14 Timi

In English, when we want to give a reason for something, we add a clause to a sentence that usually begins with the word “because”:

We are leaving because we are tired.

In Inuktut the clause that is underlined above is usually represented in one word. This word has a special ending that lets us know who we are talking about: 

anijjaanngittunga niaqunngugama

I am not going out because I have a headache.

 

Here is a list of these endings:

niaqunngugama	because I have a headache
niaqunngugavit	because you (1) have a headache
niaqunngummat	because he / she has a headache
niaqunngugannuk	because we (2) have headaches
niaqunngugatta	because we (3+) have headaches
niaqunngugatsik	because you (2) have headaches
niaqunngugatsi	because you (3+) have headaches
niaqunngummatik	because they (2) have headaches
niaqunngummata	because they (3+) have headaches

 

Adding these affixes to stems ending in -k :

• Working with the endings above, the first letter of the endings that begin in g- changes to k-
• The endings above that begin with m- do not change.  They delete the final -k of the stem:

nuvak- /nuvat-	to have a cold
nuvakkama	because I have a cold
nuvakkannuk	because we (2) have colds
nuvakkatta	because we (3+) have colds
nuvakkavit	because you (1) have a cold
nuvakkatsik	because you (2) have colds
nuvakkatsi	because you (3+) have colds
nuvammat	because he / she has a cold
nuvammatik	because they (2) have colds
nuvammata	because they (3+) have colds

 

Adding these affixes to stems ending in -t :

• The last letter of the root and the first letter of the affix both change to n-.
• The endings that begin in m- are unchanged. They delete the final -t of the root :

tikit-	to arrive
tikinnama	because I arrived
tikinnannuk	because we (2) arrived
tikinnatta	because we (3+) arrived
tikinnavik	because you (1) arrived
tikinnatsik	because you (2) arrived
tikinnatsi	because you (3+) arrived
tikimmat	because he / she arrived
tikimmatik	because they (2) arrived
tikimmata	because they (3+) arrived

 

Adding these affixes to roots ending in -q :

The last consonant of the stem is deleted and the affix begins with r:

nuvak + lauq-	to have had a cold
nuvalaurama	because I had a cold
nuvalaurannuk	because we (2) had colds
nuvalauratta	because we (3+) had colds
nuvalauravit	because you (1) had a cold
nuvalauratsik	because you (2) had colds
nuvalauratsi	because you (3+) had colds
nuvalaurmat	because he/she had a cold
nuvalaurmatik	because they (2) had colds
nuvalaurmata	because they (3+) had colds