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Article published In: Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area
Vol. 49:1 (2026) ► pp.61–82

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The expression of negation in southern Tujia

A diachronic perspective

ORCiD logo with link | Hunan University
ORCiD logo with link | Shenzhen University
ORCiD logo with link | Hunan University
Published online: 16 February 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ltba.25009.lu
Abstract
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive description of the forms and distribution of negation expressions in southern Tujia (Tibeto-Burman), an endangered language spoken in southern China, from a diachronic perspective and comparing the negation forms with those in northern Tujia. Southern Tujia employs different negators, some of which are disappearing, while some new ones are being introduced. Furthermore, negation is sometimes preverbal, sometimes postverbal. We analyze this complex situation from a historical perspective, in which some aspects can be explained as continuations from Proto-Tibeto-Burman, and others as innovations, based on grammaticalization, semantic adaptation and borrowing, which have led to the present complex state of affairs. These kinds of changes can be compared to developments in other languages in the world, and therefore contribute to typological research on the expression and diachronic development of negation.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.General information on Tujia
  • 3.Negators in southern Tujia: mai13ji35, ta33, mjɛ13, kı55lie35, tshi21, la55, kı21ɲio21
    • 3.1Negation in imperative constructions: [ta33+ verb]
    • 3.2Negative existential constructions: [ta+EX.], [mai+EX.], kı55 lie35
    • 3.3Negative declarative constructions: [V+maiji], [V+mjɛ], [la+V], kı21ɲio21, [tsi+V]/[V+tsi]
    • 3.4A brief summary of negators in southern Tujia
  • 4.The diachrony of negators: Internal and external derivation
    • 4.1The negative-existential cycle: From negative existential to standard negation: mai13ji35 > mjɛ13
    • 4.2Word order shift: From pre-head to post-head
    • 4.3The development of new negation markers
      • 4.3.1kı55lie35
      • 4.3.2la55
      • 4.3.3kı21ɲio21
      • 4.3.4tsi21
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Abbreviations
  • Notes
  • References
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