aitsa ha

Wauja

Etymology

aitsa (negation) + ha (emphatic particle)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaɪ.t͡sa ha/, [ˈaɪ.t͡sɐ ha]

Interjection

aitsa ha

1. no (expressing refusal, denial, or disagreement)

   Punupawi? Aitsa ha. Aitsa nunupawi.

   Q: Did you see [it]? A: No, I didn't see [it].

   Pitsu piyawi nitsuhoja? Aitsa ya!

   Q: Was it you that took my fishhooks? A: Certainly not!

2. nothing, none (in response to a question)

   Hain? Katsa pumawi? Aitsa ha.

   Q: Huh? What did you say? A: I didn't say anything.

   Katsa uputa piyu? Aitsa ha.

   Q: What did [she] give you? A: Nothing.

   Kaitsa itsakala uputa piyu? Aitsa ha.

   Q: How many did [she] give you? A: None.

Usage notes

Various emphatic particles may be added to or substituted for ha to express strong refusal, denial, disagreement, or disbelief: aitsa wa ha!, aitsa wiu!, aitsa ya! (no way! absolutely not! not in the least!)

Antonyms

• ehen (“yes, indeed”)
• hoona (“yes, I consent”)

Numeral

aitsa ha

1. (cardinal number) A numerical value equal to 0; the number preceding paunwaun.

Usage notes

In 1983, the Wauja spoke almost no Portuguese, and did not have a word for the number zero. In the ensuing decades, they have established village schoolhouses that teach literacy and basic mathematics in both Wauja and Portuguese. As of 2014, young Wauja routinely use the term aitsa ha to refer to the number zero.

References

• E. Ireland field notes. Needs to be checked by native speaker.