-ga

Laefevian

Alternative forms

• -ka (after certain consonants or consonant clusters)

Etymology

Unknown but formally it would correspond to a hypothetical Proto-Laenkean *-kʼas; however, no cognates outside of Laefevic are attested so it is generally assumed to be Laefevic innovation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-ɡa/ [-ɡa]

Suffix

-ga (nominal, heavy a-stem)

1. (unproductive, fossilised) A structural suffix in certain bird names.

   *k(ʼ)wVr- (“to croak, to crow”) → kwarga (“crow”)

   *ᵑgiwpʰ- (“to call out, to shout”) → novga (“jackdaw”)

   *kʰeg- (“to be fast”) → hiegga (“swallow”)

   *cʼwom- (“to cry, to call”) → jôvga (“owl”)

   *tʼwerkʰ- (“grey, dark”) → dwirga (“pigeon”)

2. (semi-productive) Forms bird names.

   umis (“red”) → umiga (“robin”)

   êþes (“azure”) → êþiga (“tit”)

   faspiêlj (“hazelnut”) → faspiêlga (“nutcracker”)

   fôht (“fly”) → fôhtiga (“flycatcher”)

   biesus (“thumb”) → bieska (“wren”)

   dihlwêdurvad (“to dive”) → dihlwêska (“grebe”)

Derived terms

▶ Laefevian terms suffixed with -ga

See also

• -ies (animal-deriving suffix)