query: lexical semantics

[David Gil]

Dear all,

In English the verb "claim" has a negative counterpart "deny" that 
stands in the following semantic relationship:  "claim that not S" is 
roughly paraphrasable as "deny that S".  Similarly, "believe" has a 
negative counterpart "doubt", where "believe that not S" = "doubt that S".

I am looking for a language in which a verb meaning something like "be 
sure" / "be certain" also has a negative counterpart of this kind.  In 
other words, a language with a word X where "be sure/certain that not S" 
= "X that S".  (Note: I don't care whether X is a simple verb or a 
complex construction combining an auxiliary or light verb with another 
content word, such as English "be sure".)

Any pointers to relevant literature would also be welcome.

Thanks,

David

-- 
David Gil

Department of Linguistics
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany

Telephone: 49-341-3550321 Fax: 49-341-3550119
Email: gil at eva.mpg.de
Webpage:  http://www.eva.mpg.de/~gil/