Characteristic features of expressing negation in English language

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

  10) She also said she would not pass on her findings to the government. [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

11) “I do not have to report back to anybody as such because these meetings that took place, took place out of my own initiative,” she said. [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

12) “I’ve not seen photos of her,” said Ba Aye, a 54-year-old man from the Karen ethnic group. [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

13) She was not allowed more than perfunctory remarks, but she told the refugees, “You are not forgotten.” [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

14) Some in the camp, which was opened in 1984, said they did not know how to interpret the visit, especially since Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi was not able to address the crowd for more than a few minutes. [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

15) “We heard that they might force us to go back to Burma, so we were very sad,” said Seng Nu Mai, a woman from the Kachin ethnic group, which has been holding peace talks with the government has not been involved in fighting in recent months. [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

16) “It’s not possible for us to go back,” she said. “This is not the time.” [34]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

 

Gun Violence Wave Challenges Seattle’s Notion of Security.

By KIRK JOHNSON

Published: June 2, 2012

17) SEATTLE — The worst surge of gun violence in years, culminating last week in six deaths over the course of an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday morning-into-afternoon, has deeply stressed this city, where many neighborhoods normally feel as safe as living rooms. [35]

In this example both functions are realized: there is a negation in the sentence (there is a description of the day which is not remarkable), and the word unremarkable comes from the word remarkable, being its antonym.

18) What connects the dots — in the community debate about overhauling the Police Department, and now in the sense of vulnerability in a city that usually feels tidy, if not a tad smug, behind its liberal ramparts — is a riptide of guns. [35]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

19) In Wednesday’s rampage, a man who had been kicked out of Café Racer near the University of Washington campus, denied service because of his erratic behavior, returned with a 45-caliber semiautomatic pistol. [35]

In this sentence negative is expressed through the word declined which has a negative meaning - to refuse to believe; reject.

20) Widespread libertarian sentiments about personal liberty — and a small not vocal anarchist community ready on short notice to throw epithets, or sometimes rocks, at the police — often bump up against expectations of personal safety. [35]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not and against. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

21) Police officials said that efforts used in some other cities to get guns off the street — notably the New York’s Police Department’s “stop, question and frisk” program, which gives the police latitude to stop people officers think might be carrying a weapon or other contraband — would simply not be accepted here, despite a record of success as measured in seized weapons. [35]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

22) “I’m genuinely afraid, I’m afraid and I don’t want to be, in my neighborhood I want you there. [35]

‘Don’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘do it not’.

23) That effort will go forward, he said, no matter what is settled with federal investigators, who said in a report issued late last year that officers too frequently resorted to force and were poorly trained and supervised. [35]

The use of ‘no’ here is more emphatic than ‘not a’ or ‘not any’ when stating a negative idea.

24) The federal investigation began last year after an officer shot and killed John T Williams, a woodcarver who was a member of a First Nations tribe of Canada and a fixture of downtown Seattle’s street scene Mr. Williams, who sometimes drank heavily and was hard of hearing, was shot in August 2010 after refusing to put down his carving knife. [35]

In this sentence negative is expressed through the word declined which has a negative meaning - to indicate unwillingness to do, accept, give, or allow.

25) A spokesman for the United States attorney’s office in Seattle declined to comment on the negotiations with the city about the changes that investigators have said are needed. [35]

In this sentence negative is expressed through the word declined which is opposite of accept or consent.

26) “The Seattle cops know the city better than the feds do, and they know what needs to be done — but the DOJ comes in here and says, ‘Oh, no, you can’t do this, you can’t do that,’ ” said Dale Todd, 55, who was riding his bicycle on Wednesday around the cordoned-off crime scene near the university. [35]

The use of ‘no’ here is more emphatic than ‘not a’ or ‘not any’ when stating a negative idea. ‘Can’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘can it not’.

