Difference between revisions of "Negation"

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==Non-verbal phenomena==
See [[Negative paradigms]] for the full attested range of subject-object agreement paradigms with negation.
 
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===Adjectival and Adverb "negation"===
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For antonymic derived modifiers and agentive nouns, see [[Predication Strategies]].
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In the case of the antonymic derivational suffix '''-eer''', the shape is suspiciously similar to that of the verbal negative morph '''-i(r)'''. More research is needed to conclude whether or not these are actually the same morph, which is entirely feasible given the verbal character of most "modifiers" in Sereer.
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===Prohibitive===
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For the semantically related prohibitive mood, see [[Imperatives and Procedurals]].
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The prohibitive is expressed by way of a preverbal, uninflected particle '''ba(r)''', which superficially resembles the negative prefix in its coda ''-r''. It is unclear if the historical origins of the prohibitive particle are actually amenable to this proposed connection, however.
   
 
==Verbal negation==
 
==Verbal negation==
   
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Verbal negation is expressed by an affix that generally takes the shape '''-i(r)'''. Its allomorphy is complex and will be examined in further detail immediately, while syntactic restrictions on its usage are gathered in the following section.
<span style="color:#FF0000"> This basic paradigm should be moved to the main page, with more involved paradigms and discussion of, e.g., underlying form of negation on this page. Also, what is the meaning of the forms below? Please include the plural forms with roots.
 
   
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===Morphological exponence===
<span style="color:#FF0000"> Also, isn't the negative sometimes realized as -eer? When? </span>
 
: final -ee is interchangeable with -eer, with the latter being seen as archaic. Elsewhere, more examination needed. [[User:Faytak|Faytak]] 22:28, 6 December 2012 (UTC)
 
   
 
''See [[Negative paradigms|examples of negative paradigms]] for some subject-object agreement paradigms with negation.''
V negation is (in our data so far) most frequently expressed as part of a polyexponent verbal suffix. Verbal negation does not seem separable syntactically from TAM marking. An example:
 
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The negative morph exhibits complex allomorphy and at times coalesces with neighboring vowels. It also irregularly presents a final segment '''-r''' that appears in certain contexts; in final position with the negative morphs of the shape '''-ee''', use of '''-eer''' is seen as a characteristic of older generations' speech, and there is essentially free variation between usage of '''-ee''' and '''-eer''' in these contexts:
   
 
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="4" style="border: 1px solid black;"
 
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="4" style="border: 1px solid black;"
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! Gloss !! Sereer !! Gloss !! Sereer
 
! Gloss !! Sereer !! Gloss !! Sereer
 
|-
 
|-
| 1SG || -im || 1PL || i-[mut]-ee
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| 1SG || -iim || 1PL || i [mut]-ee(r)
 
|-
 
|-
| 2SG || -iro || 2PL || nu-[mut]-ee
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| 2SG || -iro' || 2PL || nu [mut]-ee(r)
 
|-
 
|-
| 3SG || -ee || 3PL || [mut]-ee
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| 3SG || -ee(r) || 3PL || [mut]-ee(r)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
   
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The variation between the '''-i''' and '''-ir''' negative allomorphs is not predictable from segmental context. More research is needed on this point.
A distinctly inflected negative imperative also exists; see the notes on this under [[Imperatives and Hortatives]].
 
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The negative is also notable for co-occurring with an alternate version of the future tense, expressed by a suffix '''-ik''' rather than by the preverb '''xan'''. See [[Negative paradigms]] for examples.
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===Syntax===
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A notable restriction on negation is that it cannot occur in the embedded clause of a matrix verb that is a raising verb. For instance:
   
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: '''bugiim o nafan.'''<br>
==Adjectival and Adverb "negation"==
 
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: 'I don't want you to hit him.'
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: '''*bugaam o nafin.'''<br>
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: 'I want you not to hit him.'
   
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Our consultant uniformly rejects sentences of the second type and suggests the first as having the same interpretation.
Please see the section on [[Derived Modifiers]]
 

Latest revision as of 02:39, 15 December 2012

Non-verbal phenomena

Adjectival and Adverb "negation"

For antonymic derived modifiers and agentive nouns, see Predication Strategies.

In the case of the antonymic derivational suffix -eer, the shape is suspiciously similar to that of the verbal negative morph -i(r). More research is needed to conclude whether or not these are actually the same morph, which is entirely feasible given the verbal character of most "modifiers" in Sereer.

Prohibitive

For the semantically related prohibitive mood, see Imperatives and Procedurals.

The prohibitive is expressed by way of a preverbal, uninflected particle ba(r), which superficially resembles the negative prefix in its coda -r. It is unclear if the historical origins of the prohibitive particle are actually amenable to this proposed connection, however.

Verbal negation

Verbal negation is expressed by an affix that generally takes the shape -i(r). Its allomorphy is complex and will be examined in further detail immediately, while syntactic restrictions on its usage are gathered in the following section.

Morphological exponence

See examples of negative paradigms for some subject-object agreement paradigms with negation.

The negative morph exhibits complex allomorphy and at times coalesces with neighboring vowels. It also irregularly presents a final segment -r that appears in certain contexts; in final position with the negative morphs of the shape -ee, use of -eer is seen as a characteristic of older generations' speech, and there is essentially free variation between usage of -ee and -eer in these contexts:

Present, negative:
Gloss Sereer Gloss Sereer
1SG -iim 1PL i [mut]-ee(r)
2SG -iro' 2PL nu [mut]-ee(r)
3SG -ee(r) 3PL [mut]-ee(r)

The variation between the -i and -ir negative allomorphs is not predictable from segmental context. More research is needed on this point.

The negative is also notable for co-occurring with an alternate version of the future tense, expressed by a suffix -ik rather than by the preverb xan. See Negative paradigms for examples.

Syntax

A notable restriction on negation is that it cannot occur in the embedded clause of a matrix verb that is a raising verb. For instance:

bugiim o nafan.
'I don't want you to hit him.'
*bugaam o nafin.
'I want you not to hit him.'

Our consultant uniformly rejects sentences of the second type and suggests the first as having the same interpretation.