Details

General


Morphemic form: V{vqaq}V
New orthography: -qqarpoq
Old orthography: -rĸarpoĸ, -vĸaʀpoĸ
Combinations: Click here
Left sandhi:
Default,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: None
Valency change: Preserving
Valency:
None,

Description and behaviour


Form and usage:

The meaning of this affix is 'Subject barely Vb'ed', in the sense that 'Subject was only barely able to Vb'. Kleinschmidt (1871) describes it as being 'as close as possible to not being able to Vb'. Hence, another possible translation could be 'almost didn't Vb'.


Meanings and examples


I.e., Subject was as close to not being able to Vb as possible.

  • annaqqarpoq, he barely escaped the danger
    [13]

    From annappoq, 'he was saved (e.g. from danger)', so literally 'he was only barely saved'.

  • ikumaqqarpoq, it is only barely burning
    [13]

    E.g. a candle burning with such a small flame that it is very nearly extinguished. From ikumavoq, 'it burns'. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958) has ikumaqqalerpisi?, literally 'are you (pl) beginning to be only barely burning?', which he translates as 'are you so out of seal blubber (lamp oil) that you can barely keep the lamps burning?'.

  • angalaqqarpoq, he is staggering (walking around)
    [13]

    I.e., he is walking around, but with such difficulty that it can barely be called walking, e.g. due to illness.

  • qaqeqqarparput, we only barely reached the top of it
    [13]

    From qaqivaa, 'he has reached the top of it' (a mountain), i.e. if we had had just the slightest more difficulty, we would have had to turn around.

  • tulaqqarpugut, we were only barely able to reach the shore
    [4]

    From tulappoq, 'it touches land; it docks' (of a ship/vessel).

  • tigoqqarpakka, I only barely caught hold of them; I was only barely able to take them
    [4]

    From tiguaa, 'he takes (hold of) it; grabs it'.

  • sineqqarpunga, I didn't get enough sleep
    [4]

    From sinippoq, 'he sleeps', i.e. literally 'I was only barely able to sleep'.


References