ag- + Reduplication
Ongoing Ag- Actions
Ag- precedes the copied beginning and the base.
How It Works
In this ongoing pattern, ag- combines with an initial copied segment and the base. Consonant-initial surat supplies CVC sur, producing agsursurat, ‘be writing.’ Vowel-initial aramid supplies VC ar, producing agar-aramid, ‘be making or doing.’
The actor remains selected and takes actor-focus noun or pronoun marking. Choosing -ka or a named actor does not change the copied segment. Compare contemplated agsurat, used as an instruction below, with ongoing agsursurat.
This copying differs from the separate CV pluralizer: one person can perform an ongoing action. The hyphen in agar-aramid belongs to its ordinary spelling, and dependent pronouns attach to their hosts. Other affix families and borrowed bases may have additional formation or spelling requirements; the illustrated pattern is not a universal reduplication algorithm.
Examples (3)
- Agsuratka iti surat.
Write a letter.
The contemplated actor-focus form serves as an instruction.
- Agsursuratka iti surat.
You are writing a letter.
CVC copying sur marks the ongoing action.
- Agar-aramid ni Mila iti makan.
Mila is making food.
VC copying ar marks ongoing making with a named actor.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Copy initial CVC, or vowel-initial VC, in the ongoing ag- pattern.
Related Patterns
Practice ag- + Reduplication in Bubblegum
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