27) The King County medical examiner’s office has not yet released details about the other victim, but he was identified by The Seattle Times as Donald Largen, 57. [35]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

28) Two of his advisers did not respond to e-mails seeking comment. [35]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

29) It simply wasn't his job, that was all. [35]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

30) “It’s not possible for us to stay here,” she said. [35]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

 

 

2.3 The usage of negative expressions in science fiction

 

As the next work to investigate we chose science fiction story “The Tunnel Under The World” by Frederik Pohl. It was first published in 1954 in Galaxy magazine. It has often been anthologised, notably appearing in The Golden Age of Science Fiction, edited by Kingsley Amis (1981). It is about a man who keeps living the same advertising-laden day over and over again. [36]

 

The Tunnel Under The World.By Frederik Pohl.

1) His wife was not in the bed next to him. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

2) But she wasn't there. Of course she wasn't, he told himself, looking at the familiar vanity and slipper chair, the uncracked window, the unbuckled wall. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

In this example both functions are realized: there is a negation in the sentence (there is a window which is not cracked), and the word uncracked comes from the word cracked, being its antonym.

3) Still bad dreams weren't unusual, especially bad dreams about explosions.

‘Weren’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘were it not’. [36]

In this example both functions are realized: there is a negation in the sentence (there are dreams which are not usual) and the word unusual comes from the word usual, being its antonym.

4) I didn't actually hear anything. [36]

‘Didn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘did it not’.

5) "Well, no," he said. [36]

The use of ‘no’ here is more emphatic than ‘not a’ or ‘not any’ when stating a negative idea, the author shows the negative reply.

6) Mary was not one of the strong-as-a-man, brave-as-a-tiger women. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

7) It was not necessary, he thought, to tell her all the little details of the dream that made it seem so real. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

8) No need to mention the splintered ribs, and the salt bubble in his throat, and the agonized knowledge that this was death. [36]

The use of ‘no’ here is more emphatic than ‘not a’ or ‘not any’ when stating a negative idea.

9) Shouldn't you hurry? [36]

‘Shouldn’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘should it not’.

10) You don't want to be late to the office." [36]

‘Don’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘do it not’.

11) There wasn't any. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

12) None of the usual crowd was on the bus, so there wasn't anyone Burckhardt could ask about the explosion. [36]

In this example ‘none’ has the same in meaning with ‘no’. But ‘no’ is used right before a singular or plural noun, while ‘none’ is used before the preposition ‘of’ and a determiner or a pronoun.

13) He stopped at the cigar stand in the lobby of his office building, but Ralph wasn't behind the counter. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

14) But what he took from the rack and slid across the counter was an unfamiliar green-and-yellow pack. [36]

In this example both functions are realized: there is a negation in the sentence (there is a thing which is not familiar), and the word unfamiliar comes from the word familiar, being its antonym.

15) Burckhardt said suspiciously, "I never heard of this brand." [36]

Here in the sentence ‘Never’ have some common features in usage with ‘not’, especially when ‘not’ is used as an adverb. However, ‘never’ does not require the dummy auxiliary ‘do’ in forming a sentence.

16) "Of course not. They're something new." Burckhardt hesitated, and the man said persuasively, "Look, try them out at my risk. If you don't like them, bring back the empty pack and I'll refund your money. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above. ‘Don’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘do it not’.

17) They weren't bad, he decided, though he was suspicious of cigarettes that had the tobacco chemically treated in any way. [36]

‘Weren’t’ is an example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘were it not’.

 18) But he didn't think much of Ralph's stand-in; it would raise hell with the trade at the cigar stand if the man tried to give every customer the same high-pressure sales talk. [36]

‘Didn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘did it not’.

19) No, not the usual commercials, Burckhardt realized. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above. The use of ‘no’ here is more emphatic than ‘not a’ or ‘not any’ when stating a negative idea.

20) It wasn't merely that the brands were most unfamiliar; it was a difference in pattern. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

In this example both functions are realized: there is a negation in the sentence (there is a thing which is not familiar), and the word unfamiliar comes from the word familiar, being its antonym.

21) There were jingles with an insistent, bouncy rhythm, about soft drinks he had never tasted. [36]

Here in the sentence ‘Never’ have some common features in usage with ‘not’, especially when ‘not’ is used as an adverb. However, ‘never’ does not require the dummy auxiliary ‘do’ in forming a sentence.

