Semantics of the Particle Gə̈ne ‘Only’ in Tatyshly Udmurt: Restrictive Focus and Scalarity
DOI: 10.23951/2307-6119-2026-3-21-33
This article examines the semantics of the restrictive particle gӛ ne ‘only’ in Tatyshly Udmurt. Data were collected through elicitation during fieldwork in several villages in the Tatyshly District (Republic of Bashkortostan) and through corpus analysis. The discussion centers on previously unstudied contexts in which the particle modifies the degree to which a quality is manifested by an adjective or adverb (e.g., pič'i gӛ ne ‘very small’, literally: small only). The article describes its distribution across different types of adjective scales, following the approach of Kennedy and McNally: lexemes such as ‘good’, which lack a maximum or minimum value, correspond to open scales, while lexemes such as ‘clean’ or ‘full’, which can be associated with a maximum and/or minimum degree, correspond to closed scales. The study shows that gӛ ne denotes a decrease in the degree of a parameter, primarily with open-scale adjectives and adverbs. In constructions with closed-scale lexemes (whose acceptability varies depending on the lexeme and the speaker), this semantic effect is realized as a deviation from the extreme value. Depending on the context, gӛne can mark an increased degree with open-scale lexemes that have high-degree semantics. In another class of uses, the particle indicates the unexpectedness of a situation. The article demonstrates that gӛ ne modifies scales on which values of different types are ordered (in addition to adjective scales, these include quantitative and temporal scales) and indicates a lesser degree compared to the standard. Opposite contexts with an increased degree demonstrate the reinterpretation of restrictiveness as intensification. The article also briefly discusses data on the local Tatar dialect. Its similarities with Tatyshly Udmurt suggest prospects for further areal study.
Keywords: Udmurt, semantics, particles, restrictive focus, scalarity, terms for qualities, language contact
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Issue: 3, 2026
Series of issue: Issue 3
Rubric: LINGUISTICS
Pages: 21 — 33
Downloads: 7