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 |