Details

General

Morphemic form: {nanuq}N
New orthography: nanoq, nanu, nannut
Old orthography: nanoĸ, nanu, nánut
Sources: [SK71], [JP67], [CWSL51], [CWSL58], [CBBJRPIKJR97]
Combinations: View list
Right sandhi: Default/none
Inflection sandhi: Geminating
Stem type(s): Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The meaning of this stem is 'bear', most commonly referring to the polar bear, Ursus maritimus.

Many dictionaries [SK71], [CWSL58], [CBBJRPIKJR97] list two forms of this words, either as a q-stem, nanoq, or a vowel stem, nanu, and the forms are used interchangeably today. However, according to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10], the reconstructed historic form is {nanuʀ}, i.e. with a final, uvular consonant. Thus, we here record the form with a final /q/.


Inflection

Declension pattern:

Stem type: Weak q-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Geminating
Gemination type: n⇒nn

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography nannu nanu nanoq, nannup, nannut,
Phonemic orthography nánu nanu nanoĸ, nánup, nánut,
Phonemic orthography nannu nanu nanuq, nannup, nannut,


Meanings and examples


References