Abstract

This paper explores ‘expletive’ uses of the negative marker pas in Québec French (QF) (Kemp 1982, Larriv´ee 1996), which despite checking every diagnostic for expletive negation (ExN), do not pattern with previously documented cases of ExN. We show that most previous accounts of ExN can thus not explain ExN pas’s distribution. Building on van der Wouden’s (1994) approach to ExN as negative polarity items (NPIs), and adopting an alternative-based account of NPIs (Krifka 1995, Lahiri 1998, Chierchia 2013, a.o.), wepropose a preliminary analysis of ExN pas as part of a ‘complex’ NPI. That is, ExN pasrealizes one of two pieces in the composition of an NPI: (i) it does not contribute existential quantification of its own, but (ii) requires that the predicative existential expression it co-occurs with activate a set of domain alternatives. Though this analysis stands out in making a number of correct predictions about the distribution of ExN pas, it faces an empirical challenge, which we ultimately leave as an issue for future work.

Highlights

  • N Aurore Gonzalez & Justin Royer alternative-based account of negative polarity items (NPIs) (Krifka 1995, Lahiri 1998, Chierchia 2013, a.o.), we propose a preliminary analysis of expletive negation (ExN) pas as part of a ‘complex’ NPI

  • Aurore Gonzalez & Justin Royer alternative-based account of NPIs (Krifka 1995, Lahiri 1998, Chierchia 2013, a.o.), we propose a preliminary analysis of ExN pas as part of a ‘complex’ NPI

  • We added to the typology of noncanonical uses of negation by providing a description of the very limited distribution of ExN pas in Quebec French (QF)

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Summary

Introduction

‘Expletive’ uses of negation have received much attention in the last few decades, including most notably in a range of Romance languages (e.g. Jespersen 1917; Muller 1978, 1991; Espinal 1991, 1992, 2000, 2007; van der Wouden 1994; Larrivee 1996; Tovena 1996; Portner & Zanuttini 2000; Zeijlstra 2004; Yoon 2011; Makri 2013; Greco 2019, 2020; Delfitto 2020). Though our analysis stands out in making a number of correct predictions about the distribution of ExN pas, it faces a non-trivial empirical difficulty, which we discuss and leave as an open puzzle. ExN pas in QF thereby presents an interesting puzzle for theories of noncanonical uses of negation, and aligns with recent claims that different cases of ExN are best treated as separate phenomena (Zeijlstra 2004; Eilam 2007; Greco 2019; 2020).

Distributional constraints on ExN pas
ExN pas complies with ExN diagnostics
ExN pas versus other cases of ExN
Expletive negation as negative concord
Expletive negation as a mood marker
A preliminary account
ExN pas and alternative-based accounts of negative polarity
Some predictions
Discussion
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