Details

General

Morphemic form: N{-liq}V
New orthography: -lerpaa, -serpaa, -liivoq, -siivoq
Old orthography: -lerpâ, -erpâ
Sources: [14, 11, 8]
Combinations: Click here
See also: N{lliq}V,
Left sandhi:
Truncative,
Replacive,
/VC/ deleting,
Right sandhi:
Assibilation (t⇒s),
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: q-stem
Diathesis: Reflexive (BP)
Valency:
Divalent,
HTR morpheme: ði
HTR stem: -lii,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this affix is 'Agent provides Patient' with N'. This affix is probably seldom used intransitively without a HTR-morpheme, but if it is, the meaning becomes reflexive, 'Agent equips himself with N'. In the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16], the authors also note that it can get an avalent, reflexive meaning, 'there are/have come N' when used in this form. Furthermore, there are two special meanings when this affix is used on numerals:


Left sandhi:

The affix is truncative and regularly shows replacivity on stems ending in /tə/. Furthermore, it may cause a final /VC/ to drop from the preceding stem, possibly with compensatory gemination in the stem (especially in lexicalised combinations with aq-dropping stems). This is particularly prominent with N{kcaq}N, where this combination thus becomes


Meanings and examples

Or 'equips' or similar.

  • matulerpaa, He puts a door in it

    I.e. he equips it with a door.

  • naalakkerpaa, he commands him (to ...)

    Lexicalised, from naalagaq, 'something to be obeyed' (also lexicalised as 'master'), so literally 'he equips him with something to be obeyed'. The affix deletes the final /aq/ drop, which then causes compensatory gemination in the stem.

  • atserpaa, he names him [9]

    Lexicalised, from ateq, 'name', with deletion of the final /VC/, and with compensatory gemination of /t/ to /tt/.

  • illoqarfik Egedesmindemik atserpaa, he named the town 'Egedesminde'. [8]

    Illustrating that the incorporated noun can be modified/referenced by a noun in the instrumental case.

  • nalunaa(q)qutserpaa, he marks it [9]

    Lexicalised, from nalunaa(q)qutaq, here denoting 'mark; sign', with deletion of the final /VC/, and with compensatory gemination of /t/ to /tt/.

  • eqqarsaatisserpaa, he makes him think [8]

    From eqqarsaat, 'thought' and with N{kcaq}N, 'future N', which fuses with the present affix to /kciq/.

When used reflexively with intransitive form, without an intervening HTR-morpheme.

  • ulappuserpoq, he is busy with something

    From {ulaputə}N, 'something one is busy with', with the affix causing replacivity.

  • sukkulertarpoq, he takes sugar (in the coffee/tea) [8]

    From sukku, 'a piece of sugar', so literally 'he (habitually) provides himself with sugar'.

  • nasalerpoq, he puts on his hat [8]

    From nasaq, 'hat', thus literally: 'he provides himself with a hat'.

When the HTR-form is used with numerals.

  • Piitaq 20-liivoq, Piitaq turned 20.

    An expression you would use when talking about someone's birthday.

These constructions are all lexicalied. All of them are with /VC/ deletion.

  • aapperpaa, he gets the second after having gotten 1 [8]

    From aappaq, here in the meaning of 'second'. Note that the ending has the Object in singular, since 2-1=1 which is singular.

  • pingatserpai, he gets the third after having gotten 2 [8]

    From {piŋajuq}N, the stem form of pingasut, 'three'. Note that the ending has the Object in plural, since 3-1=2 which is plural.


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