Negation and Tense-Aspect-Mood Marking (Feature 50)
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Feature Annotation
Some languages have reduced tense-aspect-mood marking in negative clauses. In Principense affirmative sentences, for instance, there is an opposition between the habitual/future marker ka and the progressive marker sa; but in negated sentences, the contrast is given up and sa is used both for progressive and future:
Wosê n sa kume pêxi. Amanhan n ka kume pêxi.
now 1sg prog eat fish tomorrow 1sg fut eat fish
‘Now I am eating fish.’ ‘Tomorrow I will eat fish.’
Wosê n sa kume pêxi fa. Amanhan n sa kume pêxi fa.
now 1sg prog eat fish neg [tomorrow 1sg fut eat fish neg]
‘Now I am not eating fish.’ ‘Tomorrow I won’t eat fish.’
*Amanhan n ka kume pêxi fa.
Values:
A reduced system (value 2) is like Principense. A system with different markers (value 3) is exemplified by 19th century Cochim Creole, where the affirmative future marker lo is replaced by nada; a system with reduced and different markers is Papia Kristang, where the affirmative future marker lo ~ logo is replaced by negative future marker nadi, and where the contrast between ta (imperfective) and dja (perfective) is given up (negator ngka for imperfective or perfective).
Additional remarks
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Values
| Value | Value Annotation | |
| 1 | Negative clauses have the same tense-aspect-mood marking as affirmative clauses | Papiamentu, English |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Negative clauses have reduced tense-aspect-mood marking | Fewer tense-aspect-mood distinctions: Principense |
| 3 | Negative clauses have different tense-aspect-mood marking | At least one marker is replaced: 19th century Cochim Creole (India) |
| 4 | Negative clauses have reduced and different tense-aspect-mood marking | Fewer distinctions, and at least one marker replaced: Papia Kristang |
| 5 | Other | (Please give details in the “General comments” field.) |
WALS No.
(None)
