Negation in Lopit

Negation in Lopit is mostly constructed with the negative verb /ɲa/ ‘not be’ in a
complex clausal construction. This verb is often used in the form /ɪɲa/, with the
same form for first, second and third person. However, when used with modal
verbs and in subordinated clauses, it has the pronominal prefixes normally used
in the language. The form /ɪɲa/ appears to be a fused or lexicalised form of the
verb /ɲa/, as is the form /xɔɲa/, which is used in coordinated constructions. Most
negative constructions comprise the negative verb /ɲa/ and the lexical verb, which
is marked with the subordinating prefix and maintains its person marking. The
negative verb is clause-initial, and the lexical verb is placed after the subject to
give a neg SVO word order. It is likely that the negative construction originated
as a bi-clausal construction. Nearly all negation involves complex clausal
constructions. Even when verbless predications are negated, the negative verb is mostly
used with a copula verb. The main exception is with non-locative existential
predications, which are negated using the negative verb /ɪɲa/ only, with no copula verb.
Negative imperative constructions use the verb /idek/, meaning ‘avoid’ or ‘leave’,
in combination with a special prefix /xai-/ on the lexical verb. Negative
constructions involving an ongoing or persistive activity use the verb, /ɲei/, which is an
alternate form of /ɲa/.