Generative approach to the structure of negative sentences in Albanian

• Pages: 57-64

57

Balkan Journal of

Interdisciplinary Research

E-ISSN 2411-9725

ISSN 2410-759X

Vol.10 No.3

December, 2024

Generative approach to the structure of negative sentences in Albanian

MSc. Alketa Kraja

University of Shkodër “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Albania

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bjir-2024-0025

Abstract

This paper examines the components of negative sentences in Albanian from the perspective

of generative linguistics. Main aim is to analyze the functions and positions of negative

elements in the structure of Albanian sentences, providing a comparison with other languages

to highlight the universal features and specicities of Albanian.

The focus of the analysis are the main negative particles such as “nuk”, “s’”, “mos”, and “as”,

which are used to express simple and compound negation, including double and intensive

negation. Elements such as “nuk” and “s’” are positioned immediately before the verb to

express a simple negation and operate in a C-command relation that blocks the placement of

other elements between them and the verb. In the syntactic structure, their position is above

the subject and immediately before the predicate, blocking any other element from being

placed between them and the verb. While “mos” is used mainly in the imperative, subjunctive

and imperative moods, taking position before the modal particle or auxiliary verb to control

the actions of the verb. “As” reinforces negation and can be positioned before the verb or other

constituents to create polynegative structures. Comparisons with languages such as Italian

and English emphasize that Albanian has developed polynegative structures, which allow the

use of multiple negative elements without violating the grammaticality of the sentence. This

analysis suggests that Albanian, through complex negation structures, complies with some of

the universal principles of generative linguistics, while simultaneously maintaining special

features that challenge some assumptions of standard generative syntax.

Keywords: negation, generative linguistics, polynegative Albanian, negation particle, syntactic

structure.

1. Introduction

One of the universal phenomena of languages is negation. Through it, the content of

the entire sentence, or an element of it, the existence of a fact is denied, the desire or request is

expressed not to do something, to prevent an action, a state, the truth of the non-existence of

Research Article

© 2024 Alketa Kraja

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons

Aribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

(hps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)