[Lingtyp] Polarity-reversing particle

[Åshild Næss]

Dear Elena,

the Oceanic language Äiwoo (Solomon Islands) has a particle with this function (thanks for teaching me the term 'polarity-reversing particle', it's noted for future use!). Its form is bä [bæ], contrasting with negative ba, and it can be used to reverse the polarity of both positive and negative questions: 

Mu-waamou?
2MIN-quarrel
'Did you argue?'

Bä, ba me-waamou=gu
REV NEG 1AUG-quarrel=NEG
'No, we didn't argue.'

Ba-ngä mi-ku-wä ngä stoa?
NEG-yet 2MIN-IPFV-go to store
'Haven't you gone to the store yet?'

Bä, i-wä=to
REV 1MIN-go=ASP
'Yes, I've gone.' 

Best,

Åshild 


Åshild Næss

Professor i lingvistikk/Professor of Linguistics
Email: ashild.nass at iln.uio.no
Tel. (+47) 22 84 40 93
Kontor/Office: HW531

Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier
Postboks 1102 Blindern
0317 Oslo




>-----Original Message-----
>From: Lingtyp [mailto:lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org] On Behalf Of
>Elena Moser
>Sent: Monday, January 07, 2019 3:22 PM
>To: lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org
>Subject: [Lingtyp] Polarity-reversing particle
>
>Dear all,
>
>
>
>Do you know of a polarity-reversing particle in the language(s) you
>speak/work on?
>
>
>
>A short definition and examples follow below.
>
>
>
>Polarity-reversing particles are particles that function as positive answers to
>negative questions; however, in contrast to other answer particles such as yes
>and no, they specifically express disagreement with the negative proposition
>of the questions.
>
>Some examples come below. The abbreviation REV indicates a polarity-
>reversing particle. This term was coined by Holmberg (2016: 6).
>
>
>
>Swedish
>
>Q. Är det inte varm idag?
>
>[is it not hot today]
>
>It’s not hot today?
>
>
>
>A. Jo (det är det)!
>
>[REV it is it]
>
>Yes, it is!
>
>
>
>German
>
>Q. Hast du deine Hausaufgaben nicht gemacht?
>
>[have you your homework not done]
>
>Have you not done your homework?
>
>
>
>A. Doch (gestern schon)!
>
>[REV yesterday already]
>
>Yes, (I have already done them yesterday) !
>
>
>
>
>
>French
>
>Q. Il n’est pas là Basil?
>
>[he NEG=be NEG here B. ]
>
>Isn’t Basil here?
>
>
>
>A. Si!
>
>[REV]
>
>Yes, he is!
>
>
>
>
>
>Hungarian
>
>Q. Ők nem beszélnek angolul?
>
>[3PL no speak.3PL English]
>
>They don’t speak English?
>
>
>
>A. De.
>
>[REV]
>
>Yes, they do.
>
>
>
>Data from a previous cross-linguistic investigation on answers to polarity
>questions suggest that polarity-reversing particles are predominantly found in
>Germanic languages (see Moser 2018). This result is congruent with findings in
>Da Milano’s (2004) study on the Mediterranean area. However, currently,
>there is no good cross-linguistic dataset about this feature; consequently, a
>broader assessment of its distribution is not warranted.
>
>For my final project at the master’s level, I want to explore the distribution of
>polarity-reversing particles in a more in-depth study. In order to do this, I will
>make use of all resources available to me (reference grammars, etymological
>dictionaries, language corpora, etc.). Because information on polarity-
>reversing particles is scarce, I greatly appreciate any help.
>
>
>
>References:
>
>Da Milano, Federica. 2004. Le domande sì/no nelle lingue del mediterraneo.
>Archivio Glottologico Italiano, 1. 3–40.
>
>Holmberg, Anders. 2016. The syntax of yes and no. Oxford: Oxford University
>Press.
>
>Moser, Elena V. 2018. Answers to Polarity Questions: A Typological Study.
>Retrieved 2018-09-20, http://www.diva-
>portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1219275/fulltext02.pdf.