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Dear colleagues.<br><br>
In Basque there is a prefix, <i>ba-</i>, which has a
puzzling double function. It can primarily be analysed as a type of
positive polarity operator which is prefixed to the finite verb when the
sentence counters a previously made negative proposition:<br><br>
1) Ez du sagarr-a ja-n
ume-a-k<br>
NEG
have.PRES.3sgSUB.3sgOBJ apple-ART eat-PERFPART
kid-ART-ERG<br>
"The kid hasn't eaten the
apple"<br><br>
2) Ba-du sagarr-a ja-n ume-a-k<br>
<i>Ba</i>-have.PRES.3sgSUB.3sgOBJ apple-ART
eat-PERFPART kid-ART-ERG <br>
"The kid has indeed / in fact /
so eaten the apple!"<br><br>
The sentence in 2) is used to counter the negative
proposition made in 1), thus <i>ba-</i> appears in the polarity operator
position to the left of the finite auxiliary. (See Laka, Itziar, 1994,
"On the Syntax of Negation" for an analysis of Basque polarity
operators and polarity nodes)<br><br>
However, <i>ba- </i>is also licensed in existential
sentences (3)), without forcing any stress on the sentence's positive
polarity as seen in 2).<br><br>
3) Ba-da txakurr-a ortu-a-n<br>
<i>Ba</i>-be.PRES.3.sgSUB
dog-ART garden-ART-LOC<br>
"There is a dog in the
garden"<br><br>
Negative existential sentences simply substitute
<i>ba- </i>with the negative operator <i>ez</i>: (The subject is
furthermore set in the partitive case, but that is irrelevant to the
current discussion) <br><br>
4) Ez da txakurr-ik ortu-a-n<br>
NEG be.PRES.3sgSUB
dog-PART garden-ART-LOC<br>
"There isn't any dog in the
garden"<br><br>
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My question is if you are aware of other languages in
which a positive polarity operator has this additional function. I would
also like to know if there are languages in which such positive operators
are used in forming expressions of perfect tense and / or
non-evidentiality (irrespective of whether the operators appear in
existential sentences or not). I will summarise any interesting results
for the list.<br><br>
<br>
Thanks in advance,<br><br>
<br>
Pål Kr. Eriksen <br><br>
<br>
<br>
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