Polarity

Polarity is a category that indicates the distinction between affirmative and negative.

Natural Language

In the UNLarium, polarity may assume two values:

{{#tree:id=nl_polarity|openlevels=0|root=Polarity|

• affirmative (AFM)
• negative (NEG)

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Examples

• English
  • not = NEG
  • never = NEG
  • none = NEG

UNL

In UNL, the attribute polarity may assume the following values:

{{#tree:id=unl_polarity|openlevels=0|root=Polarity|

• @yes
• @not
• @maybe

}}

Affirmative is the default value and must be omitted. The attribute @yes is used only for emphatic affirmative

I live here = live

I do live here = live.@yes

Polarity attributes must be assigned according to the scope of the affirmative or negative

She didn't come = come.@not

I don't know whether she came = know.@not (but not came.@not)

Polarity attributes must not be informed when lexicalized

never = never (and not never.@not)

I never lived here = live (and not live.@not)

Double negatives must be rewritten as simple negatives

I don't know nothing = I don't know anything (know.@not) or I know nothing (know)

Examples

• I live here = live
• I do live here = live.@yes
• I don't live here = live.@not
• Maybe I live here = live.@maybe