Details

General

Morphemic form: V{(m)mi}V
New orthography: +mioq, -mmioq
Old orthography: '-mivoĸ, '-mioq
Sources: [SK71], [JP67], [CWSL58], [CBBJRPIKJR97]
Combinations: View list
See also: V{gi}V
Left sandhi: Default
Right sandhi: Assibilation (t⇒s)
Inflection sandhi: Irregular
Stem type: Vowel stem
Diathesis: None
Valency: Preserving

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is likely only marginally productive. Its usage seems limited to some fixed expressions and exclamations, with Subject in the 3rd (or 4th) person. Kleinschmidt [SK71] defines two meanings:

Only the second meaning is indicated by the examples in Oqaatsit [CBBJRPIKJR97], so it is possibly the only one still in use. Schultz-Lorentzen [CWSL58] adds a third meaning:


Inflection sandhi:

The affix deletes the initial /v/ from the intransitive indicative mood marker {vu}, including in 3pl where /v/ doubles to /(v)v/. Thus, we get

Oqaatsit [CBBJRPIKJR97] only lists the 3sg form, but Kleinschmidt [SK71] and Schultz-Lorentzen [CWSL58] both mention the 3pl form as well.


Meanings and examples

In the indicative mood. This appears to often be in combination with the particle asuuna.

  • asuuna oqarmioq: , and then he (finally) said: [SK71]

    The words being said follow.

  • akimmioq: , and then he (finally) replied: [CBBJRPIKJR97]

    The words being said follow.

  • asuuna tikimmioq, and then he finally arrived/came home [Uwn]
  • qeqertat nuigaluarmiut, (finally) the islands appeared [CWSL58]

Mainly in the causative mood. This usage is possibly archaic.

  • aserormigami, think that it broke! (how unfortunate!) [CWSL58]
  • toqqunngimmigakkit, how unfortunate that I did not store/save them [SK71]

    From toqqorpaa, 'he stores/saves it (for later)', and with the negation affix V{ŋŋit}V.

  • ornikkumamminagulu, how unfortunate that he does not want to go to/approach him [CWSL58]

    With the transitive negative contemporative any/3sg ending V{nagu}. This example illustrates that this meaning also can appear in other moods than the causative.

In the optative mood, with or without V{gi}V before the ending. The 'while' part seems to be conveyed by V{gallaq}V This usage is possibly archaic.

  • saperallarmigili, he can/is able to (whilst the others cannot) [CWSL58]

    This example is strange, since saperpoq has an inherent negative meaning, 'he cannot'. It is unclear why the meaning switches without a negation affix.

  • qinugallarmili, he is (certainly) begging (whilst the others do not). [CWSL58]

    Note: Nowadays, qinuvoq means 'pray' or 'ask for something' rather than 'beg', but this meaning exists in older dictionaries.


References