Negation in Pazar Laz
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Date
2023
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Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2023.
Abstract
This thesis aims to give a detailed description of the four different negation particles in Pazar Laz which are va(r), vati, mot and moto. I demonstrate how the selection of the negator in matrix clauses is carried out according the tense and mood of the negated predicate. I show that while var is used to negate predicates in past and present tense in indicative mood, vati is used to negate sentences in future tense as well as to negate epistemic readings. The negator mot negates predicates in optative/hortative constructions and prohibitive mood. Finally, I argue that the negator moto should be considered a separate negation morpheme, considering that it has a distinct distribution from mot and behaves differently from all other negators with regard to affirmative preverbs. I also touch on certain negation asymmetries which cause structural differences between affirmative and negative sentences. I demonstrate three different subtypes of asymmetry for Pazar Laz: A/Cat/TAM, A/NonReal and A/Emph. Considering that Pazar Laz showcases counterarguments to the correlation between emphatic marking and negation, I argue that A/Emph asymmetry should not be categorized as a separate asymmetry subtype. I look into the distribution of the negators in non- finite and finite complement clauses. I draw attention to several unexpected patterns found in complement clauses. First of all, I show that contrary to what has been shown in matrix clauses, the negator var can be used to negate future tense. Moreover, both var and vati can co-occur with the modality marker -ere. I also show that contrary to what has been claimed before, the placement of the negators with respect to the subordinator na is much more flexible.