Details

General

Morphemic form: {igala(j)aq}N
New orthography: igalaaq, igalassat, igalaat
Old orthography: igalâĸ, igalássat, igalât
Sources: [13, 15, 17, 16, 19, 11]
Combinations: View list
Right sandhi: /aq/ drop
Inflection sandhi: Default/none, Geminating
Stem type(s): Weak q-stem, Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this word is 'window', or more specifically 'window pane', i.e. glass. According to Kleinschmidt [13], it could also (in older times) be windows made of other materials, e.g. entrails, which would be stretched out to cover an opening in the wall.

The stem is not mentioned in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [21], so it is unclear whence it derives.


Right sandhi:

In some of the examples, the stem drops its final /aq/, although this does not appear to be regular. This is specifically in combination with a /VC/ deleting affix, N{-liq}V.


Inflection sandhi:

Kleinschmidt [13] does not record any special declension of this stem. However, in a later dictionary, Kjer & Rasmussen [15] record declension forms both with and without gemination of an unknown consonant to /cc/. This unwritten consonant is here indicated as (j).

This geminated form is also recorded in Ordbogeeraq [17] and Nielsen [11]. Today, this geminated form (in plural) seems to have become lexicalised with the meaning window pane (i.e. the piece of glass), rather than the window as a whole.


Inflection

Declension pattern:

Stem type: Weak q-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Default/none

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography igalaa igalaav igalaaq, igalaap, igalaat,
Phonemic orthography igalaa igalaa igalaaq, igalaap, igalaat,

Notes on declension:

This is the regular declension without gemination.


Declension pattern:

Stem type: Weak q-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Geminating
Gemination type: a⇒acca

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography igalacca igalaav igalaaq, igalassap, igalassat,
Phonemic orthography igalacca igalaa igalaaq, igalaccap, igalaccat,

Notes on declension:

This is the declension with gemination.


Meanings and examples

  • igalaakkut itsuarpoq, he looks out of the window [15]

    This an example without gemination.

  • igalaap saaniippoq, it lies in the window [15]

    I.e., on the window sill. This is an example without gemination.

  • igalassap inaa, window opening [15]

    This is an example with gemination.

  • igalassat iluleriit, double windows [15]

    This is an example with gemination.

  • igalasserpaa, he puts a window in it [15]

    With N{-liq}V, which here has caused /aq/ drop and gemination. From this stem also igalasserfik, 'window opening'.

In the (archaic) geminated plural form igalassat.

  • igalaamut agguut, glass-cutter (diamond) [13]

    In Oqaatsit [19], this is recorded as igalaassanut agguut. Note, this is with N{kcaq}N; the 'ss' here does not reflect gemination.