Negation in clause combining in Kazakh

Abstract

This paper examines the function of negation in discourse units containing more than one clause in Kazakh. When clauses are combined through coordination or subordination, negation can be formally marked in all linked clauses to deny the proposition described in the given clauses. The verbal predicates are negated by the bound morpheme -MA. The non-verbal predicates are negated either with the negative particle emes, ‘not’, or with the existential negation žoq, ‘non-existent’. As for the distinction between these three negations, I argue that -MA is an internal negative expressing a weak denial, whereas emes and žoq are external negatives expressing a strong denial and absolute non-existence respectively, in terms of their pragmatic function in discourse. With regard to the scope of negation in clause combining, the coordinate and subordinate clauses have a narrow negative scope, whereas chain clauses tend to have a wide negative scope.