Details
General
| Morphemic form: | {agijaq}N |
| New orthography: | agiaq, agissat |
| Old orthography: | agiaĸ, agíssat |
| Sources: | [22] |
| Combinations: | View list |
| Right sandhi: | Default/none |
| Inflection sandhi: | Geminating |
| Stem type(s): | Weak q-stem |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [22], this word derives from a stem {aɣiɣ-} meaning 'to rub' (against something). The present stem may then either be an irregularly formed passive participle, i.e. 'something rubbed against' cf. V{-ðaq}N, or from a further derived form with V{-aq}V, denoting 'repeated/prolonged activity', cf. the verbal stem {agijaq}V, which is then used nominally, without a verbal ending.
In either case, the dictionaries [14, 17, 20] all record this stem as 'violin' or 'fiddle'. Schultz-Lorentzen [17] also adds a second meaning: 'grindstone' of a shaman/angakkoq, which seems to be a tool used for a ritualistic purpose, or as part of a meditative technique, in which the aspiring angakkoq would sit and continuously rub one stone against another.
Inflection
Declension pattern:
| Stem type: | Weak q-stem |
| Declension type: | p-declined |
| Declension sandhi: | Geminating |
| Gemination type: | j⇒cc |
| Stem before consonant | Stem before vowel | Notable forms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New orthography | agissa | agia | agiaq, agissap, agissat, |
| Old orthography | agíssa | agia | agiaĸ, agíssap, agíssat, |
| Phonemic orthography | agijja | agija | agijaq, agijjap, agijjat, |
Meanings and examples
A shaman's / angakkoq's tool.
- angakkussap agiaq agiummik agiarpaa, the (aspiring) shaman rubs one grindstone against the other
[17]
This seems to be some ritual or meditative technique.