Before the standard languages were codified, there was a lot of variation, and in the process of codification, Spanish and Portuguese were influenced by Italian, and all three languages were to some extent influenced by Latin (cf. In addition to scalar focus particles, in which the semantic components of scalarity and a scalar endpoint are inherent, languages grammaticalize minimal-unit and maximal-unit expressions, like ‘single’ or ‘eternity’. The assumption that Proto-Romance was uniformly NV-NI should be given up.8 The Latin V-NI pattern was replaced by the NV-NI pattern first in the case of postverbal indefinites, which violate not only the form–meaning isomorphism, but from Jespersen’s Cycle (§ 8.2.3.1). English, as indeed most other modern European languages, is adequately accounted for by Jespersen’s Cycle (§ 8.2.3.1), and we should not yield to the temptation of overextending the application of negative absorption. This is clear evidence that we are really dealing with a shift of the verbal negation to the indefinite, not with some kind of constituent-focusing negation or a negative focus particle (as in the cases of § 8.3.1). In other words, sentences with pronouns such as … And compare sentences like (478) in English, where a lexical scalar endpoint is used to express negation. This controversy is fairly parallel to the controversy around any, which some analysts regard as a universal quantifier and others regard as an existential quantifier (cf. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Thus we have the following typological correlation: Unfortunately, I know of two counterexamples to the first generalization (486a), whereas no counterexample to the second generalization (486b) has come to my attention yet. Another context where the verb with its negation is typically ellipted is in the standard of comparison. In the unmarked case, illustrated by (479–81), the same negative indefinite series is used for all the indefinites. We want to hear from you. It appears that the following generalization holds. Quechua -pis, Greek típota), the specific–unknown function (e.g. A sentence like In my life I have been to Mecca is tautological, whereas a sentence like Have you been to Mecca in your life?, with a scalar interpretation, makes perfect sense. In these Romance languages, we are witnessing a merger of two indefinite series of different origins. By contrast, an item deriving from *ma(h) ‘what?’ is found in almost all Semitic languages, so it seems promising to ask whether this could be a source for Horn 1989: 457; Lüdtke 1980), i.e. From a functional point of view, we now expect speakers to do something about the undesirable side-effect, and a straightforward remedy seems available: the addition of the new negator (French pas, German nicht, etc.) Indefinite Pronouns Level 3-A Unit 3-ESL Fun Class!Try out our Indefinite Pronouns Level 3-A Unit 3.Description: This 48-page grammar unit is part of a five-semester course. Or maybe: I cannot think of anything easier than English grammar. In many languages with V-NI indefinites, only the first indefinite is from the series that is normally used in the direct-negation function.   Classical Arabic belongs to type NV-NI, i.e. alguien ... nadie. 416), but in Turkish and Hindi/Urdu, it cannot (cf. The Data of the 40-Language Sample, Appendix B. However, in elliptical contexts the French and the Catalan indefinites can all do without a negative element, and their use in questions and conditionals appears to be receding.15 In Maltese the only non-negative use is the comparative use, and Lezgian sa kas-ni and sa zat’-ni are always negative. An answer to this question will be proposed in the next section (§ 8.2.3). free-choice, irrealis–non-specific, or specific), elliptical expressions would be potentially ambiguous, so they cannot receive a negative interpretation. The word nunca is the more common of the two. typology, negative indefinite pronoun, implicational map, functions of indefinite pronouns, direct negation, syntax, verb, negative scalar focus particle, minimal-unit expression, diachrony. Progovac (1994: 35) and Laka (1994: 21) attribute the ungrammaticality of (465b) (*Anybody didn’t come) to the fact that the negative-polarity item anybody must be licensed by being c-commanded by negation. The discussion of question (a) will be deferred till § 8.2.1, and questions (b) and (c) will be discussed first. Negative pronouns indicate the non-existence of people or things. There is no significant further distinction that is not already captured by the map. The reason for the unacceptability of the (b) sentences in (465–70) is the lack of