Details

General

Morphemic form: {əvsəq}N
New orthography: isseq, isserit
Old orthography: ivseĸ, ivserit
Sources: [MFSJLK10]
Combinations: View list
Right sandhi: Default/none
Inflection sandhi: Weakening
Stem type(s): Strong q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this stem is 'juice', either from plants, fruits, berries or meat. It may also be used in a more metaphorical sense.

The reconstructed root of this word is {əvtəʀ}, according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10], but it is unclear why /t/ became /s/ here. However, it also seems to have happened in several of the other inuit dialects.


Inflection sandhi:

This stem inflects as a strong q-stem with up-declension and weakening of /q/ ⇒ /r/ before vowel-initial endings.


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 isser isser isseq, isserup, isserit,
Old orthography ivser ivser ivseĸ, ivserup, ivserit,
Phonemic orthography əvsəq əvsər əvsəq, əvsərup, əvsərit,

Notes on declension:

The inflection with weakening is indicated by Kleinschmidt [SK71] and Schultz-Lorentzen [CWSL51], but Ordbogeeraq [JP67] surprisingly does not indicate anything about its inflection.


Meanings and examples

I.e., from fruit, berries, meat.

  • iipilit isserat, apple juice

    literally 'juice of apples', with ABS.3pl/sg N{-at} and iipilit as possessor.

  • aamarsuit isserat, coal gasses [SK71]

    Literally 'juice of coal'. This appears to be a more metaphorical usage.


Tags

References