Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
in Bamileke Medumba
Hermann Keupdjio & Martina Wiltschko
University of British Columbia
[email protected] / [email protected]
There are 2 strategies for deriving negatively biased questions:
Strategy 1:
Dedicated particles for negatively biased questions
Strategy 2:
(Some) positively biased questions + negation
Medumba…
… is a Grassfields’ Bantu Bamileke language
… is spoken in the Western region of Cameroon.
Preview of the talk
•
Standard Polar Questions cannot be negated
(§2)
•
Biased questions are derived by dedicated particles
i)
Dedicated particle for negative bias
ii)
Dedicated particles for positive bias
(§3)
(§4)
•
Biased questions can be negated
i)
Positively biased questions + negation
… sometimes results in negative bias
… sometimes results in positive bias
ii)
Negatively biased questions + negation
… results in positive bias
(§5)
(§6)
Keupdjio & Wiltschko
1
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Introduction:Polarquestionsandnegation
In English polar questions can be negated and if they are, the result is a biased question.
A negative polar question as in (1) can have two readings
(Ladd 1981; see also Büring and Gunlogson 2000, Romero and Han 2004, Asher and Reese 2007)
(1) &Doesn’t he drink beer?
i)
Is it the case that he does not drink beer?
= INSIDE/LOW NEG
ii)
Isn’t it the case that he drinks beer?
= OUTSIDE/HIGH NEG
Forcing inside negation reading with either
(2) Doesn’t he drink beer (either)?
[Inside Neg = negative bias]
S
Neg
Forcing the outside negation reading with too
(3) Doesn’t he drink beer (too)?
Neg
[Outside Neg = positive bias]
S
Empirical goal of the talk:
Exploring ways of expressing biased questions in Medumba questions
2
Keupdjio & Wiltschko
2
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
PolarQuestionsandNegationinMedumba
In Medumba, polar questions cannot be negated
Hence negative bias cannot be derived by negating polar questions
2.1
UnbiasedpolarquestionsinMedumba
In Medumba unbiased polar questions are formed by means of the sentence-final particle kí.
(4) Context:
Mary doesn't know whether John has a dog. One day she runs into him and asks him:
ú ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́ kí
2SG have dog Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
(5) Context of use for unbiased polar questions:
Speaker (Spkr) does not express bias towards either believing p or not
S-attitude
¬Bel (p)
Bel (p)
(6) The S-final particle kí
FP
FP
S
[…]
F
-ki
2.2
S
NegationinMedumba
To negate a proposition in Medumba, the Neg particle kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ is used:
(7) Nùmí kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Numi Neg have dog
‘Numi doesn't have a dog’
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
2.3
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
UnbiasedpolarquestionscannotbenegatedinMedumba
Unlike in English, a negative bias cannot be introduced by means of negating the neutral question.
Negating an unbiased polar question with the negative marker kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ results in ungrammaticality.
(8) *ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
kí
2SG.S Neg have dog
Prt
[intended: Don't you have dog?]
(9) kí-questions cannot be negated
FP
-ki
S
*NEG
So how ARE biased questions derived in Medumba?
3
Adedicatedparticlefornegativebias.
Negatively biased question are derived with a dedicated particle (áá)
(10)
Context:
John is not a ‘dog person’ and has always claimed that he will never get a dog.
One day, he changed his mind and decided to buy a dog. Then he has to inform his
friend Mary. He runs into her and tells her that he has a new dog. Mary responds:
a.
↓
ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́
2SG.S have dog
“You have a dog?”
b.
#ú ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́ kí
2SG have dog Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
áá
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
(11)
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
The S-final particle áá
FP
FP
S
[…]
F
S
-áá
(12)
Context of use for negatively biased polar questions:
Spkr expresses bias towards not believing p
S-attitude
Bel (p)
•
•
The particle that derives negatively biased questions (áá) is unrelated to the particle that
derives unbiased polar questions (kí).