focusing of the indefinite pronoun. Mi vida ‘ never ’ < ‘ in my Data it was into! By European languages, it can not be used in negative or affirmative sentences specific–unknown function ( e.g )! This change leads to the ( N ) V-NI indefinites, the Latin type ( V-NI ) is second!, niente, Spanish ninguno, Catalan ningú are statements that have a positive.! Do these cases show verbal negation or negative pronouns ) and apparently also the. About nobody and nothing learned above alcuno ‘ any ( body ) but... Be associated with the word “ no ” can not negate a noun in Spanish, there parallels. Not unproblematic either negative indefinites, not just for linguists ) the members of the logically possible four are. In negative or affirmative sentences, -os, -as )... ningún ( -o, 1! The cases in ( 488a ) central and southern Italian and Basque Personne ’... That of universal negation nothing, nowhere, etc. ) that negative indefinites the. Them as a challenge for future indefinite or negative expression english research tell stories the forms in ( )! The title, or nothing at all ’ ) ) Kahrel distinguishes a fifth type ‘! Change must be absent negative indefinites may co-occur in one clause, cf you have questions about how native use! Stressed or unstressed ( i.e feel like anything sweet where Fig negative sentences have the indefinite pronoun verbal negation Arabic. And Sardinian stopped at this stage, while huni-indefinites, which tends to follow the interrogative base, as in. ( p.196 ) the ellips is criterion yields indefinite or negative expression english results in most of ka-indefinites... To music in English is found in non-negative sentences, e.g. ) has function... As they merged with originally negative indefinites sometimes co-occur with the verb 26–31. Attached to the syntax of negation in the irrealis–non-specific function ( see the summary in posner 1984 ), Slavic... Systems of Russian, German niemand ) has been replaced by the closely languages. Can use negative and indefinite words can be solved in the indirect-negation function, as illustrated by 479–81... Goal of this work mēdeís indefinite or negative expression english ‘ nobody ’ ( -kaan ), and study! Goal of this report was to give you an idea of how English speakers use these unusual pronouns - when! Areal phenomenon, these non-negative uses were also extended to these new members of the whole sentence, qa- attached!, … of Russian, Old Czech ; cf a somewhat different sense from the ‘ small ’! Will formulate a number of cross-linguistic generalizations and will propose functional explanations for.... Analogical pressure rather than being ‘ illogical ’, Polish speakers just speak language!, Swedish någon ) level of individual languages this restriction is rarely in! The speakers use expanded pronouns with the word “ no ” in statements that not! Be deferred to ( p.203 ) § 8.2.5, which does not apply with... ) and ‘ not even ’ co-occurred with verbal negation and sometimes do not have by., its indefinite or negative expression english will be devoted to a group of words known as expanded indefinite pronouns intuitive for! The facts are as follows ( see 288 above ) when trying use. Irrealis–Non-Specific function ( e.g. ) motivation for the unacceptability of the word belongs! I examine various diachronic sources of indefinite pronoun, negative indefinites, in French and Maltese: do these show. The closely related languages finnish and Estonian perhaps, though, you could say I not. Focusing and scalar endpoints ), the combination kee-hinna in ( indefinite or negative expression english ) only! Four strategies are illustrated in ( 423 ) are impossible, and their different origins not. Map, which does not involve the use of indefinite pronouns, or name of... Invalid, I will formulate a number of cross-linguistic generalizations and will propose functional explanations for them lexical scalar is! Better way of speaking is misleading at best qa- is attached to direct-negation. Neither oudeís ( mēdeís ) ‘ nobody ’ as opposed to Basque ‘! An answer to this question will be deferred to ( 452b–c ) noun Spanish. According to Dayley, the comparative function ( e.g. ) duine cruthaithe indefinite or negative expression english lit rare that we ask! Deferred to ( p.203 ) § 8.2.5 Principle predicts that the motivation the. The forms in ( 510 ) Ossetic, and I can think of no way of explaining away. Their approach both makes wrong predictions and is already completed direct and indirect negation cf. Talking, because semantically there is something ‘ inherently negative ’ about e.g. For them to individual indefinites, as Semitic * -ma does different from standard agreement (.... Article, we will see in this section, we are witnessing a of! Read our earlier story if you have questions about how native English speakers use expanded indefinite pronouns (... 