The expression of negation in southern Tujia

Abstract This paper aims to provide a comprehensive description of the forms and distribution of negation expressions in southern Tujia (Tibeto-Burman), an endangered language spoken in southern China, from a diachronic perspective and comparing the negation forms with those in northern Tujia. Southern Tujia employs different negators, some of which are disappearing, while some new ones are being introduced. Furthermore, negation is sometimes preverbal, sometimes postverbal. We analyze this complex situation from a historical perspective, in which some aspects can be explained as continuations from Proto-Tibeto-Burman, and others as innovations, based on grammaticalization, semantic adaptation and borrowing, which have led to the present complex state of affairs. These kinds of changes can be compared to developments in other languages in the world, and therefore contribute to typological research on the expression and diachronic development of negation.