Negation: Difference between revisions

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To get the right meaning, we have to instead say
To get the right meaning, we have to instead say
{{Example|Bu tıeqbıao sá neqkoı.|Some wanderers are non-lost.}}
{{Example|Bu tıeqbıao sá neqkoı.|Some wanderers are non-lost.}}
Or we can use the verb {{t|sahu}} "to be false":
{{Example|Sahu, ꝡä tıeqbıao tú neqkoı.|It's false that each wanderer is lost.}}
{{Example|Sahu, ꝡä tıeqbıao tú neqkoı.|It's false that each wanderer is lost.}}



Revision as of 15:59, 29 August 2023

In Toaq, negation is expressed with bu, which can come before tenses, aspects, or verbs.

Scope

The scope interactions with quantifiers can be surprising. Remember that quantifiers "float up" to the top of the clause, above bu.

If we want to say "not all those who wander are lost", we might accidentally say:

Bunot tıeqbıaolost each neqkoıwanderer.
= Tú neqkoı nä, bu tıeqbıao néqkoı.

Each wanderer is non-lost. 😱

To get the right meaning, we have to instead say

Bu tıeqbıao sá neqkoı.
Some wanderers are non-lost.

Or we can use the verb sahu "to be false":

Sahu, ꝡä tıeqbıao tú neqkoı.
It's false that each wanderer is lost.

Here is how bu interacts with quantifiers and tenses:

Mala bu chuq tú raı báq nam.
For each X: X has ever not-eaten bread.

Bu mala chuq tú raı báq nam.
For each X: X hasn't ever eaten bread.