TNTL 118/3

A.M. Duinhoven

Negaties met ne, nee, niet en of

Abstract -- In Middle Dutch the interjection ne (‘no’) was often restricted by a finite verb: ne → Vf. In this combination ne developed into a subordinate particle, which was reinforced and eventually replaced by a negative element such as niet (‘not’). The single ne was also used in the second clause of complex sentences. In daer ne was niemen hine was blide (‘everyone was glad’), the second ne repeated the negation in the preceding clause. Once integrated into the positive second clause, its function became ambiguous. To clarify the relation between the clauses, the conjunction of (‘or’) was inserted: daer ne was niemen of hi(ne) was blide.

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