Negation marking in Igbo
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Ozo-mekuri Ndimele
Abstract
At first sight Igbo as a whole unfolds different strategies to indicate negation. The major strategies are the use of negative affixes, inherently negative auxiliary verbs, tonal alternation, contrastive focus. Though we meet a richness of negation formation, there also common basic features and concepts emerging from the investigation: TAM categories may be neutralized when being negated. Negation provokes a wide range segmental and tonal changes within the scope of negation. As observed in many other languages, there is a clash when negation and focus interact. As the two seem to clash, special strategies must be applied to bring the two together. One such strategy is to apply a cleft-like construction, involving two clauses and an obligatory movement of the negated constituent to the ‘focal point’. Another cause for the explanation of the richness of negation in Igbo is the fact that different negation patterns are applied in constituent and predication negation.
Abstract
At first sight Igbo as a whole unfolds different strategies to indicate negation. The major strategies are the use of negative affixes, inherently negative auxiliary verbs, tonal alternation, contrastive focus. Though we meet a richness of negation formation, there also common basic features and concepts emerging from the investigation: TAM categories may be neutralized when being negated. Negation provokes a wide range segmental and tonal changes within the scope of negation. As observed in many other languages, there is a clash when negation and focus interact. As the two seem to clash, special strategies must be applied to bring the two together. One such strategy is to apply a cleft-like construction, involving two clauses and an obligatory movement of the negated constituent to the ‘focal point’. Another cause for the explanation of the richness of negation in Igbo is the fact that different negation patterns are applied in constituent and predication negation.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Negation of non-indicative mood in Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri 7
- The impact of clause types and focus control, aspect, modality, and referentiality on negation in Lamang and Hdi (Central Chadic) 21
- Quantification and polarity 57
- Negation patterns in Kanuri 71
- Songhay verbal negation in its dialectal and areal context 93
- Negation in Jukun 107
- Negation marking in Igbo 121
- Aspects of discontinuous negation in Santome 139
- Negation in Gur 167
- Double negation-marking 205
- Negation in South Mande 223
- From double negation to portmanteau 261
- The system of negation in Berber 287
- Verb-object-negative order in central Africa 307
- Language index 363
- Name index 365
- Subject index 367
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Negation of non-indicative mood in Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri 7
- The impact of clause types and focus control, aspect, modality, and referentiality on negation in Lamang and Hdi (Central Chadic) 21
- Quantification and polarity 57
- Negation patterns in Kanuri 71
- Songhay verbal negation in its dialectal and areal context 93
- Negation in Jukun 107
- Negation marking in Igbo 121
- Aspects of discontinuous negation in Santome 139
- Negation in Gur 167
- Double negation-marking 205
- Negation in South Mande 223
- From double negation to portmanteau 261
- The system of negation in Berber 287
- Verb-object-negative order in central Africa 307
- Language index 363
- Name index 365
- Subject index 367
