Grammar » 47 » Emotions

Many of the verbs that describe emotions follow a similar pattern.

Many verbs that describe a phyiscal or emotional sensation are followed by the affix -gusuk- or sometimes just -su(k)- :

Kuvia + su(k) + ven  
Kuviasuven? Are you happy?
Kuviasuvunga I am happy.

 

Here are some other examples:

kanguk + suk to feel embarrassed
kangusuttok The two of them are feeling embarrassed.
   
iliga + suk to feel shy
iligasuven? Are you feeling shy?
   
kappia + suk to be a afraid
kappiasugami because he is afraid
   
nalli + gusuk to feel love
nalligusuvâ? Does he/she love someone?
   
uppi + gusuk to feel pride
uppigusujok They (2) are proud of something.
   
imik + gusuk to feel thirst
imigusuvunga I am thirsty

 

Next, there is a more complex form of these verbs that takes a transitive verb ending to describe who or what is causing that emotion:
nalligijâtit He/she loves you.
kappiagijaga I am afraid of it.
uppigijanga He/she is proud of him/her.

When a transitive verb ending is used, the affix -suk- is dropped and the verb -gi- is added to the root verb to create a link between different people. Here are some other examples of this construction:

piu- to be good; suitable; beautiful
piugijân? Do you like it?
   
itsik- to be afraid
itsigijanga He is afraid of her.
   
ugguak- to feel grief
ugguagijânga? Is she grieving for him?
   
ajunnak- to find something difficult
ajunnagijân? Do you find it difficult?
   
mamak- to taste good
mamagijanga He likes the taste of it.

 

To express the above in the negative, the affix -ngi- is added just before the verb ending:

Kuvia + suk + ngit + lak  
Kuviasungilak He/she is not happy.
   
nalli + gi + ngit + langa  
nalligingilanga He/she does not love him/her.
   
imigusungilanga I am not thirsty.
kangusungilatit You are not shy.
Kajuk piugingittaga I am not enjoying the taste of the broth.

The affix -tsuak- can also be added to verbs of emotion to empasize or exaggerate the feeling:

piu + gi + tsuak + jaga  
piugitsuajaga I like it very much.
   
ugguak + gi + tsuak + laut + tanga  
ugguagitsualauttanga He/she grieved deeply for him/her.