Language/Southern-betsimisaraka-malagasy/Grammar/Negation

Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy Grammar - Negation

Hi Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy learners! 😊
In this lesson, we are going to dive into the world of negation in the Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy language.

Introduction

Negation is an important part of any language. It helps us to convey negative ideas and to express the opposite of what we mean. In this lesson, we will look at the different ways in which negation is expressed in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy. We will also explore some cultural information and interesting facts along the way.

To improve your Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Basic Negation

The most common way to negate a sentence in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy is by using the word "tsy". This word is placed before the verb to indicate negation. For example:

Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy	Pronunciation	English
tsy	tsʲ	not

• Dialogue:
  • Person 1: Manana vary aho. (I have rice.)
  • Person 2: Tsy manana vary ianao. (You don't have rice.)

In the example above, we use the word "tsy" to negate the sentence "Manana vary aho" (I have rice). By placing "tsy" before the verb "manana", we indicate that the sentence is negative.

It is important to note that when negating a sentence in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy, we do not need to use any other negative words such as "no" or "not". The word "tsy" is enough to convey negation.

Contractions

In spoken Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy, it is common to use contractions to indicate negation. The word "tsy" is often shortened to "ts" in informal settings. For example:

Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy	Pronunciation	English
ts	ts	not

• Dialogue:
  • Person 1: Ny toerana be no tsy lasa. (The place is nearby but I haven't gone there.)
  • Person 2: Tsy lasa? (You haven't gone there?)

In the example above, Person 1 uses the full form "tsy lasa" to negate the sentence. However, Person 2 uses the shortened form "ts lasa" in their response.

Double Negation

In Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy, double negation is possible. This means that we can use more than one negation word in a sentence. For example:

Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy	Pronunciation	English
Tsy manana vola aho.	tsʲ manaŋə vɔlah ə'hʊb	I don't have any money.

In the example above, we use the word "tsy" to indicate negation, and then we use the word "manana" which also has a negative meaning (to not have). The combination of these two negations gives a stronger emphasis on the negation. However, it is important to note that double negation is not always necessary and can sometimes be seen as redundant.

Negative Commands

To give a negative command in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy, we use the word "aoka" which means "don't". This word is placed before the verb to indicate a negative command. For example:

Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy	Pronunciation	English
Aoka hifanarahana.	aok(h)ə hifa'naranəh(ə)nə	Don't fight.

In the example above, we use "aoka" before the verb "hifanarahana" to give the negative command "Don't fight".

Conclusion

Negation is an important part of any language, and Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy is no exception. In this lesson, we have looked at the different ways in which negation is expressed in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy. We have also explored some cultural information and interesting facts along the way. Remember, if you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below. Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• Malagasy Language
• Malagasy People