Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

758 Syntax of Dutch: nouns and noun phrases
Not all instances of helemaal intensifying geen can be replaced with niks, however,
as will be clear from the pair in (231). It seems that positive evaluative semantics is
essential; either there is a positively evaluative attributive adjective present, like
leuke in (230), or the head noun itself has an inherent or contextually invokable
positively evaluative interpretation; cf. pretje ‘fun’ versus probleem ‘problem’ in (231).
(231) a. Dat was helemaal/niks geen pretje.
that was altogether/nothing no fundim
b. Dat was helemaal/*niks geen probleem.
that was altogether/nothing no problem
B. Nooit geen N
A highly popular case of negative concord in the non-standard spoken language is
given in example (232a). In current normative grammars and style books, the
appreciation of this construction varies. Some claim that the two negations always
cancel each other out in Standard Dutch and therefore disapprove and/or discourage
the use of (231a) on the negative concord reading, and strongly favor the use of the
unambiguous construction in (225b). Others, on the other hand, consider the use of
negative concord as a normal way of emphasizing negation; for relevant citations,
see http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/584/.
(232) a. Ik gebruik nooit geen zout.
I use never no salt
Double negation reading: ‘I never use no salt.’
Negative concord reading: ‘I never use any salt.’
b. Ik gebruik nooit zout.
I use never salt
‘I never use (any) salt.’
The two readings of (232a) are associated with different intonation patterns. The
double negation reading is obtained by assigning stress peaks to both nooit and
(especially) geen, as in (233a). In the case of negative concord, on the other hand,
there is no significant accent on geen, and nooit only receives heavy accent when it
is used contrastively, as in (233b).
(233) a. Double negation reading: Ik gebruik NOOIT GEEN zout.
b. Negative concord reading: Ik gebruik nooit/NOOIT geen zout.
Other illustrations of the negative concord construction are given in (234a),
which are all adapted from actually occurring examples on the internet. Examples
(234b-d) show that negative concord is possible for negative elements other than
geen as well, although it seems nooit geen is by far the most widespread case of
negative concord.
(234) a. Ik heb nooit geen zin in seks.
I have never no liking in sex
‘I never feel like having sex.’
b. Ik ga nooit niet meer in de achtbaan.
I go never not anymore in the roller.coaster
‘I will never go in the roller coaster anymore.’