Revisiting postverbal standard negation in the Jê languages

Abstract In the Jê languages standard negators tend to take a post-verbal position. This paper asks why this should be case and therefore discusses earlier accounts relating either negative verbs or privative postpositions. We argue that these do not have exclude each other. particular, we propose an existential negator can reanalyzed as one. also if origin of is verb with meaning ‘finish’, may dealing scenario similar ‘Negative Existential Cycle’. both, denies existence state affairs then turns into negator. But whereas in Negative Cycle non-existence modelled on object, ‘new’ derives from fact process event has come end.