Negative Indefinite Pronouns

Abstract

Abstract This chapter examines the typology of negative indefinite pronouns, with particular emphasis on their relation with other indefinites. It first considers the received taxonomy of negated indefinites, showing that it is inadequate and that the implicational map for representing the functions of indefinite pronouns offers a better classification. Four main syntactic ways of expressing negative indefinites, or the direct-negation function of indefinite pronouns, are described: verbal negation plus (ordinary) indefinite, verbal negation plus ‘special indefinite’, verbal negation plus ‘negative indefinite’, and ‘negative indefinite’ without verbal negation. The chapter proceeds by analysing one important aspect of the syntax of negative indefinites: the co-occurrence with a negative element associated with the verb. It also formulates a number of cross-linguistic generalizations and proposes functional explanations for them before concluding with an assessment of various diachronic sources of negative indefinites, including negative scalar focus particles and minimal-unit expressions.