Details

General

Morphemic form: {uqausiq}N
New orthography: oqaaseq, oqaatsit
Old orthography: oĸauseĸ, oĸautsit
Sources: [SK71], [JP67], [CWSL58], [CBBJRPIKJR97]
Combinations: View list
Constituents: {uqaq}V + V{-usiq}N
Right sandhi: Default/none
Inflection sandhi:
Stem type(s): Weak q-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

The general meaning of this stem is 'word'. With possessive endings it can also mean: 'the word(s) (said by) Possessor'.

With a possessive ending, and a Possessor indicating a group/people, it also means 'language'. For example: Kalaallit oqaasii, 'the Language of the Greenlanders', literally 'the words of the Greenlanders'.


Meanings and examples

Also, with possessive endings: 'what Possessor said'.

  • oqaasii issuaannarpakka, I just repeat what he said [SK71]

    Literally: 'I just repeat his words'.

With possessive endings, and a noun representing a group as Possessor.

  • kalaallit oqaasii, the Greenlandic Language; the Language of the Greenlanders

    This is the official name of the language, whereas kalaallisut is the attribute form (compare 'The Greenlandic Language' vs. 'Greenlandic').


Search the corpus for further examples.


References