Details
General
| Morphemic form: | V{naq}N |
| New orthography: | +naq |
| Old orthography: | -naĸ |
| Sources: | [9, 12, 11] |
| Combinations: | Click here |
| Variants: | V{naq}V, |
| Left sandhi: | Default,
ə-eliding,
|
| Right sandhi: | Default/none,
|
| Inflection sandhi: | Default/none,
|
| Stem type: | Weak q-stem |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This affix is a nominal form of the affix V{naq}V, 'is Vb'able', or 'is such as to Vb'. The present form can be used in two different ways:
To form interjections/exclamations; here the meaning is 'how Vb'able (it is)!'. They are actually verbal in meaning, but they can sometimes inflect for number as well, i.e. singular +naq!, plural +nat! like a weak q-stem, if the exclamation concerns multiple objects, thus behaving like nouns.
To form nouns denoting 'something that is such as to Vb'. This seems to be equivalent to using the combination V{naq}V + V{ðuq}N. This seems particularly common in some names for plants and animals.
Left sandhi:
Similar to V{naq}V, this affix may elide a stem-final /ə/ and attach directly to the preceding consonant; especially in lexicalised constructions.
Inflection
Declension pattern:
| Declension type: | p-declined |
| Declension sandhi: | Default/none |
| Stem before consonant | Stem before vowel | Notable forms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New orthography | +na | +na |
+naq
+nap
+nat
|
| Phonemic orthography | na | na |
naq
nap
nat
|
Meanings and examples
When used in an exclamatory sense. Note: this meaning is actually verbal, and it is not inflected, except possibly for number.
- qujanaq!, thanks!
[11]
From qujavoq, 'he says thanks'. This is naturally a very common exclamation.
- alianaq!, how sad!
[11]
From alianarpoq, 'it is sad', 'it is such as to make one sad'.
- kusanaq!, how beautiful! (it is)
When speaking of a single thing, e.g. a flower.
- kusanat!, how beautiful! (they are)
When speaking of multiple objects, e.g. some flowers. The form is inflected with a plural ending N{t}, like a weak q-stem.
Especially in some names for plants and animals.
- kukkarnaq, caramel toffee
[9]
From kukkarpoq, 'he has something stuck between his teeth', so literally: 'something that is such as to get (it) stuck between one's teeth'.
- kigutaarnaq, (fruit of) bog bilberry
[9]
From kigutaerpoĸ, 'he loses (his) teeth', so literally 'something that is such as to make one lose one's teeth'.
- seernaq, mountain sorrel
[9]
From seerpoq, 'he gets a sour taste in his mouth'. The plant has a sour/acidic taste.
- anarnaq, northern bottlenose whale
[12]
From anarpoq, 'he shits'. Apparently, the meat of this whale has a laxative effect.