Negation in language can have different scopes and various ways of indicating it.
Certain languages have multiple negators for different functions and specific markers to indicate negative scope in certain contexts.
Negative concord is a linguistic phenomenon where multiple parts of a sentence are negated, commonly observed in languages like Spanish and Russian.
Deep dives
Negation and Scope
Negation is the act of stating that something is not true or constructing a sentence to express falsehood. In English, the scope of negation can be ambiguous, and it can be challenging to determine where the negative operator applies. Other languages may have more flexibility in negation, allowing the negative word to be moved around to indicate different scopes. Additionally, some languages have special markers or particles to indicate negation more clearly. The concept of scope in negation is an interesting topic that has been extensively studied in linguistics and philosophy.
Multiple Negators
Certain languages have multiple negators that serve different functions. For example, ancient Greek and Sanskrit have two different negators, one used for realis (reality-based statements) and one for non-finite forms (such as imperatives). Some languages may also have specific markers or particles to indicate negative scope in certain contexts, such as prohibitions. The presence of multiple types of negation and the asymmetry in different contexts of tense, aspect, mood, etc., are common features found in many languages.
Negative Concord
Negative concord, also known as negative agreement, is a linguistic phenomenon where multiple parts of a sentence are negated. This is commonly observed in languages like Spanish and Russian, where the negative particle is repeated in various parts of the sentence, such as the object, adverbs, and indefinite pronouns. Negative concord can vary in its extent and constraints depending on the language. It is a fascinating area of study in languages that exhibit this type of negation.
Loge Bon's Predicate Words
Loge Bon eliminates adjectives, nouns, and verbs, instead using predicate words to express these concepts. All words act as predicates, allowing for flexibility in sentence structure. For example, 'tashipni' means 'a bird,' 'tavolphi' means 'that thing is flying,' and 'tavlanu' means 'that thing is blue.' These predicate words can modify each other, resulting in sentences like 'lee blanu shibni shubolfi' meaning 'the blue bird is flying.' Loge Bon provides clear rules for grouping modifiers, preventing ambiguity.
Britanic's Intensive Forms
In Britanic, comparative and superlative forms of adjectives have evolved to serve as intensives. The suffix '-'sav' is attached to adjectives to indicate emphasis or intensity. For instance, 'vellisav' means 'very beautiful.' This usage deviates from the original superlative function in Latin but demonstrates how Britanic has repurposed certain forms to convey additional meaning. The language incorporates modern vocabulary and spelling conventions, making it accessible and user-friendly.
First of all, George was on something called FourCast a bit ago. You might enjoy it. Also, CNN is doing a special on Dothraki on April 8. But the meat of this podcast is all about negation: how to deal with scope, negative concord, and a number of other issues in your conlang. Oh, and... Read more »
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