Lesson 8.2: Negation

Negation

The Timucua language has several ways of expressing negation.

The suffix -ti

The suffix -ti is quite common, and it is used to negate the action or quality described. For example, the verb boho means to believe, bohoti means “not to believe.” This suffix can also appear with adjectives, so if tera means good, terati means “not good.” Click on the Timucua words to wear them spoken.

uqua = “to take” 

uquati = “not taken”

he = “to eat” 

heti = “not to eat” 

Quick Recap

Last lesson we introduced the prefixes and suffixes that helped mark first, second, and third person. ni-, chi-, and -mo and -ma, respectively. The suffix -ti is added to these constructs. For example, to say “I did not live,” you would say nibalutetila. Note: Notice that the –ti negation comes after the default tense marker –te. Click on the Timucua words to wear them spoken.

nibalubotetila = we do not live

chibalutetila= you do not live

chibalubotetila= you all do not live

balutamotila= they do not live

Beyond verbs

The suffix -ti can also be added to adjectives to negate them.

tera = good	terati = not good
yayi = strong	yayiti = not strong

Note: -ti can also affect the meaning of words next to it. Chitaco, which is usually glossed as “who” becomes “no one” when negated. Hachibueno means “thing,” but when it is negated it means “nothing” in context. 

Other Negations

There are other ways to express negation in Timucua. –atiqua means “must not” and is primarily used in commands. The verb aneco means “be unable” or “prevent” and also carries a negative meaning. Click on the Timucua words to wear them spoken.

Bohotiqua (boho + atiqua)= you must not believe

Nurabuatiqua (nurabo + atiqua)= you must not lie

Soba heno nianecala (he + aneco)= I cannot eat meat.

Exercises 

Find the negation suffix in the following sentences: