(Meadow Mari)

ProhNonImpNegSpec

ProhNonImpNegSpec: Prohibitive verb forms differ from affirmative imperative verb forms, with negation expressed using a different strategy than in negative declarative sentences.

(1)təjpečə-mpetər-et.
youfenceACCclose2SG
’You close the fence.’ (A. S.)

(2)pečə-mpetəre,vol’əkə-n-želek.
fenceACCclose.IMP.2SGanimalNEGDES3SGleave.CNG
’Close the fence, lest the animals should escape!’ (TS 1978: 259)

(3)təjmo-lano-tjü?
youwhatDATNEG2SGdrink.CNG
’Why don’t you drink?’ (A. S.)

(4)jüštövüd-əmi-tjü!
coldwaterACCNEG.IMP2SGdrink.CNG
’Don’t drink cold water!’ (Riese et al. 2022: 241)

In Meadow Mari, the second person singular form of affirmative imperative mood is expressed by the bare verb stem (2). In Eastern dialects the imperative meaning is expressed by stress shift: the position of stress moves from the last syllable to the first. (Bereczki 2002: 99). Negative imperatives are formed by adding the negative particle it, as opposed to the negative particle ot used in indicative negatives (3)‒(4) (Riese et al. 2022: 241) (Saarinen 2015: 335).

Author: Bogáta Timár


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