Lesson 14 : Word negation "si" & "ta

Discussion

A word in Lulogooli is negated by using prefixes “si” or “ta”. 

To negate is to say the action is not happening, did not happen or it will not happen. In Lulogooli, it is “kugaya”, from verb “gaya” that means to refuse or deny.

Example words are “siulimaa”(you are not digging) and “atalimaa”(the one not digging). 

In the above, negative “si” always comes first in a word while “ta” comes after another prefix(es), pronoun “a”. This is the main difference about the two. 

Other examples are: “sikiloli”(it did not see), “vakitalolaa” (the ones not yet seeing), “siamonyooli”(she did not find him), “vulitalula”(one that will never ferment). 

Whereas “si” generally confirms an action that is not, “ta” does portray a more absolute stance on not happening. “ta” is used as an order. 

Examples of “ta” as “an order not to” are; “utazya”(do not go), “atamuvoolela”(he should not tell you), “vitageenda”(they(things) should not walk”. 

For “si”, it is also used to emphasize on a happening, sometimes to clear any doubt. When used so, it is not attached as part of the word as in: “si kumuloli”(we did see you), “si valimi”(they surely dug). 

Affirmatory “si” above gives assistance to the verb in a sentence. Here “si” can be said to be an auxiliary verb. 

For the negators “si” and “ta”, they can be used together for double negation in words as: “simutamukuba”(you should not beat her), “sivitavita”(they should not pass). 

Exercise

1. For the examples given in the Discussion above, please add two words for each. 
2. Read aloud the “si” used for negation and “si” used as an auxiliary verb. Do you notice any difference?