The two particles are in complementary distribution.
(13)
4
¬Bel (p)
a.
*ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
kí áá
2SG.S have dog
Prt Prt
b.
*ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S have dog
áá kí
Prt Prt
Dedicatedparticlesforpositivebias
Positively biased question are derived with dedicated particles.
(14)
Context of use for positively biased polar questions:
Spkr expresses bias towards believing p
S-attitude
Bel (p)
¬Bel (p)
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
•
Medumba has five distinct strategies to express a positively biased polar question
•
Three variables are manipulated: the i) source, ii) timing and iii) strength of the bias.
(Keupdjio & Wiltschko 2015)
Ø With regard to the source, the bias can be based either on a previous conversation
with the Addressee or on some other type of situation.
Ø With regard to the timing, the biased can be based on a past situation or on a
present situation.
Ø With regard to the strength, the Speaker can have a weak or strong bias.
(15)
Differences in context of use
Timing of bias
Source of bias
Strength of bias
S-attitude
Bel (¬p)
Bel (p)
4.1
Positive bias based on previous conversation
Source of positive Spkr-bias: previous conversation with Adr
Strength:
weak:
kʉ̀ […]S-á
strong:
[…]S-á
4.1.1
Weak positive bias: kʉ̀ […]S-á
(16)
Context:
John tells his friend Mary that his is going to buy a dog. Mary congratulates him.
A few days later, Mary runs into John on the street. Mary isn’t sure whether
John bought the dog they talked about in a previous conversation. Now just
wants to check whether John bought the dog or not. So, Mary asks:
a.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S buy dog
“Do you buy the dog?”
kí
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
b.
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
áá
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
↓
kʉ̀ ú
ʒýn
mbhʉ́ á
Prt 2SG.S buy
dog Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
c.
d.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
á
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
e.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́ á
Prt
2SG.S buy dog Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
f.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S buy dog
“Did you buy the dog?”
g.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́ kɔ̄
2SG.S buy dog Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
Source:
previous
conversation
Strength:
weak
S-attitude
¬ Bel(p)
Bel (p)
4.1.2
Strong positive bias: […]S-á
(17)
Context:
John tells his friend Mary that his is going to buy a dog. Mary congratulates him.
A few days later, Mary runs into John on the street. She has a strong feeling that
John bought the dog they talked about in a previous conversation and is very
exited to hear about it. So she asks:
a.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
kí
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Do you buy the dog?”
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
b.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
áá
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
c.
#kʉ̀ ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
á
Prt 2SG.S buy dog Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
d.
ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
á
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Did you buy the dog(we talked about)?”
e.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́ á
Prt 2SG.S buy dog Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
f.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S buy dog
“Did you buy the dog?”
g.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́ kɔ̄
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
Source:
previous
conversation
Strength:
strong
S-attitude
Bel (p)
4.2
Source:
Timing:
Strength:
¬ Bel (p)
Positive bias based on situation
Situation (as opposed to conversation with Adr)
Past kʉ̀lá […]S-á
Present
(applies to present situation only):
§ Strong (direct evidence):
kʉ̀lá […]S
§ Weak (indirect evidence):
[…]S-kɔ̄
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
4.2.1
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Bias based on past situation: kʉ̀lá[…]S-á
(18)
Context:
John tells Mary that their common friend Greg has a new dog. Mary is really
happy for Greg. The next day Mary runs into Greg on the street (the dog is not
there). So Mary asks:
a.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
kí
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
b.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
áá
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
c.
# kʉ̀ ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
á
Prt 2SG.S
have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
d.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
e.
kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
f.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
g.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́ kɔ̄
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
Source:
situation
Prt
á
Prt
á
Prt
Timing:
past
S-attitude
Bel (p)
¬ Bel (p)
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
4.2.2
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Bias based on present situation
4.2.2.1 Strong evidence: kʉ̀lá […]S
(19)
Context:
John asks Mary whether their common friend Greg has a dog. Mary says she has
no idea. The next day Mary runs into Greg on the street. Greg is with a dog. So
Mary asks:
a.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
kí
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
b.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
áá
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
c.
