Details
General
| Morphemic form: | *{aa} |
| New orthography: | +aa |
| Old orthography: | â |
| Combinations: | Click here |
| Left sandhi: | Default,
|
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This is not actually an enclitic, according to the CED, but rather an independent stem. However, it behaves like an enclitic, including causing nasalation of a final consonant of the word it attaches to.
It may optionally be written with a dash instead of being affixed directly to the end of the preceding word.
Left sandhi:
As is standard with vowel-initial enclitics, the vowel will weaken a preceding consonant in the usual way, by nasalising, or (optionally) in the case of [q], by weakening it to [r]. Thus:
- [p]*{aa} ⇒ [maa]
- [t]*{aa} ⇒ [naa]
- [k]*{aa} ⇒ [ŋaa]
- [q]*{aa} ⇒ [Naa], spelt 'rngaa' or 'q-aa', or [raa]
Meanings and examples
Vocative. This enclitic is used for addressing, possibly in rather formal or solemn way.
- inungaa, o man
from inuk (may also be written inuk-aa)
- Ataatarpunaa, o Father our
from ataatarput, 'our father' (may also be written ataatarput-aa). Opening line of the Pater noster prayer.
References
- [4] C.W. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958): Den Grønlandske Ordbog.
- [8] Christian Berthelsen, Birgitte Jakobsen, Robert Petersen, Inge Kleivan & Jørgen Rischel (1997): Oqaatsit.