Knowledge base · Part XVI — Negation · this topic as a network

128. Negative Predicates of Ability and Cognition

How does the language express negation of ability and cognition predicates?

7 sentences from 12 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

A class of lexically negative predicates

What defines a class of lexically negative predicates?

Some lexical predicates have inherently negative suppletive counterparts, such as eranpewtek for eramuan, eaykap for easkay, and isam for an. (Satō 2008: 124)

Argument structure and the auxiliary frame

What argument structure and auxiliary frame do these predicates have?

Three negative auxiliaries (eramiskari, etoranne, oripak) may also function as independent verbs and may occasionally have ka interpolated between the main verb and the auxiliary. (Refsing 1986: 211) The negative auxiliaries koyaykus, maka, and nukuri are found only as auxiliaries and never appear with the interpolated postposition ka. (Refsing 1986: 211)

k=apkas eaykap

1SG.S=walk cannot

‘I cannot walk.’

Kanazawa 1898 · SAR

na hepera paye a=eaykap ru-we an

more upstream go.PL 4.A=cannot track-POSS exist

‘Is it that one cannot go any further upstream?’

Kanazawa 1898 · SAR

a=tekehe ka a=epuni ka eaykap pe ne kusu

4=hand.POSS even 4.A=raise even cannot NMLZ COP because

‘Because I could not even raise my hand,’

Nakagawa 2024: 323 · SAR

kira=an ka apkas=an ka eaykap no cis patek a=ki kor

flee=4.S even walk=4.S even cannot ADV cry only 4.A=do while

‘Unable to flee or to walk, doing nothing but cry,’

Nakagawa 2024: 315 · SAR

Ability: eaykap, koyaykus, niwkes

How does the language express inability through predicates like eaykap?

The negative auxiliary koyaykus means 'be disabled and cannot do'. (Refsing 1986: 211) The negative auxiliary nukuri means 'not have the strength to do'. (Refsing 1986: 211)

ukuran ku=mokor koyaykus

last.night 1SG.S=sleep cannot

‘Last night I could not sleep.’

Kanazawa 1898 · SAR

Cognition: experience and understanding

How does the language distinguish negative cognition predicates for experience versus understanding?

cip a=o ka eramiskari p ne korka

boat 4.A=board even never NMLZ COP although

‘Although I had never been in a boat,’

Nakagawa 2024: 315 · SAR

an=cise soyke ta asip=an ka eramuskare

4=house outside LOC go.out=4.S even never

‘I had never even gone outside my house.’

Nakagawa 2024: 315 · ISH

ku=nukar korka k=erampewtek

1SG.A=see although 1SG.A=not.understand

‘I looked at it, but I do not understand.’

Kanazawa 1898 · SAR

Interaction with somo, and the question of blocking

How do lexical negatives interact with standard negation like somo?

A small number of verbs and verb auxiliaries possess inherently negative counterparts, and somo is never used with them. (Refsing 1986: 138)

e=erampewtek yakka somo ku=iruska

2SG.A=not.understand even.if NEG 1SG.S=be.angry

‘Even if you do not understand, I will not be angry.’

Kanazawa 1898 · SAR

sir-kunne kor soyne hi a=eramiskari aan ru-we somo ne

land-be.dark when go.out NMLZ 4.A=not.know PFV track-POSS NEG COP

‘I had not known that he went out when night fell.’

Nakagawa 2024: 393 · SAR

Boundaries and dialect evidence

What boundaries define the class of lexically negative predicates across dialects?

The negative auxiliary maka means 'not like to do (eat)'. (Refsing 1986: 211)

kuani anakne pu ari an cise ku=nukar eramuskare

1SG TOP storehouse QUOT exist house 1SG.A=see never

‘I have never seen a building called a storehouse.’

Takahashi 2016: 74 · TOK