Details

General

Morphemic form: V{nəq}N
New orthography: +neq, +nerit, -rngit
Old orthography: -neĸ, -nerit, -rngit
Sources: [SK71], [JP67], [CWSL58], [CBBJRPIKJR97]
Combinations: View list
See also: N{caq}N, N{(l)liq}N, V{tət}V, V{ðuq}N, V{-ðaq}N, V{ðə}N
Left sandhi: Default, ə-eliding
Right sandhi: Default/none
Inflection sandhi: Weakening, Metathesis
Stem type(s): Strong q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is the so-called abstract participle, and also the comparative/superlative of adjectival stems. The Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10] actually records this as two different morphemes with exactly the same form, but it is uncertain whether it in fact originally is two different morphemes. Regardless, I have here decided to record it as just one morpheme, but with different meanings, since the two forms also have the exact same sandhi behaviour.

Note also the specialised constructions with {ajuq}V, {sapiq}V, {nalu}V and {aqtuq}V, which are here registered as independent 'pseudo-affixes'.


Left sandhi:

This affix is usually additive (regular). However, on old ə-stems, it can optionally elide /ə/ and instead join onto the preceding consonant. This is seen in some lexicalised nouns formed with this affix, especially


Right sandhi:

The affix N{-u}V joins onto this affix with weakening of /q/ to /r/ (like a vowel-initial ending), instead of deleting /q/ as usual; i.e. V{nəq}N{-u}V ⇒ -neru-.


Inflection sandhi:

Declension with weakening is the regular form of declension today. However, some older, lexicalised stems formed with this affix may instead decline with metathesis. Note that this is only possible, when the affix is attached to a vowel stem, since a consonant cluster before /ə/ suppresses metathesis (due to phonotactics).


Inflection

Declension pattern:

Stem type: Strong q-stem
Declension type: up-declined
Declension sandhi: Weakening

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography +ner +ner +neq, +nerup, +nerit
Old orthography -ner -ner -neĸ, -nerup, -nerit
Phonemic orthography nəq nər nəq, nərup, nərit

Notes on declension:

This is the regular declension today.


Declension pattern:

Stem type: Strong q-stem
Declension type: up-declined
Declension sandhi: Metathesis
Metathesis type: Cəq⇒qn or qŋ

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography +ner +rng +neq, +rngup, +rngit
Old orthography -ner -rng -neĸ, -rngup, -rngit
Phonemic orthography nəq qn +nəq, qnup, qnit

Notes on declension:

Declension with metathesis is mostly seen in older, lexicalised stems formed with this affix, and only when the affix is attached to a vowel stem.


Meanings and examples

This is the 'abstract participle' meaning; i.e., the affix creates a noun representing the verbal action itself. Note that for patient-preserving stems, this will require the addition of a HTR-morpheme before V{nəq}N.

  • sulineq, work

    From {suli}V 'Actor works', literally 'the act of working'. This is a monovalent stem, so V{nəq}N can be added directly.

  • nerineq, (the act of) eating

    From {nərə}V 'Agent eats Patient'. This is a non-patient preserving stem, so no HTR-morpheme is required before adding V{nəq}N.

  • asanninneq, love

    From the HTR-stem of {asa}V 'Agent loves Patient'. This is a patient-preserving stem, so it requires a HTR-morpheme before V{nəq}N can be added.

When used with possessive endings on divalent stems. This can either be understood in an active or passive sense:

  • If the stem is non-patient preserving, or if there is a HTR-morpheme, then the meaning is active; i.e. 'Possessor's (act of) Vb'ing'. Thus Possessor will be understood as the Agent of the verbal action.
  • If the stem is patient-preserving, and there is no HTR-morpheme, then the meaning is passive; i.e. 'Possessor's (act of) being Vb'ed.' Thus Possessor will be understood as the Patient of the verbal stem.

If the action is future, this is often expressed by adding the nominal future affix N{kcaq}N to V{nəq}N, before the possessive ending, rather than adding V{ssa}V to the verbal stem before V{nəq}N. See the entry for N{kcaq}N for further details.

  • Piitap tikinnissaa qilaanaaraara, I'm looking forward to Piitaq's (future) arrival

    From {təkit}V + V{nəq}N + N{kcaq}N + N{-aq}. {təkit}V, 'arrive', is a non-patient-preserving stem, so no HTR-morpheme is required: The meaning is active, Piitap is the Agent.

  • Piitap toqunnera, the killing of Piitaq

    {tuqut}V is a patient-preserving stem, and since there is no HTR-morpheme, Piitaq is therefore understood as the Patient of the action; i.e. he is killed (by someone).

  • Piitap toqutsinera, the kill(ing) of Piitaq

    Here there is a HTR-morpheme V{ði}V, so the meaning is now active; i.e. Piitaq is here understood as the one who performs the act of killing.

When used with possessive endings and the locative case; so literally 'in Possessor's Vb'ing'.

  • sulinitsinni, while we worked

    From {suli}V + V{nəq}N + LOC.1PL{sg}.

When preceeded by the negation affix V{ŋŋit}V, and used with possessive endings in the locative case; so literally 'in Possessor's not Vb'ing'.

  • sulinnginnitsinni, before we worked

    From {suli}V + V{nəq}N + V{ŋŋit}V + LOC.1PL{sg}.

When used with the ablative case in singular. Some instead use the allative case in this sense.

  • Ulapinnermit inortuivunga, I was late because of business

    This could also be expressed with the causative mood, i.e. ulapikkama inortuivunga.

This is the comparative/superlative meaning (only useful when the affix is added to an 'adjectival' stem).

  • angineq, the biggest

    From {aŋə}V 'Actor is big'. Also (lexicalised) anneq with elision of /ə/.


Search the corpus for further examples.


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References