Difference between revisions of "Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Negation"
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<div style="font-size:300%;"> Negation in Afrikaans </div> | <div style="font-size:300%;"> Negation in Afrikaans </div> | ||
Negation is, very simply put, the so-called “negative form” in a language. We use it when we want to express the ''opposite'' of a positive or affirmative statement. What is the negative form in Afrikaans? Let’s dig in! | |||
The exact origins of the | One of the most fascinating features of the Afrikaans language is its use of the double negative, which means that two negatives resolve into one negative. For instance, in English one would say, “He cannot speak Afrikaans,” and only use the word ‘not’ once. However, to express the negative in Afrikaans, we usually have to use the negating word ''twice'': | ||
* ''Sy kan '''nie''' Afrikaans praat '''nie'''.'' | |||
Literally: “She cannot Afrikaans speak not.” | |||
The exact origins of the double negative in Afrikaans are still not fully understood. | |||
In the description that follows, the term "scope marker" is used to refer to the second negative particle, '''nie''', where one is required, whereas the first is called the "'''negator'''". | In the description that follows, the term "scope marker" is used to refer to the second negative particle, '''nie''', where one is required, whereas the first is called the "'''negator'''". | ||
Revision as of 13:41, 18 September 2021
Negation is, very simply put, the so-called “negative form” in a language. We use it when we want to express the opposite of a positive or affirmative statement. What is the negative form in Afrikaans? Let’s dig in!
One of the most fascinating features of the Afrikaans language is its use of the double negative, which means that two negatives resolve into one negative. For instance, in English one would say, “He cannot speak Afrikaans,” and only use the word ‘not’ once. However, to express the negative in Afrikaans, we usually have to use the negating word twice:
- Sy kan nie Afrikaans praat nie.
Literally: “She cannot Afrikaans speak not.”
The exact origins of the double negative in Afrikaans are still not fully understood.
In the description that follows, the term "scope marker" is used to refer to the second negative particle, nie, where one is required, whereas the first is called the "negator".
The negators
The following words negate:
geen/g'n
no, not a/any
geeneen
not one
geensins
by no means, not in any way
nerens
nowhere
nie
not
niemand
no-one,nobody
niks
nothing
nooit
never
In certain limited contexts they functionalone, but in the majority of cases they are complemented by a nie (the scopemarker), which demarcates the extent of the negation.
Rules for the use and position of the scope marker
If a sentence consists of only a subject and a finite verb, only the negator is required, e.g.
- Ek weet nie
I don't know.
- Hy bid nooit.
He never prays.
If it consists of only a subject, verb and a pronominal object, once again onlythe negator is required, e.g.
- Weet jy dit nie?
Don't you know that?
- Ek ken horn nie.
don't know him.
Source
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110863154.401/html