The Undoer
The undoer root suffix ‘undoes’ what the verb root ‘does’. It takes two forms ‘(-a/u)wa- and the much less common -ska-.
ahumaˀtrawaˀ He picked him out, selected him.
[ah-hoo-mah-ah-trah-wah-ah]
tl- factual
-hum- masculine singular agent + patient ‘he to him’ – -aˀt- noun root ‘body’
-ra- verb root ‘to be with’
-wa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
ahatikaskaˀ They (m) divided it.
[ah-hah-tee-kah-skah-ah]
a- factual
-hati- masculine plural agent ‘they (m)’
-k- verb root ‘to join’
-aska- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
aˀhakehtaskaˀ He took off his shoulder strap carrier
[ah-ah-hah-keh-tah-skah-ah]
aˀ- factual
-h- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ak- semi-reflexive voice
-ehta- verb root ‘to carry with a shoulder strap’
-ska- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
ahahkǫtawaˀ He took it down.
[ah-hah-kon-tah-wah-ah]
a- factual
-h- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ahkǫt- verb root ‘to hang it up’
-awa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
ahaˀhušrǫtawaˀ He untied a small bag.
[a-hah-ah-hoo-shron-tah-wah-ah]
a- factual
-ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ˀhušr- noun root ‘small bag’
-ǫt- verb root ‘to tie up’
-awa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
sayǫkyatuwaˀ They (f) lie down again.
[sah-yon-kyah-too-wah-ah]
s- repetitive
-a- factual
-yǫ- feminine-zoic plural agent ‘they (f)’
-kya- semi-reflexive voice
-t- verb root ‘to stand’
-uwa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
usaharǫmawaˀ He goes back.
[oo-sah-hah-ron-mah-wah-ah]
u- factual
-s- repetitive
-a- factual
-ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-rǫm- verb root ‘to cross’
-awa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
aˀeyarurǫmą One detached bark.
[ah-ah-eh-yah-roo-ron-man]
ah- factual
-e- indefinite agent ‘one’
-yar- noun root ‘bark’
-ur- verb root ‘to affix’
-ǫmą undoer root suffix + punctual aspect
aharawaˀ He took it off (of a tree).
[ah-hah-rah-wah-ah]
a- factual
-ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ra- verb root ‘to put on top’
-wa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ punctual aspect
Examples of Contrasts
Verb Root + Undoer
To be with to pick or select out[1]
To stand a stopper To unplug a stopper
To join to divide
To carry in a shoulder strap to take the shoulder strap carrier off
To hang it up to take it down
To tie up to untie
To stand up to lie down
To have a position of authority to lose a position of authority
To cross to go back
To affix to detach
To put on top to take off
[1] This is the one that occurs most often in the Narratives.