Details
General
| Morphemic form: | {immaqa} |
| New orthography: | immaqa |
| Old orthography: | ímaĸa |
| Sources: | [9, 12, 11, 14] |
| Combinations: | Click here |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This particle has several usages:
The most common usage today is to denote 'maybe; perhaps' [11, 14]. It denotes that both options are possible; i.e. it does not presuppose one option over the other.
It may also be used to pose questions; i.e. 'maybe
SubjectVb?', This can also be used as an exhortation, but posed as a question: 'maybeSubjectshould Vb?' Note that this particle is never used with the interrogative mood. Instead, the indicative mood is used, but still with interrogative intonation (falling tone on the last syllable).With the conditional mood, the meaning may be: 'what if...?' or 'how will it be, if...' [9].
With the causative or participial mood, the meaning may be: 'but how...?' (only causative) or 'how was it (I wonder) when...' (either causative or participial) [9].
With the special (originally transitive) participial ending V{gəatni}, which may be used even on monovalent stems, the meaning is 'wish that one (= the speaker) could Vb', i.e. it is used to express a wish of the speaker, but expressed in an impersonal sense.
Meanings and examples
This may either be a statement of uncertainty, or a question, or an exhortation phrased as a question. Note: Even when used to pose a question, interrogative endings are never used when immaqa is part of the sentence.
- immaqa angerlarusupputit?, maybe you want to go home?
Note: Intransitive indicative 2sg ending V{vutət}, even though it is a question.
- immaqa pui(g)orsimavaa, maybe he has forgotten it
[11]
From pui(g)orpaa, 'he forgets it'.
- immaqami, that may be the case; it is possible
[11]
With the enclitic *{mi}.
With the conditional mood.
- immaqa utoqqaliguni?, how will it be when he grows old?
[11]
From utoqqalivoq, 'he grows old'.
- immaqa aallarutta, should we (not) leave now?
[11]
From aallarpoq, 'he travels/departs'.
With the causative or participial mood.
- immaqa takugamiuk, how was it (I wonder) when he saw him
[9]
From takuaa, 'he sees him'. This is with the causative mood.
- immaqa allassasoq, how is it (I wonder), he shall leave (I presume)?
[9]
From aallarpoq, 'he travels/departs' and with V{ssa}V. This is with the participial mood.
With the participial ending V{gəatni}.
- immaqa anigaanni!, wish that one could get out!
[14]
I.e., 'I wish that I could go out', from anivoq, 'he goes out'.
- immaqa nerigaanni!, wish that one could get something to eat!
[14]
I.e., 'I wish that I could get something to eat', from nerivoq, 'he eats something'.
- immaqa taava usseraluaraanni!, what if one tried that!
[11]
From usserpaa, 'he tries it'.