NEGATION

Sentential negation in Yiddish is indicated by the use of the single
negative particle nit/nisht (different forms are dialectical
variation). The unmarked position is after the finite verb. This is
illustrated below:

# Unmarked sentential negation on intrans verb 
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: g
Phenomena: {negation}
Der man zingt nit.
Der man zing-t nit.
DEF.NOM.M man sing-1SG NEG.
The man isn't reading the book.

# Unmarked sentential negation on transitive verb 
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: g
Phenomena: {negation}
Der man leyent nit dos bukh.
Der man leyen-t nit dos bukh.
DEF.NOM.M man read-1SG NEG DEF.ACC.N book.
The man isn't reading the book.

# nisht is a dialectical variant of nit
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: g
Phenomena: {negation}
Der man leyent nisht dos bukh.
Der man leyen-t nisht dos bukh.
DEF.NOM.M man read-1SG NEG DEF.ACC.N book.
The man isn't reading the book.

It is possible to use nit in front of constituents other than the
verb. This still functionas as sentential negation but serves to place
the focus on the particular constituent. Examples of placing nit in 
front of subject, direct object and adverb are below:

# alternative focus of sentential negation 
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: g
Phenomena: {negation}
Nit der man leyent dos bukh.
Nit der man leyen-t dos bukh.
NEG DEF.NOM.M man read-1SG DEF.ACC.N book.
The man isn't reading the book.
# (=Someone else is reading the book.) 

# alternative focus of sentential negation
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: g
Phenomena: {negation}
Nit haynt der man leyent dos bukh.
Nit haynt der man leyen-t dos bukh.
NEG today DEF.NOM.M man read-1SG DEF.ACC.N book.
The man isn't reading the book today.
# (=The man is reading the book another day.) 

When the sentence involves some combination of auxiliary/modal +
infinitive/past participle, nit occurs directly after the auxiliary in
spoken or informal language, and directly before the infinitive in
formal written language. For the fragment of Yiddish we are dealing
with, it is likely that these situations will always
coincide. Placement of nit with respect to auxiliary is shown below.

# placement of nit with auxiliaries 
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: g
Phenomena: {negation}
Der man vet nit geleyent dos bukh.
Der man vet nit PTCP-leyen-INF dos bukh.
DEF.NOM.M man will;1SG NEG read-1SG DEF.ACC.N book.
The man will not read the book.

Clearly ungrammatical locations for nit then, are directly preceding
the verb, and following the final NP in a clause:

# Ungrammatical location of nit
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: u
Phenomena: {negation}
Der man nit leyent dos bukh.
Der man nit leyen-t dos bukh.
DEF.NOM.M man NEG read-1SG DEF.ACC.N book.
The man isn't reading the book.

# Ungrammatical location of nit
Source: author
Vetted: f
Judgment: u
Phenomena: {negation}
Der man leyent dos bukh nit.
Der man leyen-t dos bukh nit.
DEF.NOM.M man read-1SG DEF.ACC.N book NEG.
The man isn't reading the book.

This was implemented using the sentential negation section of the
Grammar Matrix. In particular, we chose the simple exponence, as there
is only one negative marker required. For the syntax of the negative
particle, we opted for it to be an adverb which modifies verbs,
occurring after the verb.


