/ka-/ negative prefix of Choswateng Tibetan of Khams (Shangri-La, Yunnan)
Choswateng Tibetan, spoken in the south-eastern corner of the Khams region, has three negative prefixes: /ȵi-/,
/ma-/, and /ka-/. The first two are derived from two morphemes which are ubiquitous across Tibetic languages, whereas the third is
a newly generated negative prefix found in Choswateng Tibetan as well as its surrounding dialects belonging to the rGyalthang
subgroup of Khams and its neighbours. This article describes the morphological feature and use of the prefix /ka-/ in Choswateng
Tibetan. Morphologically, the prefix /ka-/ can co-occur with most verbs except for the copulative verb /ˊreʔ/. Pragmatically, the
prefix /ka-/ occurs and is restricted in the following ways: (1) expresses ‘definitely not’ for statements regarding the self, and
‘possibly not, judging from the speaker’s knowledge’ for statements regarding others; (2) co-occurs with egophoric and sensory
evidentials; (3) is not used for a negation of accomplished aspect; and (4) does not deprive the function of the other two
negative prefixes. These two analyzes are mutually related; it is suggested that the reason why /ka-/ cannot co-occur with the
copulative verb /ˊreʔ/ is triggered by a contradiction of implied evidentials: /ka-/ is related to egophoric and sensory, whereas
/ˊreʔ/ is statemental. Following the description of its use, we discuss the origin of /ka-/, claiming a possible
grammaticalization from an interrogative word gar (‘where’ in Literary Tibetan and common throughout the
rGyalthang area) in a rhetorical question to a prefix. Referring to several morphological features of /ka-/, we consider its
grammaticalization as ongoing, but most advanced in Choswateng Tibetan.
Article outline
-
1.Introduction
- 2.Morphology
- 3.Description of the usage of /ka-/
- 3.1Copulative verbs
- 3.2Existential verbs
- 3.3Lexical verbs
- 3.3.1Action verbs
- 3.3.2Non-action verbs
- 3.3.3Auxiliaries
- 3.4Summay and remarks
- 4.Some remarks regarding the origin of /ka-/
- 5.Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
-
References
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