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Creating verb stems is similar to creating noun
stems. You must find the stem of a verb before you can add the proper
suffix and construct a sentence. In the Alutiiq language there are two
types of verbs: transitive, and intransitive. The main difference
is that transitive verbs have action directed at a specific object (him,
her, or it), while intransitive verbs do not have a specific object, or
are directed at ones-self or one another.
| Intransitive |
nerluni (to eat) "He
is eating." |
| Transitive |
nerluku (to eat it)
"He is eating it" |
These verbs have the same root, but different
endings. There are slightly different rules for finding their stems (see
charts below), and they each have their own set of endings for each
mood, be it a statement, a command. It is more important to remember
how to strip a certain verb to its root than to remember if it is transitive
or intransitive. These designations were created by linguists to study
the structure of languages, but a fluent Alutiiq speaker could provide
you with the proper way to say a verb for any situation without ever learning
about verb types.
Verbs have different endings
depending on their mood - that is, depending on the type of sentence they
are used in. A command sentence like "sit down!" is in the optative-imperitave
mood. There are many moods, but it is not important to memorize their
names. The verbs you will find in the Jeff Leer's 1978 Kodiak Alutiiq
Dictionary are listed with subordinative mood endings (such as luni
or luku). This is the form most often used when naming a verb,
such as with reference materials. Other subordinative endings are also
used when there are two verbs in a sentence; one verb is the main goal
of the sentence, while one describes how it occurs.
If you want to make a sentence
with a verb you find in the dictionary, you must strip it to its stem.
Just as with noun stems, verb stems cannot stand alone. But you must find
the stem before you add a suffix. The guide below will help you figure
out how to strip a subordinative verb to its stem.
|
How to Find
Intransitive Verb Stems
|
| If the Subordinative
mood ends in... |
Then... |
For Example... |
| a vowel + luni |
simply drop luni |
qikiluni (to be shy) stem: qiki |
| g or r + luni, and has only one syllable
before luni |
drop the luni, and add e |
agluni (to go away) stem: age |
| g or r + luni, and has more than one
syllable before luni |
simply drop the luni |
atrarluni (go to the beach to get seafood)
stem: atrar |
| any consonant except g or r + luni |
drop the luni, and add e |
aqumluni (to sit down) stem: aqume |
| lluni |
drop the lluni, and add te |
quinglluni (to walk by) stem: quingte- |
| Occasionally, some intransitive verbs
ending in lluni will have a stem ending in a different consonant and
e-. As these are rare, dictionary citations will provide the stems
for these verbs. |
| Some rare intransitive
verbs end in ll'uni. With these, you will drop the ll'uni and add
either t'e, or llte. As these are unpredictable, the dictionary citations
for these verbs will provide the stem. |
|
How to Find
Transitive Verb Stems
|
| If the Subordinative
mood ends in... |
Then... |
For Example... |
| a vowel + luku |
drop the luku |
canaluku (to make it) stem: cana- |
| g or r + luku and has only one syllable
before luku |
drop luku, & add e |
rurluku (to inflate it) stem: rure- |
| g or r + luku, and has more than one
syllable before luku |
drop the luku |
imegluku (to fold it up) stem: imeg- |
| a consonant other than g or r + luku |
drop the luku and add e- |
nuqlluku (to invite him/her) stem: nuqe- |
| a vowel or consonant + lluku |
Drop lluku and add
either te- or e-
(no strict pattern) |
kumlalluku (to freeze it) stem: kumlate-
keglluku (to bite it/him) stem kege- |
| There are a few verbs which do not conform
to these rules, or have the rare ll'uku ending. In these cases, the
dictionary citation will identify the stem. |
Now you should be able to strip both nouns
and some verbs down to their stems. The suffixes section will show you
how to put a verb ending on a verb, but to find the right ending for a
specific kind of sentence, you will need to consult a more in depth source.
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Written by Isaac, on 03-12-2007 13:27
Aling makut qaneryarat wangtenun ayuqsarpialriit tang. |
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Alutiiq Language 
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