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Tïjonïk 21 Matzaqik! (Don’t fall!): Negative Imperatives (Vetatives)

Introduction

We have studied the imperative forms. In this unit we will look at how to form negative imperatives: commands that tell someone to not do something.

TZIJONIKText

There is an expression that is used when seeing someone of the road or when saying goodbye in Nahualá that implements a negative imperative. When someone says “Mattzaqik” (Don’t fall!), they are wishing the person to whom they are speaking that nothing happens to them as they walk. After reading the grammatical description, try to pick out other instances of negative imperatives in the video.

KEMCHI’Grammar

Negative imperatives in K’iche’ are inflected as indicative verbs but take m(a)- as aspect marker instead. Negative imperatives, therefore, neither take imperative suffixes (-a/-oq; -v(‘)), nor the imperative ch- prefix. They do take, however, the same phrase final markers as incompletive transitive/intransitive verbs.

Negative imperatives can also be formed in passive and antipassive constructions, as we will see later on.

1.

Chinq’ab’aroq
Let me get drunk!

Minq’ab’arik!
m-in-q’ab’ar-ik
Let me not get drunk!

2.

Qach’aya’!
Let us hit him/her/it!

Maqach’ayo!
ma-ø-qa-ch’ay-o
Let’s not hit him/her/it!

3.

Chrelaq’aj!
Let him/her/it steal it!

Marelaq’aj!
ma-ø-r-elaq’aj
Let him/her/it not steal it!

4. Chaloq’o jun tara’s!
Buy a peach!

Maloq’ le tara’s!
m-ø-a-loq’
Don’t buy the peach!

5. Chab’isonoq

Mab’isonik
ma-ø-b’ison-ik
May he/she/it not be sad!

 

K’AK’A TAQ TZIJVocabulary
nikaj chik the rest of, half, remainder
chanim now
ixim corn
chajinel guard; police
jab’ rain
q’oyi'(k) (vit) to lie down (positional: see unit 25)
b’in(ik) (vit) to walk
ch’aw(ik) (vit) to talk
b’insaj (vtr) to walk something; to make something walk (as in walking a dog)
mub’a (vtr) to soak
koj(o) (vtr) to use; to believe
ta(to) (vtr) to listen
esaj (vtr) to take out
tara’s peach
CHAK KECH TIJOXELAB’Exercises

Translate the following sentences into English:

  1. Mib’an ix jas kakib’an le e nik’aj chik winaq!
  2. Mita ix jas kakib’ij le e nik’aj chik winaq!
  3. Mamub’a le ixim!
  4. Minril le chajinel!
  5. Match’awik!
  6. Mojb’e chuxe le jab’!
  7. Mitij le iwa!
  8. Miniwiye’j!
  9. Matq’oyi’ pa le ch’at!
  10. Mamub’a awib’ cho le jab’!

    Translate and rewrite the following phrases with negated imperatives:

  11. Wara’ alaq pa le ja kamik!
  12. Qakojo le k’ak’ atz’yaq!
  13. Chiya’a le nik’aj chi rikil pa le t’u’y!
  14. Chatija le awa chanim!
  15. Chinto’o la che le chak!
  16. Katchakuna pa wulew chwe’q!

Translate the following phrases into K’iche’:

  1. Don’t take the cookie (kaolin wa) out of the cookie jar (k’olb’al wa)!
  2. Let her not walk the dog!
  3. Let him not walk around at night!
  4. You all, don’t get drunk!
  5. Don’t put your stuff in my backpack (chin)! Put it in your backpack!
  6. Don’t eat my food! Eat your food!
  7. Let them not help him! He needs to fend for himself. (to’ –ib’)
  8. Don’t fall! (very common phrase used for leave-taking)