Details

General

Morphemic form: {qulə(k)}N
New orthography: qulit, qulingat, qulaa, qummut
Old orthography: ĸulit, ĸulingat, ĸulâ, ĸúmut
Sources: [MFSJLK10], [SK71], [JP67], [CWSL58], [CBBJRPIKJR97]
Combinations: View list
Right sandhi: Irregular
Inflection sandhi: Weakening, Irregular, Default/none
Stem type(s): Weak k-stem, ə-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This stem has three different meanings:

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10], the historical form of this stem is {qulə-}, i.e. it is a ə-stem. However, when used as a numeral with vowel-initial endings, i.e. some of the possessive endings, which are used to express the ordinal numbers, it behaves as a k-stem, /qulək/, which declines with weakening of this final /k/. On the other hand, with the ordinary plural endings, and in all cases when used as a spatial noun, this /k/ is not present. To account for this behaviour, we record this /k/ as a parenthetical segment.


Right sandhi:

The parenthetical segment (k) is not normally present, when an affix is added. However, in those cases, the stem-final /ə/ usually does not alternate with [a]. For example,

This is likely because the stem is perceived as qulit, with a 'frozen' /ə/ in this usage, since the meaning is that of a numeral.

Conversely, when the meaning of the stem is perceived as a spatial noun, it is generally not used with affixes. However, in some historical combinations such as qulangerpaa, 'occupies the space above him', with N{-iq}V, this 'ng' may either reflect this parenthetical (k), or an historical, initial /ŋ/ of the affix.


Inflection

Declension pattern:

Stem type: Weak k-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Weakening, Irregular

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography quli quling , , qulit, qulingat
Old orthography ĸuli ĸuling , , ĸulit, ĸulingat
Phonemic orthography qulə quləŋ , , qulit, quliŋat

Notes on declension:

When used as a numeral, the stem is inherently plural, and it is therefore only used with unmarked plural endings or possessive endings.

Thus, when used as a numeral, this stem actually should be regarded as a weak k-stem, but with nasalation: i.e. /k/ is dropped before consonant-initial endings, but retained (and nasalised) before vowel-initial endings.


Declension pattern:

Stem type: ə-stem
Declension type: p-declined
Declension sandhi: Default/none

Stem before consonant Stem before vowel Notable forms
New orthography quli qula , , , qulaa, qummut
Old orthography ĸuli ĸula , , , ĸulâ, ĸúmut
Phonemic orthography qulə qulə , , , quləa, qulmut

Notes on declension:

When used as a spatial noun, the parenthetical (k) segment is never present, so the stem behaves like an ordinary ə-stem. It is almost exclusively used with possessive endings, which will cause the /ə/ to alternate between [i] and [a] in the regular way according to the ə-rule. The only exception is, that it is also used with the allative singular ending N{mut} to express 'upwards', and this ending will elide the /ə/.


Meanings and examples

In this sense, the stem is used without the final /k/, and /ə/ takes the sound [a] when followed by a vowel as usual. Without possessive endings, it is only used with the allative singular ending, N{mut}, which will elide the /ə/ and attach directly to /l/.

  • umiap qulaa, the upper part of the boat; the space above the boat [SK71]
  • matup qulaa, the upper part of the door; the area above the door [SK71]
  • qaqqap qulaa, the space/air above the mountain [SK71]
  • qulerput, that which is above us; the mountain by the foot of which we live [SK71]

    Here, 'mountain' is implied, since that is usually the only thing that can be above houses.

  • qulaaniippoq, it is (in the space) above him [SK71]

    Verbalisation of the 3sg/sg possessive locative.

  • qulaanut, (moving) up over it [SK71]

    Literally: 'to the space above it'.

  • qulitsigut, (going) above us [SK71]

    Literally: 'through/via the space above us'.

  • qummut, upwards [SK71]

    With the unmarked allative singular ending.

  • qummut inorpara, I cannot reach that high [CWSL58]

    Literally: 'I cannot reach it upwards'.

  • qummut pitarpaa, he surpasses him in hight [CWSL58]

    Literally: 'he surpasses him upwards'.

When used with plain, plural endings, i.e. qulit, qulinut etc. The ordinals are formed with possessive endings on the k-stem form, which then declines with weakening of /k/ to /ŋ/, i.e. qulingat etc.

  • qulinut, at 10 o'clock

    With the unmarked allative plural ending. This example illustrates that unmarked prepositional case endings like N{nut} attach directly to the final vowel, as with vowel stems and weak stems.

  • qulingat, the tenth

    With a possessive, vowel-initial ending, here N{ABS.3pl/sg}. This example illustrates how vowel-initial (possessive) endings are attached to the final /k/, which then is nasalised.


Search the corpus for further examples.


Tags

References