Details

General

Morphemic form: {qajaq}N
New orthography: qajaq, qaannat
Old orthography: ĸajaĸ, ĸáinat
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:

This stem denotes 'kayak', i.e. the traditional man's boat in inuit culture. The stem can either refer to the vessel itself, or to a kayak with a man in it.


Inflection sandhi:

This stem has a rare form of gemination (or maybe rather 'interpolation'), where /j/ is replaced by /inn/ in the geminated stem. This phenomenon can also be seen in {najak}N and seemingly nowhere else. Note also special absolutive 4sg/sg possessive form qainni 'his (own) kayak' with N{'-i}, causing the same special gemination of /j/.

The geminated stem also appears in certain (lexicalised) combinations with replacive affixes, notably qaannivik 'kayak scaffold' with N{-livik}N, and qaanniorpoq 'he makes a kayak' with N{-liuq}V.


Inflection

Declension pattern:

Stem type: Weak q-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Geminating
Gemination type: j⇒inn

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography qaanna qaja qajaq, qaannap, qaannat, qaanni,
Old orthography ĸáina ĸaja ĸajaĸ, ĸáinap, ĸáinat, ĸáine,
Phonemic orthography qainn qaja qajaq, qainnap, qainnat, qainni,

Notes on declension:

In the phonological inflection, we record the 'geminated' form of /j/ as /inn/, rather than as /jj/, since this seems to be an interpolated segment of other phonemes, rather than ordinary gemination.


Meanings and examples

Either the vessel itself, or a kayak with a man in it.


References