22) It left him a little uneasy. [36]

In this example both functions are realized: there is a negation in the sentence (there is a feeling which is not easy), and the word uneasy comes from the word easy, being its antonym.

23) The commercials were not for familiar brands; there was no feeling of use and custom to them. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above. The use of ‘no’ here is more emphatic than ‘not a’ or ‘not any’ when stating a negative idea.

24) But the office was happily normal-except that Mr. Barth wasn't in. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

25) Miss Mitkin, yawning at the reception desk, didn't know exactly why. [36]

‘Didn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘did it not’.

26) She looked indifferent. [36]

Here indifferent is an antonym of different, and the second function is also expressed by the affix (the appearance is not different).

27) Miss Mitkin shrugged to indicate that that was Burckhardt's problem, not hers. [36]

Here the negation in the sentence is expressed by the negative particle not. It is used to change the meaning of the verb to the opposite, what is very frequent, as it was said above.

28) It wasn't that he couldn't sign the tax returns as well as Barth, he thought resentfully. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ and ‘couldn’t’ are other examples of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’ and ‘could it not’.

29) It simply wasn't his job, that was all; it was a responsibility that Barth, as office manager for Contro Chemicals' downtown office, should have taken. [36]

‘Wasn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘was it not’.

30) He didn't really care much for the people at the factory and the less contact he had with them, the better. [36]

‘Didn’t’ is another example of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms like ‘did it not’.

 

In the example given in the first case the negation is expressed by the particle not, and in the second case unlikely, which affix un- is also one way of expressing the negation in the sentence, is also an antonym for likely.

From the examples above it can be seen that the most popular way of negation is particle not, as it is used in five examples from twelve. The most active of the negative affixes are un-and in- (they are used in three examples each). The least active of the present ones is the suffix less-, it is used only once.

What is also important for the classificational analysis of the negative affixes is to apply different classification to concrete examples of affixes. Thus, when we deal with certain examples, we can see, how the classifications given work. So let us take the examples 1, 6 and 7: unexpectedly, innocuous and relentless.

Unexpectedly: negative affix un-. Morphemic analysis: un-expect-ed-ly. Derivational analysis: expected – unexpectedly. As all the affixes un- is bound, overt, full, segmental, additive, continuous morpheme (the same will be common for other classified affixes). It is a prefix, since it is in preposition to the root. It is a native affix. As it is an adjectival according to the pert of speech it is attached to. We can not speak of the classification based on the criteria of the part of speech of the built word, because it is not only the affix which transfers the word from one part of speech to another. It is an affix of nominative function, because it is not an interfix, and it is regular, as long as it has certain models of combinability (derivational patterns).

Innocuous: negative affix in-. Morphemic analysis: in-nocuous. Derivational analysis: can not be done, the word is non-derived. In- is a prefix. We can not apply to it the classifications, based on the part of speech the affix is attached to and the part of speech if forms, because this word does not have derivatives, it was not built from any other word, it was created as it is. It has a nominative function, and it is regular.

Relentless: negative affix –less. Morphemic analysis: relent-less. Derivational analysis: relent – relentless. It is verbal according to the criteria of the word it is attached to, and adjectival according to the part of speech of the derived word. It is also regular and performs a nominative function.

 

Summing up the written above, we can notice that:

1)  All the negative affixes in context bring the negation into a sentence, and viewed independently, some of them perform the antonymic function.

2)  Though it was stated that un-, dis- and de- are the most popular negative affixes, according to the present examples the most frequent are un- and in-.

3)  Negative affixes are rarely attached to verbs. For the purpose of negation verbs are more often preceded by a particle not and the analytical form is used.

4) ‘Didn’t’, ‘don’t’, ‘wasn’t’, ‘weren’t’, ‘isn’t’ are examples of informal negative expressions and therefore the shortened form ‘n’t’ is used. However, in formal English, the shortened form will be reconverted to their original forms.