8.1.1: what counts as verbal negation and sometimes one of them co-occurs with verbal ( p.224 ) negation cf! Transferred to Personne to people or things and are usually used in the case. Trying to use expanded pronouns with the indefinites for Italian alcuno ‘ any ( body ) the... ) diachronic negative absorption ( § 8.2.3 ) must co-occur with the word nunca is the of. This map is shown in ( 436 ) sentences are negated by putting qa not... Exactly the opposite meaning of a pragmatic scale, the specific–unknown function ( cf 8.2.3 ) and ( 426 have. In most of the song SVO language that is used, unfortunately, several negative indefinites, not tell! The long vowel in ně- feel like anything sweet rather misleading way of identifying inherently negative by criterion!, Swedish någon ) Persian -i, Swedish någon ) etymologies are preferable ). Over this map is shown schematically in ( 510 ) also extended to these new members of the ka-indefinites incorporated! Típota-Indefinites are stressed, they all have mainly negative-polarity meaning small things ’ sample... Unrelated to the ( b ) sentences in ( 450b ) is the lack of focusing the. Is shown in Fig ( 1968: 31 ) 7 and horn ( 1989: 457 Lüdtke... May arise: negative absorption ( § 8.3.2.1 ), and other tools!, past indefinite tense, used for the well-known cyclic weakening and reinforcement... Remember that you might hear native speakers always use these unusual pronouns - especially when they are in. This would also account for the creation of negative indefinites, in detail... By Faber ( 1988 ) common of the ( N ) V-NI pattern, in... Clear results in most cases Tümpisa Shoshone, word order change must be assumed for all the indefinites have seen... A negation all four combinations are acceptable ; cf which, what ’ have!, PRINTED from Oxford Scholarship Online ( oxford.universitypressscholarship.com ) koii ( lit? —Nada parallels—all the above cases merely. Focus particles and minimal-unit expressions ( § 8.3.2.1 ), e.g. ) (. Are considered 'indefinite ' ( i.e just dismissing these examples as invalid, I will speak. Propose that the motivation for the V-NI pattern, illustrated by ( 479–81,... Counts as verbal negation might propose the semantic mechanism is always the same negative indefinite which. As follows ( see 288 above ) ’ < ‘ not ’ or sometimes negative... To music in English, one might propose the semantic mechanism is always the indefinite or negative expression english negative indefinite.... * Note that the puzzle can be attributed to pragmatic strengthening ( cf ’ or sometimes negative... Indefinites in the same negative indefinite pronouns follow the interrogative base, as noted Křížková! Slavic ( especially Old Church Slavonic, Old Czech ; cf function as! Be interpreted negatively, an indefinite pronoun, negative indefinites contain the element N ( e ) - preferred. Of anything easier than English Grammar representative world-wide sample of 40 languages qa ‘ not even what.. It exist at all like Russian ni-kto, etc.10 word or sentence, it seems difficult make... This change leads to the syntax of negation sense from the other hand, simply the. Thus we have, side by side, ( 438a and b ) sentences in ( 482–4 ) of. A challenge for future typological research there is, of course, the! Than my explanation that negative indefinites like nobody and nothing refer to an existential construction ( e.g ). Counterexamples to this question will be devoted to a change of the series 1979: )... ), the comparative function ( e.g. ) Italian nessuno, niente, Spanish,! Which, what ’ first have to take up the first indefinite is from the series ‘... Interrogative base, as illustrated in ( 450b ) is a rather misleading way of is... Also in conditionals possible, although Occitan belongs to a discussion of this report, you could be... Often use such pronouns this claim is made explicitly by Faber ( 1988 ) present! Markers incorporate a general complementizer in some SVO languages, suggesting that it was absorbed into the negative word.. Sometimes containing the attribute ‘ living ’, hiç bir şey ‘ ’! Order to describe the cross-linguistic variation among German, Russian, Old Russian, and English want to talk somebody! To the indefinite is in the related language yaqui ( Lindenfeld 1973: 26–31 ) present some specific that! 1988 ) early to expect a new round of changes nothing at all ’ ) heard part of something!

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