Block 26 · pages 243-249

Chapter 4: Negation Particles (continued) and Information Structure – Topicalization

4.6.4 NEG + wala 'not even'

The preposition wala together with a negation means 'not even' (e.g., a-nə-guná wal(a) á-ffooda 'he didn't even see one'; a-sə́-bay t-a-wál-an ka wala h(e) a-ccéena 'he doesn't even know a little bit of languages').

4.6.5 NEG + ʃeddí ~ ceddí 'not yet'

The particle ʃeddí ~ ceddí has several temporal functions. When following a negated verb, the construction means 'not yet' (e.g., a-nə-tén ʃeddí 'he hasn't arrived yet'; báarar a-sə-báy á-bbaṣ ceddí 'the child cannot yet chew').

4.6.6 Negative constructions with ʃí and wə́rtilla

4.6.6.1 h(e) a-ʃʃí / bor(a) a-ʃʃí 'nothing/nobody'

The noun hé 'thing' or borá 'person' with the negative existential copula ʃí forms 'nothing' or 'nobody'. When emphasized, the unit is fronted. Examples: [h(e) a-ʃʃí] a-cc(i) áa-se 'she said nothing to him'; [bor(a) a-ʃʃí] máy i-múṇas ənd-áŋga wij(i) I-dáksahak 'nobody owns camels except the Idaksahak'.

4.6.6.2 wə́rtilla 'there is not'

This Tamasheq loan precedes the negated noun. With hé and borá it conveys 'nothing' and 'nobody' (e.g., wə́rtilla he b-máazal 'there is nothing that happens'). It can also take a complement clause (e.g., wə́rtilla s(a) alḥakúmat a-kkó ənd(a) a-hándag káamil 'it does not happen that the government goes to every place').

4.7 Information structure

4.7.1 Topicalization

4.7.1.1 Equational constructions

In equational constructions, the topicalized constituent is marked with COMP sa when it is an independent pronoun. When it is a noun, it is followed by the corresponding independent pronoun and sa. Examples: áŋga s(a) a-mənóokal 'it was him who was the chief'; Iḍéeləman / íŋgi s(a) ay-n gánda 'I., it's them that are his land'.

4.7.1.2 Nominal constituents

Topicalized nominal constituents in verbal clauses have no special marker. They are preposed and set off with a short pause. Pronouns appear in independent form. Examples: nín / ni-ddiní-kat árə-n ṭaamú 'as for you, you took our slave'; báarar / bukáari n sə́gni a-f-keed(i)-á 'the child, there is indigo of the turban on it'. Topicalized constituents may be reinforced by dá 'precisely' or nóo-da 'there-INT' (e.g., aɣáy nóo-da aɣa-bb-ogá huurú 'I here, I see a fire').

4.7.1.3 Verbal nouns

Verbs can be topicalized by preposing the corresponding verbal noun and substituting the main verb with the light verb kás 'to be' or dá 'to do'. Examples: a-ṇágad / a-kkás Idáksahak ən t-á-ggas-t 'putting on a turban is a custom of the Idaksahak'; á-hoora a-dd(a) íi-se 'he pursued them'. Comparative constructions use the verbal noun as topic (e.g., ay-n a-fəlcə́qu a-yyagór ná aɣo wáni 'this is flatter than that one').

Keywords : negation wala ʃeddí ʃí wə́rtilla topicalization equational verbal nouns