How are Eskimo-Aleut words formed by adding suffixes to stems?

In the Eskimo-Aleut languages, words are primarily formed by attaching a series of suffixes to a relatively small number of word stems. This process of derivation is virtually unlimited, allowing speakers to construct complex words that correspond to entire phrases or sentences in other languages.12

Key aspects of this word formation include:

• Stem Modification: The addition of suffixes is often accompanied by phonological changes in the stem, such as the doubling of consonants or vowel alternations, to indicate grammatical categories like number (singular, dual, plural) or possession.1
• Grammatical Complexity: Suffixes are used to specify modal relations, tenses, and person. For example, a single verb form can incorporate suffixes that refer to both the subject and the object of a sentence.1
• Derivational Power: By stacking derivational suffixes, speakers can create highly specific terms. For instance, Greenlandic can combine multiple elements to form a single word equivalent to a complex English phrase, such as "telegraph" (Nalunaar-asuar-ta-at), which breaks down into components meaning "that by which one communicates habitually in a hurry".2

While Eskimo languages rely heavily on this suffixing system, Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) word forms are generally simpler, often utilizing auxiliary verbs to express modal relations and tenses.1