Minhast: Difference between revisions

Minhast has a standard negator particle ''hatā' '' ("no", "not") that comes clause-initially.  It may be joined to the clause via preposed-''wa='' binding, or it may remain independent.  The verbal prefix ''ta-'' is also used to negate clauses.  ''Hatā' '' typically appears as a response to yes-no questions.  ''Hatā' '' may co-occur with the ''ta-'' marked verb; if so ''hatā' '' is followed by a pause, unless it is joined to the clause via ''wa='' binding.  Finally, the negative existential particle ''hambin'' may be used to negate the clause, in which case it must be bound to the clause by ''wa='', and the verb must be marked by the prefix ''ta-''.  The ''hambin''-construction is particularly emphatic, and is best translated as "There is no one who..." or "There is nothing that...".  An interesting thing to note is that the ''hambin''-construction operates on an S/A pivot, demonstrating split ergativity at the syntactic level.  The positive counterpart of the ''hambin''-construction, i.e. the ''matti''-construction, also demonstrates syntactic split ergativity as it too operates on an S/A pivot.