Use of indefinite negative pronouns (Northern Mansi)

DbleNeg: Negation is expressed through the use of both a negative pronoun and a negative predicate.

(1) nēm-χotjut at joχt-ǝs.

nobody not come-pst.3sg

‘Nobody came’ (S. D.)

(2) nē-mat mā at χōnti.

none ground not find.prs.3sg

‘He finds no place’ (Kálmán 1976: 68)

In Northern Mansi, the indefinite negative pronouns require double negation (1-2).

Author:

Szilvia Németh