On order and prohibition
The present article examines the claim in the literature that the negative first principle, i.e. the preference
for the order negation-verb to verb-negation, is stronger in negative imperatives (or prohibitives) than in negative declaratives.
To test this hypothesis, we develop – in contrast to earlier research – a systematic, three-way classification of languages, which
is also operationalized as a ranking capturing the overall level of strength of the principle. This classification is applied to a
genealogically and geographically balanced sample of 179 languages. In addition, we consider the role of several factors known to
correlate with the position of negation – like its form, constituent order and areality. However, no cross-linguistic evidence is
found for any difference in negation’s position between negative imperatives and negative declaratives. We therefore conclude that
the hypothesis should be rejected.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Methodology
- 2.1Objects of study
- 2.2Sample
- 2.3Analytical framework
- 2.4Statistics
- 3.Results
- 3.1In general
- 3.2Reference point
- 3.3Macro-area
- 3.4Constituent order
- 3.5Form
- 4.Conclusion
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Abbreviations
-
References
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