Negation in Lopit

Negation in Lopit is mostly constructed with the negative verb /ɲa/ ‘not be’ in acomplex clausal construction. This verb is often used in the form /ɪɲa/, with thesame form for first, second and third person. However, when used with modalverbs and in subordinated clauses, it has the pronominal prefixes normally usedin the language. The form /ɪɲa/ appears to be a fused or lexicalised form of theverb /ɲa/, as is the form /xɔɲa/, which is used in coordinated constructions. Mostnegative constructions comprise the negative verb /ɲa/ and the lexical verb, whichis marked with the subordinating prefix and maintains its person marking. Thenegative verb is clause-initial, and the lexical verb is placed after the subject togive a neg SVO word order. It is likely that the negative construction originatedas a bi-clausal construction. Nearly all negation involves complex clausal constructions. Even when verbless predications are negated, the negative verb is mostlyused with a copula verb. The main exception is with non-locative existential predications, which are negated using the negative verb /ɪɲa/ only, with no copula verb.Negative imperative constructions use the verb /idek/, meaning ‘avoid’ or ‘leave’,in combination with a special prefix /xai-/ on the lexical verb. Negative constructions involving an ongoing or persistive activity use the verb, /ɲei/, which is analternate form of /ɲa/.