Details

General

Morphemic form: V{'-q}N
New orthography: -q
Old orthography: '--ĸ
Sources: [MFSJLK10, under postbase nəʀ]
Combinations: View list
Constituents: V{nəq}N
Left sandhi: Truncative, Geminating
Right sandhi: Default/none
Inflection sandhi: Irregular, Default/none
Stem type: q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This morpheme is a variant of V{nəq}N, where the initial /nə/ has dropped, causing compensatory gemination in the preceding stem. It is not used productively, but it appears in some lexicalised stems.

The morpheme is not directly described in any of the ordinary dictionaries of Kalaallisut [SK71], [CWSL58], [JP67], [CBBJRPIKJR97], but it is mentioned in the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10, under postbase nəʀ]. According to this source, it appears in {kəppaq}N, 'something cut off' from {kəpə}V, 'to cut off'; and {quppaq}N, 'cleft; half' from {qupə}V, 'cleave'. Hence, the meaning superficially seems to be similar to the passive participle of the two stems. However, given the origin of this morpheme, it is likely rather the result of Vb'ing, rather than the Vb'ed thing. We shall therefore record it here under this meaning.


Inflection

Inflection pattern:

Stem type: q-stem
Inflection sandhi: Irregular, Default/none

Notes on inflection:

There are not many clear examples of this morpheme appearing as the final morpheme in a stem. Hence, we cannot say anything definite about how it declines. According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10], it appears in {kəppaq}N from {kəpə}V, and {quppaq}N from {qupə}V, and according Ordbogeeraq [JP67], both of these decline as weak q-stems.

However, it also seems to be the final part in V{ŋŋaq}N, which declines as a regular q-stem, and furthermore only with ergative possessive endings (i.e. accusative alignment). Thus, it seems that combinations containing this morpheme do not inherit a particular declension pattern from this morpheme, so we cannot assign a definite pattern based on these. We therefore record it here as irregular.


Meanings and examples

This translation is tentative, it might differ in specific combination.


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References