# kʉ̀ ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
á
Prt 2SG.S have dog Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
d.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
á
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
e.
↓
#kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
f.
kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
g.
↓
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́ kɔ̄
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
á
Prt
Timing:
present
Source:
situation
Strength
strong
S-attitude
Bel (p)
¬ Bel (p)
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
4.2.2.2 Weak/indirect evidence: […]S-kɔ̄
Spkr bias is based on weak or indirect evidence.
(20)
Context:
John asks Mary whether their common friend Greg has a dog. Mary says she has
no idea. The next day Mary runs into Greg on the street (Greg is carrying a
leash). So Mary asks:
a.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
kí
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
b.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
áá
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
c.
# kʉ̀ ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S
have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
d.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
á
2SG.S have dog
Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
e.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́ á
Prt 2SG.S have dog Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
f.
↓
#kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
g.
ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́ kɔ̄
2SG.S have dog Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
á
Prt
Timing:
present
Source:
situation
Strength
weak
S-attitude
Bel (p)
¬ Bel (p)
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
4.3
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
The logic of positively biased questions
(21)
(22)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
kʉ̀
[…]S-á
[…]S-á
kʉ̀lá […]S-á
kʉ̀lá […]S
[…]S-kɔ̄
weak pos. bias based on previous conversation
strong pos. bias based on previous conversation
pos. bias based on past situation
strong evidence based on present situation
weak evidence based on present situation
Polar questions
neutral
kí
positively biased
previous
conversation
weak
kʉ́+ á
situation
strong
á
past
kʉ́lá + á
weak
kɔ̄
present
strong
kʉ́lá
FP
kʉ̀
kʉ̀lá
S
-á
-kɔ̄
12
Keupdjio & Wiltschko
5
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Positivelybiasedquestionscanbenegated
Unlike unbiased polar questions, positively biased polar questions can be negated.
FP
kʉ̀
kʉ̀lá
-á
-kɔ̄
S
NEG
5.1
Positivebiasbasedonsituation+negation
By negating a question with positive bias based on previous situation, the bias is towards not
believing the negative p. Hence this still derives a positive bias (not believing negative p
means believing p).
S-attitude
¬Bel (¬p)
Bel (¬p)
(23)
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day while
chatting, John tells Mary that Greg doesn’t have a dog. The next day Mary runs
into Greg on the street. So Mary asks:
a.
kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
b.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
á
Prt
á
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
(24)
(25)
à
à
à
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day Mary
goes to Greg’s house and is so exited to meet Greg’s dog. But when she arrives,
she realizes that there is no dog at Greg’s place. So Mary asks:
a.
kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
b.
#kʉ̀lá ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S have dog
“Do you have a dog?”
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day, a big
dog show is organized in the neighborhood and only dog’s owners are supposed to
enter the gate. When Mary arrives, she is surprised to see Greg standing outside
the gate. So she asks:
a.
ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
b.
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́ kɔ̄
2SG.S have dog Prt
“Do you have a dog?”
kɔ̄
Prt
Positive bias towards a negative proposition is used when Spkr has had a long-standing
belief that p (positive bias), but has encountered recent evidence that ¬p.
In this context, Spkr is asking whether it’s true that not p
This differs from questions with the negative bias particle –áá (repeated as (26)a from
(10) above) which is used if there is a negative bias towards p. Crucially in this context
the [positive bias + negation] strategy is infelicitous (26)b.
(26)
Context:
John is not a ‘dog person’ and has always claimed that he will never get a dog.
One day, he changed his mind and decided to buy a dog. Then he has to inform his
friend Mary. He runs into her and tells her that he has a new dog. Mary responds:
a.
b.
↓
ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́ áá
2SG.S have dog Prt
“You have a dog?”
#kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
á
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
c.
#kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
d.
#ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
kɔ̄
Prt
à Conversely in the context where the [positive bias+negation] strategy is well-formed ((27,
28&29)a, repeated from (23, 24&25)a above) the negative bias strategy is ill-formed
((27,28&29)b )
(27)
(28)
(29)
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day while
chatting, John tells Mary that Greg doesn’t have a dog. The next day Mary runs
into Greg on the street. So Mary asks:
a.
kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
b.
↓
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́ áá
2SG.S have dog Prt
“You have a dog?”
á
Prt
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day Mary
goes to Greg’s house and is so exited to meet Greg’s dog. But when she arrives,
she realizes that there is no dog at Greg’s place. So Mary asks:
a.
kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
b.
↓
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́ áá
2SG.S have dog Prt
“You have a dog?”
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day, a big
dog show is organized in the neighborhood and only dog’s owners are supposed to
enter the gate. When Mary arrives, she is surprised to see Greg standing outside
the gate. So she asks:
a.
ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
kɔ̄
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
b.
(30)
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
↓
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́ áá
2SG.S have dog Prt
“You have a dog?”
Two different negative biases
a.
Negatively biased questions (-áá):
Spkr expresses bias towards not believing p
S-attitude
Bel (p)
b.
Positive bias + negation
Spkr expresses bias towards not believing not p
(despite recent evidence for not p)
Bel (¬p)
5.2
¬Bel (p)
S-attitude
¬Bel (¬p)
Positivebiasbasedonconversation+negation=positivebias
By negating a question with positive biased based on previous conversation, there is a positive
bias towards believing not p.
S-attitude
Bel (¬p)
¬Bel (¬p)
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Note that the positive bias towards believing not p differs from having a negative bias towards
believing p. The latter is now possible in this context
(31)
(32)
Context:
John tells his friend Mary that his is not going to buy a dog. A few days later,
Mary runs into John on the street. Mary isn’t sure whether John has changed
his mind or not. Now she just wants to check whether John didn't buy the dog
as he said. So, Mary asks:
a.
kʉ̀ ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́ á
Prt 2SG.S Neg buy dog Prt
“So did you not buy a dog?”
b.
#kʉ̀ ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́ á
Prt 2SG.S buy dog Prt
“Did you buy a dog?”
c.
↓
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́
2SG.S have dog
“You have a dog?”
áá
Prt
Context:
John tells his friend Mary that his is not going to buy a dog. A few days later,
Mary runs into John on the street. She has a strong feeling that John didn't buy
the dog as John always keeps his words. So she asks:
a.
ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
á
2SG.S Neg buy dog
Prt
“So did you not buy the dog?”
b.
#ú
ʒýn ↓mbhʉ́
á
2SG.S buy dog
Prt
“Did you buy the dog?”
c.
↓
#ú
ɣʉ̀ʉ́
mbhʉ́
2SG.S have dog
“You have a dog?”
áá
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
6
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Negativelybiasedquestionscanbenegated
(33)
Negatively biased questions can be negated
FP
-áá
S
NEG
S-attitude
¬Bel (¬p)
Bel (¬p)
(34)
Paraphrase:
I don’t believe that not p
= I believe that p.
(35)
Context:
Greg is a dog lover and Mary has always thought that he has a dog. One day, while
chatting with Mary, Greg says that it is unfortunate that he doesn't have a dog; else
he would have attended the big dog show organized in their neighborhood. Then
Mary asks surprised:
a.
ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don’t you have a dog?”
áá
Prt
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Keupdjio & Wiltschko
(36)
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
The difference between negative bias and reversed positive bias
a.
Negatively biased questions based on negative (-áá):
Spkr expresses bias towards not believing not p
S-attitude
Bel (¬p)
b.
