The system of negation in Berber
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Amina Mettouchi
Abstract
This paper is a survey of the forms and functions of negation in various Berber languages covering a vast area in West Africa (Kabyle (Taqbaylit), Rifan (Tarifit), Shilha (Tashelhiyt), Tuareg (Tahaggart, Tayirt), Zenaga). It shows that negation in Berber is characterized by non-verbal predicates which encode the distinction between locative-existential and identificational-qualificational, as well as by clear-cut aspectual asymmetries with respect to the positive/negative opposition. All those features are shared to a certain extent by many languages of North-West Africa. They are also attested worldwide, in various phyla. We propose that such features are related to the importance of the topic/focus distinction, and the predominance of aspectual over tense distinctions in the language.
Abstract
This paper is a survey of the forms and functions of negation in various Berber languages covering a vast area in West Africa (Kabyle (Taqbaylit), Rifan (Tarifit), Shilha (Tashelhiyt), Tuareg (Tahaggart, Tayirt), Zenaga). It shows that negation in Berber is characterized by non-verbal predicates which encode the distinction between locative-existential and identificational-qualificational, as well as by clear-cut aspectual asymmetries with respect to the positive/negative opposition. All those features are shared to a certain extent by many languages of North-West Africa. They are also attested worldwide, in various phyla. We propose that such features are related to the importance of the topic/focus distinction, and the predominance of aspectual over tense distinctions in the language.
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
