[Lingtyp] Expletive derivational negation

[ROBERT Stephane]

Dear Joe,


Personally, I do not regard these uses of lexical negation as expletive but rather as contributing a construction with a high-degree value that can be paraphrased as follows: 'this object is (valuable) to a degree that I (speaker) cannot (even) express', or 'no matter how hard I try to estimate how much X is P, I can't express it' (P for predicate).

Note that in the examples I can analyse (Germanic, English and also French 'in-estim-able'), this lexical negation is combined with a suffix (cf. Germ. -bar, Eng. < Fr. -able) which contributes to the meaning of the construction because it expresses evaluation about capacity ‘which can be P’ .

Best

Stéphane ROBERT

https://llacan.cnrs.fr

________________________________
De : Lingtyp <lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> de la part de Hannu Tommola via Lingtyp <lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org>
Envoyé : vendredi 16 août 2024 11:03
À : <LINGTYP at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>; Pun Ho Lui
Objet : Re: [Lingtyp] Expletive derivational negation

Hi,

there seems to be a tendency to lexicalize 'invaluable' in an intensifying non-negative meaning (cf. Russian bes-cennyj 'invaluable, priceless', which has an obsolete meaning 'valueless' = ne-cennyj). This tendency goes back to the verb 'value' that has, in various languages, both the meanings 1) 'estimate', 2) 'regard/estimate highly'. Cf. also German un-schätzbar 'invaluable' < schätzen 1. 'to regard highly, respect', 2. 'value, estimate'; the same applies to  Swedish o-skattbar < (upp)skatta.

Best wishes,
Hannu Tommola
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Lähettäjä: Lingtyp <lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> käyttäjän Pun Ho Lui via Lingtyp <lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org> puolesta
Lähetetty: perjantai 16. elokuuta 2024 3.22
Vastaanottaja: <LINGTYP at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG> <lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org>
Aihe: [Lingtyp] Expletive derivational negation

Dear linguists,

I am recently interested in lexical items that consist of a derivational negative affix which may not contribute a negative meaning (i.e. being expletive).

For instance, in-valuable ~ valuable. Other possible examples would be 無價 ‘invaluable [lit. NEG value’ in Mandarin, and sewashi-nai ‘restless’ ~ sewashii ‘busy’ in Japanese.

I have looked into a number of (decent) grammar descriptions but have no luck.

I am wondering if you know of any language with similar items.

Thank you.

Warmest,
Pun Ho Lui Joe
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