Details

General

Morphemic form: +{nrit}V
Phonemic orthography: nʀit-
Sources: [MFSJLK10]
Combinations: View list
Constituents: +{nər}N + +{ŋit}V
Stem type: t-stem

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

According to [MFSJLK10], this morpheme denotes 'not', i.e. negation. According to these authors, it is formed from some kind of merge of +{nər}N and +{ŋit}V, although the process involved here is not explained. It does not seem to be an ordinary combination, since the /ə/ and the /ŋ/ both seem to have disappeared.

In the Inuit branch, /nr/ has become /ŋŋ/, which the authors state is a regular change. The affix also has special inflection forms in the Inuit branch in some moods, especially the indicative (and interrogative), i.e. -ŋŋilaq etc. See e.g. the inflection notes in the Kalaallisut form V{ŋŋit}V. The authors mention [MFSJLK10, under PE ŋit-], that this originally may be a participial form, although this does not actually explain the origin of that form.

However, given that the present affix is derived from +{ŋit}V, note the secondary form /ŋil(a)-/, with which it alternates. Assuming the present affix would alternate similarly, this would yield /nril(a)/, and with the aforementioned change /rn/ ⇒ /ŋŋ/ in Inuit, we get /ŋŋil(a)/. It seems then, that the special indicative/interrogative forms are derived by attaching the verbal person markers directly to this stem.


Meanings and examples


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References