12. Negation and polarity
-
Pierre Larrivée
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the behaviour of negation in Romance. The adopted perspective is that variation between languages is explained by diachronic tendencies. The principle diachronic motif in the evolution of clausal negation marking is the Jespersen Cycle. This evolution cycle goes from clausal negation being initially marked by an item in preverbal position, that is doubled by a post-verbal item, which with the loss of its preverbal counterpart remains the sole exponent of negation. The pattern is used to compare and contrast clausal negation in the main Romance languages, and the probable causes for similarities and divergences are evoked. The comparison is extended to n-words equivalent to no one and nothing, that are contrasted to Negative Polarity Items such as anyone and a single thing. The presentation clarifies the criteria for the differential status of items and constructions. The recurrence of these statuses can be understood as stages of diachronic processes to illuminate typological convergence.
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the behaviour of negation in Romance. The adopted perspective is that variation between languages is explained by diachronic tendencies. The principle diachronic motif in the evolution of clausal negation marking is the Jespersen Cycle. This evolution cycle goes from clausal negation being initially marked by an item in preverbal position, that is doubled by a post-verbal item, which with the loss of its preverbal counterpart remains the sole exponent of negation. The pattern is used to compare and contrast clausal negation in the main Romance languages, and the probable causes for similarities and divergences are evoked. The comparison is extended to n-words equivalent to no one and nothing, that are contrasted to Negative Polarity Items such as anyone and a single thing. The presentation clarifies the criteria for the differential status of items and constructions. The recurrence of these statuses can be understood as stages of diachronic processes to illuminate typological convergence.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Manuals of Romance Linguistics V
- Table of Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- 1. Introduction 1
-
The verbal domain
- 2. Subjects 27
- 3. Objects 89
- 4. Argument structure and argument structure alternations 154
- 5. Clitic pronouns 183
- 6. Voice and voice alternations 230
- 7. Auxiliaries 272
- 8. Causative and perception verbs 299
- 9. Copular and existential constructions 332
-
The clausal and sentential domains
- 10. Infinitival clauses 369
- 11. Tense, aspect, mood 397
- 12. Negation and polarity 449
- 13. Dislocations and framings 472
- 14. Focus Fronting 502
- 15. Cleft constructions 536
- 16. Interrogatives 569
- 17. Exclamatives, imperatives, optatives 603
- 18. Coordination and correlatives 647
-
The nominal domain
- 19. Gender and number 691
- 20. Determination and quantification 727
- 21. Adjectival and genitival modification 771
- 22. Relative clauses 804
-
Typological aspects
- 23. Syntheticity and Analyticity 839
- 24. Basic constituent orders 887
- List of Contributors 933
- Index 941
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Manuals of Romance Linguistics V
- Table of Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- 1. Introduction 1
-
The verbal domain
- 2. Subjects 27
- 3. Objects 89
- 4. Argument structure and argument structure alternations 154
- 5. Clitic pronouns 183
- 6. Voice and voice alternations 230
- 7. Auxiliaries 272
- 8. Causative and perception verbs 299
- 9. Copular and existential constructions 332
-
The clausal and sentential domains
- 10. Infinitival clauses 369
- 11. Tense, aspect, mood 397
- 12. Negation and polarity 449
- 13. Dislocations and framings 472
- 14. Focus Fronting 502
- 15. Cleft constructions 536
- 16. Interrogatives 569
- 17. Exclamatives, imperatives, optatives 603
- 18. Coordination and correlatives 647
-
The nominal domain
- 19. Gender and number 691
- 20. Determination and quantification 727
- 21. Adjectival and genitival modification 771
- 22. Relative clauses 804
-
Typological aspects
- 23. Syntheticity and Analyticity 839
- 24. Basic constituent orders 887
- List of Contributors 933
- Index 941
