How speakers interpret the negative markers no and no … pas in Catalan
Tubau Muntaña, Susagna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Deprez, Viviane (Rutgers University)
Borràs Comes, Joan Manel 1984- (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Espinal, M. Teresa (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

Date:	2018
Abstract:	This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation designed to test the interpretation of the optional doubling of the negative markers no and pas in Expletive Negation (EN) contexts and in preverbal Negative Concord Items (NCI) contexts in Catalan. We show that in EN contexts a negative interpretation of no is preferred to an.
Abstract:	expletive one, with non-negative readings being less widespread than expected from what is described in traditional grammars. In NCI contexts the overt presence of no basically contributes to a single negation interpretation, thus confirming the status of Catalan as a.
Abstract:	Negative Concord language. We also show that, in the absence of discourse environments, pas in both EN and NCI contexts shows a variable interpretation, a characteristic of negative polarity items. Our results indicate that pas does not increase the amount of negative interpretation of no in EN contexts, or of Double Negation in NCI contexts, but is an item dependent on the interpretation of no. We conclude that the strengthening role of Catalan pas (at stage two of Jespersen's cycle), while associated with the expression of metalinguistic negation, does not reverse the truth or falsity of a proposition.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Expletive negation ; Single negation ; No ; Pas ; Catalan
Published in:	Probus, Vol. 30 Núm. 1 (2018) , p. 121-167, ISSN 1613-4079

DOI: 10.1515/probus-2017-0008

Post-print 42 p, 1.0 MB

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