Details
General
| Morphemic form: | V{-suŋaq}V |
| New orthography: | -sungarpaa |
| Old orthography: | -sungarpâ |
| Sources: | [12, 16] |
| Combinations: | Click here |
| Left sandhi: | Truncative,
|
| Right sandhi: | Default/none,
|
| Inflection sandhi: | Default/none,
|
| Stem type: | q-stem |
| Diathesis: | Reflexive (BP) |
| Valency: |
Agent increasing,
|
| HTR-morphemes: | V{ði}V |
Description and behaviour
Form and usage:
This is a non-productive affix with unclear meaning. In the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [16], it is tentatively translated as 'almost, just before'. However, although it is not listed directly in Oqaatsit [14], it is found in a few lexicalised entries therein, and in all these entries it appears to be used transitively, even though it is used on monovalent bases. For example:
- ataasungarpaa, 'he hits right below it', from ataavoq, 'it is below something', from the spatial noun {atə}N and N{-u}V.
- qulaasungarpaa, 'he hits right above it', from qulaavoq, 'it is above something', from the spatial noun {qulə}N and N{-u}V.
- uniusungarpaa, 'he hits right beside it', from uniorpoq, 'he misses the target'.
Thus, it appears to be valency-increasing by adding a new Agent role, and adding a notion of 'hit' (seemingly used in relation to shooting).
Oqaatsit [14] also records the HTR-form qulaasungaavoq, i.e. with V{ði}V as expected for a q-stem.
On the other hand, the affix also appears in a compound affix, V{ŋŋisuŋaq}V, where this valency-increasing meaning is less clear, since the examples given for this combination are all with divalent stems. Thus, in conclusion, the translation of this affix should only be regarded as tentative.
Notable forms:
-
HTR-form:
V{-suŋaq}V + V{ði}V ⇒ /-sungai/
Oqaatsit [14] has an entry for the word qulaasungarpaa with the HTR-form qulaasungaavoq, which illustrates the HTR-form of this affix.
Meanings and examples
Seemingly often with Vb interpreted as meaning shooting/hitting.
- ataasungarpaa, he hits a bit/right below it
[14]
Lexicalised, from ataavoq, 'it is below something'. From the spatial noun {atə}N and N{-u}V.
- ataasungarlugu, right below it
[14]
Lexicalised. The same as above, but in the contemporative mood.
- qulaasungarpaa, he hits a bit/right above it
[14]
Lexicalised, from qulaavoq, 'it is above something'. From the spatial noun {qulə}N and N{-u}V.
- qulaasungarlugu ingerlavoq, he walks right above/over it
[14]
Lexicalised. The same as above, but in the contemporative mood.
- uniusungarpaa, he hits a bit/right beside it
[11]
Lexicalised, from uniorpoq, 'he misses a target'.