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

127. Negative Existential and Possessive: isam

How does Hokkaido Ainu express negative existence and possession? Describe the forms and their functions.

7 sentences from 13 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

Place in the negation system

How does Hokkaido Ainu negate existence and possession without using the preverbal adverb somo?

Certain verbs inherently incorporate negation into their lexical meaning, such as isam 'not exist', sak 'lack', and erampewtek 'not understand/know'. (Bugaeva 2012: 496–497)

The negative existential isam

What is the argument structure of the negative existential verb isam, and how does it mark person?

In Sakhalin Ainu, the auxiliary construction wa 'isam expresses that something has disappeared or ceased to exist as a result of an action or state. (Murasaki 2025: 69, 94) The construction wa isam corresponds to Japanese '-te shimatta' and indicates that something ceases to exist as a result. (Satō 2008: 255) The verb isam is a lexical negative verb that inherently incorporates the meaning of negation. (Bugaeva 2022: 20.6) To the author's knowledge, there are no other examples of póka 'even just' directly preceding isam 'not exist'. (Satō 2008: 349) The verb isam means 'not exist', but it is also used to mean 'to die'. (Satō 2008: 356)

i=epetturasi p sinep ka isam

4.O=rival NMLZ one even not.exist

‘There is not even one who can rival me.’

Nakagawa 2024: 450 · SAR

seta ka nep ka isam pe ne a p

dog even something even not.exist NMLZ COP PFV NMLZ

‘There was not even a dog or anything,’

Nakagawa 2024: 323 · SAR

k=uni-hi okari anakne nep ka isam

1SG.POSS=home-POSS around TOP something even not.exist

‘There is nothing around my house.’

Satō 2008 · HK

isam and the somo strategy

How does the negative existential isam relate to the analytic negation of existential predicates with somo?

Certain verbs and auxiliaries in Shizunai Ainu are not negated with the adverb somo but instead have lexicalized declarative/negative pairs. (Refsing 1986)

Possessive negation: sak

What constructions express possessive negation in Hokkaido Ainu, and what role does sak play?

ene an nispa maci-hi ene tamasay ka sak ru-we an hi an

such exist rich.man wife-POSS such necklace even lack track-POSS exist NMLZ exist

‘The wife of such a wealthy man does not even have a necklace.’

Nakagawa 2024: 323 · SAR

ku=kor pukuro sak no ku=hosipi

1SG.A=have bag lack ADV 1SG.S=return

‘I went home without my bag.’

Ijäs 2023 · constructed· HK