The syntax and morphology of the negative morpheme /ha/ in Sesotho

Abstract

Sentence negation in Sesotho is expressed by means of bound negative morphemes rather than negative words. There are only three negative morphemes, namely: negative morphemes /ha/, /sa/ and /se/. These morphemes negate various predicate forms and only appear in restricted sentence types. This paper will only explore sentence constructions that realize negation by means of the negative morpheme /ha/. The distribution of this morpheme is investigated with regard to non—copulative verbs over a full range of tense, aspect and mood distinction, copulative verbs and deficient verbs It will be examined within the general framework of the Minimalist Programme, which holds that inflectional categories occur as heads of phrasal projections This paper will also explore the negative morpheme /ha/ within the model of Lexeme—Morpheme Base Morphology of Beard (1995), where lexemes and morphemes are assigned discrete components within grammar