MOFO - Details

Details

General

Morphemic form:	{avalak}V
New orthography:	avalappaa, avalaavoq, avalappoq, avalaallerpoq
Old orthography:	avalagpâ, avalaivoĸ, avalagpoĸ, avalaigdlerpoĸ
Sources:	[MFSJLK10], [SK71], [CR93], [CWSL58], [JP67], [CBBJRPIKJR97]
Combinations:	View list
Right sandhi:	Default/none
Inflection sandhi:	Default/none
Stem type:	k-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

According to the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary [MFSJLK10], this stem is somehow derived from {avatə}N, 'area outside', although the origin of the last part of the stem is not explained. According to Kleinschmidt [SK71], the basic meaning is: 'Agent sets out/sets forth Patient' into some open area. It is, however, most commonly used in a more specific sense, of which there are 3:

'Agent sets forth' in a ship, i.e. sets forth from the land, sails out etc. This may also denote: 'Agent sails out on a ship' (especially to Denmark).
'Agent goes out onto the dance floor'.
'Agent sets forth food' or 'serves food'. This is especially used in older days in Greenland.

There is a HTR-form, but according to Kleinschmidt [SK71], it is primarily used in the sense of 'serve food'. For the other meanings, the stem is normally used without a HTR-morpheme, seemingly either in an active or reflexive sense ('he brings himself forth'). Here, Rasmussen [CR93] adds that the direction/destination (seemingly here corresponding to the Patient) may optionally be added in the allative case.

Notable forms:

HTR: {avalak}V + V{ði}V ⇒ /avalai/

This HTR-form is mentioned all the dictionaries [SK71], [CWSL58], [JP67], [CBBJRPIKJR97]. It is irregularly formed from the second form, V{-i}V, which is not common on k-stems. According to Kleinschmidt [SK71], this form is primarily used in the special sense of 'Agent=Actor` goes out on the dance floor'.
HTR: {avalak}V + V{ði}V + V{(k)liq}V ⇒ /avalaikliq/

This HTR-form is mentioned in Ordbogeeraq [JP67], and also in Schultz-Lorentzen [CWSL58] beside the other HTR-form, presumably indicating that they can be used interchangeably. It appears to be formed similar to the other HTR-stem, i.e. with V{-i}V, but then also using the alternative HTR-morpheme V{(k)liq}V.

Inflection

Inflection pattern:

Stem type:	k-stem
Inflection sandhi:	Default/none

Meanings and examples

Most commonly used intransitively, especially in the sense of: 'sets out (from the land) in a boat'. Also (metaphorically) 'goes out on the dance floor'.

Tags: Moving

seqineq avalappoq, it is forenoon [CBBJRPIKJR97]

Literally: 'the sun has set forth' i.e. it has risen from the horizon and moved into the area of the sky.
nerisassat avalappai, he sets forth food; he serves food [CBBJRPIKJR97]

Especially used in older days in Greenland.
uatsiaq umiarsuit avalapput, the ship set out this morning [CWSL58]

Here, the Patient denotes the destination, rather than the thing being put forth.

Tags: Moving

siku avalappaa, he goes out onto the ice [CR93]

Search the corpus for further examples.

References

[MFSJLK10] Michael Fortescue, Steven Jacobson, Lawrence Kaplan (2010): Comparative Eskimo Dictionary (2ED).
[SK71] Samuel Kleinschmidt (1871): Den grønlandske Ordbog.
[CR93] Christian Rasmussen (1893): Supplement til Den grønlandske Ordbog.
[CWSL58] C.W. Schultz-Lorentzen (1958): Den Grønlandske Ordbog.
[JP67] Jonathan Petersen (1967): Ordbogêraĸ.
[CBBJRPIKJR97] Christian Berthelsen, Birgitte Jakobsen, Robert Petersen, Inge Kleivan & Jørgen Rischel (1997): Oqaatsit.