartorpara ilaasinnaasoralunga, I went over to ask him whether perhaps I might be able to come along
    [10]

    Or more literally translated: 'I went over to ask him, (I) wondering whether perhaps I could come along'. Note that the usage of V{sure}V is reflexive here: both the subject and the object of ilaasinnaasoralunga refer to the subject of the main clause, aperiartorpara.


References