Negation in English and other languages
About this ebook
Through meticulous analysis of authentic examples, Jespersen documents both common patterns and language-specific variations in negative expressions. His treatment of topics such as double negation, the distinction between special and nexal negation, and the various forms of negative particles provides a methodical account of negation's complexity. The work's enduring importance stems not only from its analysis of the cyclical renewal of negative markers (later termed “Jespersen's Cycle”) but from its comprehensive scope and detailed examination of negative expressions across multiple languages and historical periods.
This new critical edition makes this classic work accessible to modern readers while preserving its scholarly depth. The text has been completely re-typeset, with examples presented in contemporary numbered format and non-English examples given Leipzig-style glosses. A new introduction contextualizes Jespersen's achievement and demonstrates its continued significance for current linguistic research.
About the author
Otto Jespersen was Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Copenhagen. He is best known for his work on English grammar (especially syntax), but his work spans various areas of linguistics, including phonetics, language teaching, historical linguistics, and artificial languages.
Brett Reynolds is Professor of EAP and TESL at Humber Polytechnic and Adjunct Professor of linguistics at University of Toronto. His research focuses on the micro-syntax of English words and the ontology of grammaticality.
Peter Evans previously taught at Hosei University in Tokyo.
Olli O. Silvennoinen is a University Lecturer in English Language at Åbo Akademi University in Turku, Finland. His research interests include negation, construction grammar, corpus linguistics, and linguistic typology.
