Tracking Jespersen’s cycle in Veronese and Bresciano: Diatopic variation in sentential negation

This article provides an insight in the expression of sentential negation in two Italo-Romance varieties, i.e., Bresciano and Veronese. The fieldwork data gathered in Lumezzane (BS), Brescia, San Giovanni Lupatoto (VR) and Nogara (VR) shows an intriguing range of variation. The Veronese peripheral data displays the particle mia (local form of mica ) as a reinforcing negative element; central Bresciano shows a homogeneous pattern of postverbal negation, whereas in Lumezzanese the negative particle mia is completely grammaticalized. The general picture illustrates homogeneous negation patterns across the analysed structures, with all three stages of Jespersen’s cycle represented.