abimäärsõna

Abimäärsõna, also known as a circumfix, is a type of affix in linguistics that is added to both ends of a word or stem. This linguistic phenomenon is relatively rare and is found in a few languages, including some indigenous Australian languages and a few others. The term "abimäärsõna" is derived from the Estonian language, where "abi" means "around" and "määr" means "boundary" or "limit," reflecting the circumfix's placement around the base word.

The structure of an abimäärsõna typically involves a prefix and a suffix that are added to the beginning and end of the base word, respectively. The prefix and suffix often have a semantic or grammatical function, such as indicating tense, case, or other grammatical categories. For example, in some Australian languages, circumfixes are used to mark possessive relationships or to indicate the direction of movement.

One notable example of an abimäärsõna is found in the Warlpiri language of central Australia. In Warlpiri, the circumfix "ka-" and "-pa" is used to indicate the past tense of a verb. For instance, the verb "ngurra" meaning "to walk" becomes "kangurrapa" when referring to the past tense.

The use of abimäärsõna is not as widespread as other types of affixes, such as prefixes or suffixes, but it serves an important role in the grammatical structure of languages that employ it. The rarity of circumfixes highlights the diversity and complexity of human language, showcasing how different languages can evolve unique and intricate systems for expressing meaning.