Details
General
| Morphemic form: | {aqvinəq}N |
| New orthography: | arfineq, arferngat |
| Old orthography: | arfineĸ, arfernat |
| Sources: | [13, 17, 16, 19] |
| Combinations: | View list |
| Constituents: | {aqvak}N + N{-li}V + V{nəq}N |
| Right sandhi: | Default/none |
| Inflection sandhi: | Weakening, Metathesis |
| Stem type(s): | Strong q-stem, Strong q-stem |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This stem denotes the number 6. It is only used for counting and telling the time. Note that this number is singular, even though the meaning is plural; thus, the stem is used with singular endings, e.g. arfinermut.
For the quantity, which is used for naming anything consisting of 6 parts (e.g. years, months, days), see {aqvinələk}N.
Etymology:
According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [21], this stem is derived from {aqvak}N, 'edge of the hand', and N{-li}V which has caused the final /VC/ to drop, together with the initial /l/, and then finally followed by V{nəq}N. Thus, the literal meaning seems to be something like 'the act of making it the hand-edge'. The meaning 6 seems to be related to counting fingers; maybe 'hand-edge' here represents 'the first finger on the second hand', and 5+1=6. This also explains why the number is singular.
Right sandhi:
Right sandhi is inherited from the right-most component, V{nəq}N. See this for details.
Inflection sandhi:
Inflection sandhi is inherited from the right-most component, V{nəq}N. See this for details.
Meanings and examples
The number is singular and is used with singular endings.
- arfinermut, at 6 o'clock
Note the singular ending is used (as is also the case with ataaseq, aqqaneq, arfersaneq).
- immikkoortut arferngat, sixth chapter
I.e. chapter 6. Note that the possessor immikkoortut 'chapters' is plural, but the possessive ending is singular (absolutive 3pl/sg). Thus, the literal translation is the chapters' sixth.
- novembarip (ulluisa) arfernganni, on the 6th of November
Literally 'November's days' sixth'. Note that ulluisa, with ergative 3sg/pl, is often omitted, even though the ending on arfineq still is plural.