Negation and negatives

Abstract

Abstract A characteristic feature of the Uralic language family is the widespread use of negative verbs. This chapter gives a comprehensive typologically oriented overview of the expression of negation in the family. Within clausal negation, attention is directed to standard negation—i.e. basic declarative clauses, the negation of non-declaratives—especially imperatives, the negation of non-verbal predicates, and negation in dependent clauses. Non-clausal negatives such as negative replies, negative indefinite pronouns, as well as negative derivation and case marking, are also addressed. Finally, some further aspects of negation are discussed: the scope of negation, negative polarity, case marking under negation, emphatic negation, and negation in complex sentences. The overview is based on a systematic questionnaire-based survey of negation in Uralic. The perspective is synchronic but some diachronic notes are also made.