Sgaw Karen · The tə- prefix

The prefix tə- (pronounced with a short, reduced vowel) is one of the most versatile and important prefixes in the language. It has three major roles, two of which are grammatical and one lexical:

1. As a grammatical prefix (Negation): It is the standard negative marker for verbs. This is one of its most frequent jobs.

2. As a grammatical prefix (Numeral 'one'): It is the form of the numeral 'one' when it appears before a classifier.

3. As a lexical prefix: It is a common building block for nouns, where it has no specific meaning but is simply part of the word.

Because tə- is so common in all three roles, you will encounter it constantly. Learning to distinguish between the negative prefix, the numeral 'one', and the lexical prefix is essential for understanding Sgaw Karen sentences.

1. tə- as a grammatical prefix: negation

This is one of the most important jobs of tə-. It is the standard way to negate a verb. It attaches directly to the verb stem, after any personal pronoun prefix. It almost always co-occurs with the clause-final negative particle bâˀ at the end of the sentence. This is called discontinuous negation—you need both pieces to make a proper negative statement.

The pattern is: [Personal Prefix] + tə- + Verb ... bâˀ

1.1. Basic negation of verbs

1.2. Negation in questions

In negative questions, the bâˀ particle is often optional, especially before the question particles ɦā or lɛ̂ˀ. The negative prefix tə- is still required on the verb.

1.3. Negation with modal and ability verbs

When a sentence has a secondary verb (like θē 'can') or a verb of possibility, the negative prefix attaches to that verb, not to the main action verb.

1.4. Negation with the irrealis marker

The negative prefix tə- and the irrealis marker kə- cannot co-occur on the same verb. This means that in negative sentences, the distinction between present/habitual and future is lost. Context tells you which meaning is intended.

1.5. Negation with the new situation marker lə̀

In negative sentences, the new situation marker lə̀ ('anymore') is used instead of the affirmative lī ('already').

1.6. Negation with nɔ̄ ('extent')

The particle nɔ̄ ('extent') is used in negative sentences to mean 'any' or 'at all'. It always occurs with a tə-CLF phrase.

1.7. Double negation (making a positive)

In some fixed expressions, two negatives can combine to make a positive, meaning 'cannot not V' or 'have no choice but to V'.

2. tə- as a grammatical prefix: the numeral 'one'

This is another extremely common use of tə-. The independent word for the numeral 'one' is tə̄. However, when you are counting things and need to use a classifier, the numeral reduces to the prefix tə- and attaches directly to the classifier.

The pattern is: Noun + tə- + Classifier

2.1. With sortal classifiers (for counting objects)

2.2. With mensural classifiers (for measurements and amounts)

2.3. With temporal classifiers

2.4. In the collective marker təpʰâˀ

The common plural marker or collectivizer təpʰâˀ is itself a fossilized classifier phrase. It consists of the numeral prefix tə- ('one') and a now-defective classifier pʰâˀ which indicated collection or association. It means something like 'a collection of' or 'a group of'.

3. tə- as a lexical prefix in nouns

Like kə- and θə-, tə- also appears as a purely lexical prefix attached to noun roots. In this role, it has no meaning of its own; it's just part of the word. Many common nouns begin with tə-.

3.1. People and ethnic groups

3.2. Animals and nature

3.3. Objects and things

3.4. Abstract and grammatical words

4. tə- in compounds and fixed expressions

4.1. In elaborate expressions (with negation)

tə- as a negative prefix can be used in elaborate four-syllable expressions where it attaches to both parts of a coordinate compound.

4.2. In the word for 'before'

The word təkʰlɨ̄ˀ ('before') is itself a negative construction. It comes from tə- (negative) + kʰlɨ̄ˀ ('reach, catch up with'). So, literally, it means 'not (yet) having reached'.

4.3. In question words

The question word for 'who', mətəɣà, contains a tə- prefix as part of its structure (mə- + tə- + ɣà), meaning 'what-one-person'.

5. Distinguishing the three tə- prefixes

Since the three tə- prefixes sound the same, context is everything.

Quick guide:

• If tə- is attached to a verb and there is a bâˀ later in the sentence (or implied), it is the negative prefix.
• If tə- is followed by a classifier (like ɣà, dɨ̄, bêˀ), it is the numeral 'one'.
• If tə- is followed by a noun root that cannot stand alone, and the word is a common noun, it is a lexical prefix.
• If tə- is part of a longer word like təkʰlɨ̄ˀ ('before') or təblɨ̄ˀ ('several'), it is a lexicalized part of that word, often with a historical connection to negation or the numeral.

Summary