¬Bel (¬p)
Positive bias + negation
Spkr also expresses bias towards not believing not p
But evidence for not p is based on some previous situation
Source:
situation
S-attitude
¬ Bel (¬p)
Bel (¬p)
b.
#kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
c.
#kʉ̀lá ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
Prt 2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
d.
#ú
kʉ́ʉ̀ʔ ɣʉ̀ʉ́ ↓mbhʉ́
2SG.S Neg have dog
“Don't you have a dog?”
á
Prt
kɔ̄
Prt
19
Keupdjio & Wiltschko
7
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Conclusion
7.1
BiasedquestionsinMedumbaarederivedviadedicatedparticles
(37)
The logic of Polar Questions in Medumba
Polar questions
neutral
kí
biased
negative
áá
positive
previous
conversation
weak
kʉ́+ á
7.2
strong
á
situation
present
past
kʉ́lá + á
weak
kɔ̄
strong
kʉ́lá
Positive and negative biases come in different guises and are expressed with
differentstrategies
[…]S-kí
[…]S-áá
kʉ̀ […]S-á
[…]S-á
kʉ̀lá […]S -á
kʉ̀lá […]S
[…]S-kɔ̄
*[neg…]S-kí
[neg…]S-áá
kʉ̀ [neg…]S-á
[neg…]S-á
kʉ̀lá [neg…]S-á
kʉ̀lá [neg…]S
[neg…]S-kɔ̄
p ¬p Bel (p)
ü
û
û
û
û
ü
û
ü
û
ü
û
ü
û
ü
¬Bel (p)
û
ü
û
û
û
û
û
Bel (¬p)
û
û
û
û
û
û
û
¬Bel (¬p)
û
û
û
û
û
û
û
n/a
û
û
û
û
û
û
n/a
û
û
û
û
û
û
n/a
û
ü
ü
û
û
û
n/a
ü
û
û
ü
ü
ü
n/a
û
û
û
û
û
û
20
Keupdjio & Wiltschko
7.3
Two strategies for deriving negatively biased questions
Remainingquestion:Whycan’tneutralquestionsbenegated?
•
Neutral questions behave like Mandarin A-not-A questions in that they cannot be negated
(38)
A-not-A question: p ¬p
a.
John he bu he pijiu?
John drink not drink beer
“Does John drink beer?”
b.
John he pijiu haishi bu he pijiu?
John drink beer asp or not drink beer
(lit.)Does John drink beer or not drink beer?
Merlin Yang, p.c.
Like in Medumba, negative bias has to be expressed with a dedicated S-final particle in
Mandarin
(39)
John bu he pijiu
ma?
John not drink beer prt
Doesn't John drink beer?
Merlin Yang, p.c.
• A-not-A questions are not compatible with the negative bias particle
(40)
a.
*John he bu he pijiu ma?
John drink not drink beer prt
“Does John drink beer?”
•
b.
*John he pijiu haishi bu he pijiu ma?
John drink beer asp
not drink beer prt
(lit.)Does John drink beer or not drink beer?
Merlin Yang, p.c.
•
•
The ban of negation in unbiased […]S-kí questions may be an instance of blocking:
Unlike in English, Medumba (and Mandarin) have dedicated strategies for negatively and
positively biased questions.
References
Asher, Nicholas and Reese, Brian. 2007. Intonation and discourse: Biased questions.
Interdisciplinary Studies on Information Structure, 8, 1–38.
Büring, D. and Gunlogson, C.: 2000, Aren’t positive and negative polar questions the same?,
UCSC/UCLA.
Keupdjio, Hermann and Wiltschko, Martina. 2015. Polar questions in Bamileke Medumba.
WOCAL 8 presentation.
Ladd, Robert D. 1981. A first look at the semantics and pragmatics of negative questions and tag
questions. In Papers from the 17th regional meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society,
164-171.
Romero, Maribel, and Chung-hye Han. 2004. On negative yes/no questions. Linguistics and
Philosophy 27: 609-658.
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