This paper examines patterns of negation across Salish. I distinguish three (and a half) different patterns across the family, with the original and most widespread involving a negative predicate taking a negated clause as its complement. I examine this pattern in some detail in Lillooet (St’á’imcets), and conclude that it involves negative existential quantification over minimal situations. I then investigate the development of other negative patterns in Salish, focusing on the weakening of the clausal boundary and the development of separate negative existential quantifiers in Central Salish. Finally, I compare the biclausal Salish pattern to similar constructions in Polynesian, and conclude with some remarks about its theoretical status.
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