Details

General

Morphemic form: {aitcaat}
New orthography: aatsaat
Old orthography: aitsât
Combinations: Click here

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This morpheme is related to the particle {uvatci(aq)}, according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, but how this form is derived is not explained. The usage of {aitcaat} corresponds to Danish 'først', but the meaning is difficult to express in English. It can perhaps best be translated as 'not until (some time specification)'. It indicates that the verbal action does not take place now (which might have been expected), but instead will have to wait until the later, specified time.


Meanings and examples

  • aatsaat aqagu Maniitsumut aallassapput, they shall not travel to Maniitsoq until tomorrow
    [10]

    Notice that there is no actual negation in the sentence. The negative meaning is implied by aatsaat. Thus, the meaning is that 'they shall not travel to Maniitsoq today, but instead they will have to wait until tomorrow.'

This meaning may arguably be the same as 'not until' with implied now.


References