A case of apparently unlicensed NCIs in Slovenian

Slovenian is considered a strict negative-concord (NC) language (Ilc 2008, Giannakidou & Zeijlstra 2017), its NCIs are only licensed in full-fledged sentences in the presence of a clausemate negator ne, (1) (Ilc 2019: 134). Gregorčič et al. (2024: 146-7) report that the claim is also generally confirmed by the data in the Gigafida 2.0 corpus, noting that what looks like the only cases with NCIs not in the scope of an anti-veridical operator, (2), actually contain independent lexical items. Other than this, NCIs not in the scope of an anti-veridical operator are only found in elliptical structures also missing a finite verb, e.g., fragment answers, (3) (Ilc 2019: 127). (1) * (Ne) govori z nikomer. (2) V glavi imam čisti nič. neg speaks with noone in head have complete nothing ‘He/she speaks with noone.’ ‘There is a complete void in my head.’ (based on Gregorčič et al 2024: 146) (Gregorčič et al 2024: 147) (3) Koga si videl? Nikogar. who aux see noone ‘Who did you see? Nobody.’ (Ilc 2019: 127) However, (4) shows an abundantly attested construction that contains a finite verb, an NCI and no negator. As we find no other evidence suggesting that Slovenian is not a strict NCI language, we look at what else might set this construction apart from canonical cases of NCI-containing clauses, and how one could analyze it. (4) Vsi vidijo, kaj se dogaja, ukrepa pa nihče. (Gigafida 2.0) all see what refl happens acts but noone ‘Everyone sees what’s going on, but noone acts.’ Besides the presence of the NCI in (4), the construction also supports other hallmarks of the presence of Slovenian clausal negation, e.g., the genitive of negation, (5), and strong NPIs. (5) Zareza je zgolj tam in zavzema prostor, daje pa ničesar. (www) notch aux just there and takes space.acc gives but nothing.gen ‘The notch is just there and takes up space, but it gives nothing.’ This suggests that despite appearances, the structure nevertheless contains negation. The presence of an elided negator has also been suggested for coordinate structures, comparisons and fragment answers (Ilc 2019). One difference between these and (4)-(5) is that the former show no restrictions regarding the presence of a future/past/conditional-forming auxiliary. The absence of the negator in (4)-(5), though, is possible only when there is no auxiliary, either with a present finite verb, as in (4), or with a participle without an auxiliary, (6). (6) Jedli so/bojo vsi, plačal pa (*je/*bo) noben. eaten are/will all paid but is/will noone ‘Everyone ate/will eat, but noone paid/will pay.’ Another difference is that constructions like fragment answers are known from all NC languages while the construction from (4)-(5) is absent in NC languages like Czech, Russian, BCMS, Greek. We will argue that our construction results from the preposing of the VP to the left periphery, preceded by the extraction of ‘noone’/‘nothing’ in (4)-(5), and followed by post-VP-preposing deletion of ne. We will also discuss the blocking of ne-deletion by auxiliaries, optionality of/cross-speaker variation in ne deletion, etc

Lament

The striking aesthetic and rigorous research of Lament invite audiences to explore death and regeneration of post-wildfire ecologies. In a more-than-human death-bed, Pevere becomes a tentacular soil creature, probing the space after the fire among heaps of soil and glass sculptures hanging low on the area. The music weaves field recordings, cello and live electronics. The biotechnological elements of the installation and elements of the costume were sampled by Pevere after the 2022 Karst wildfires, while Penov explored the bioacoustics and hidden sounds of the burnt woods. The work is also a tribute to the Karst ecosystem and its vulnerable ecologies, which both artists learned to love during the years they have spent between Trieste and Gorizia. Lament was awarded the COAL Prize 2024 Transformative Territories Mention. *** eliXir (Jatun Risba, Uroš Brezavšček, Vita Matjac) In the heart of Slovenia’s wildfire-scarred Karst plateau—off-grid and underground—you are invited to gather at Ruska jama, a cave resonant with ancestral presence, to partake in a ritual feast of and through the manifold selves of nature. eliXir is a mobile art-science research residency within xMobil, a nomadic lab for ecological and artistic experimentation. Combining local foraging, transmedia ritual, and sustainable tech innovation, eliXir connects communities through shared knowledge and food. The eliXir trio — Floravita (PATCHING), Jatun Risba (DRENCHING), and Uroš Brezavšček (SCORCHING) — shall let this multi-sensory, participatory gathering converge into a singular performative ecology. www.instagram.com/xmobil25/ & https://www.go2025.eu/en/whats-up/events/jatun-risba-uros-brezavscek-vita-matjac-elixi

On the structure of double-coordinator constructions

The paper presents novel Macedonian and Slovenian data with conjunction doubling that exhibit unexpected binding behaviour as each individual conjunct binds an anaphor in the object position individually. The paper shows the extent of the phenomena in Macedonian and Slovenian and discusses several possible analyses. The paper argues these data also cannot be simply explained away and proposes a silent quantifier in the structure of coordination, which further means the surprising binding is really just an instance of variable binding

Quality reviews as dialogue

This invited conference presentation reflects on the role of dialogue as the central mode of quality assurance in higher education reviews. Drawing on international experience as review chair across diverse institutions in Ireland, Europe, and beyond, the talk highlights how panels can function as “collegial but rigorous friends,” guided by ESG and QQI frameworks. Rather than aiming for polished performance, reviews should seek authentic evidence, coherence between mission, strategy, and quality processes, and sustainable growth. Case insights from recent Irish reviews point to both strengths—such as agile governance, digital infrastructures, and integrated student feedback—and areas for development, including research ambitions, governance structures, and QA-led internationalisation. Emphasis is placed on how shared values—trust, inclusivity, independence, and collaboration—provide fertile ground for open dialogue. Ultimately, quality reviews are not about perfection or compliance but about collective learning, resilience, and progress through reflective and constructive exchange

Navdihovanje in vključevanje zaposlenih v zagonskem podjetju

This study explores the critical factors influencing employee motivation and engagement within five Serbian startups: Nordeus, Vega IT, HTEC Group, Content Insights, and Strawberry Energy. The study identifies common challenges and effective strategies specific to startup environments through a comprehensive field research, including on-site observations. Key findings highlight the importance of autonomy and empowerment, with employees having control over their work processes exhibiting higher job satisfaction, creativity, and productivity. Purpose and meaningful work are also emphasized, as employees aligned with the company\u27s mission and goals show increased commitment and engagement. Additionally, the study underscores the impact of a cohesive organizational culture and effective communication in sustaining employee motivation, especially during periods of rapid growth. Enhanced recognition systems, including monetary and non-monetary rewards, significantly boost morale and foster a culture of appreciation. The research provides actionable recommendations for entrepreneurs and startup leaders, focusing on building a positive culture, promoting autonomy and empowerment, establishing effective motivation strategies, promoting work-life balance, and enhancing communication. Implementing these recommendations can create a motivated, engaged, and productive workforce, essential for the growth and sustainability of startups in a dynamic business environment. This study contributes valuable insights into employee engagement in entrepreneurial settings.Ta študija raziskuje kritične dejavnike, ki vplivajo na motivacijo in zavzetost zaposlenih v petih srbskih startupih: Nordeus, Vega IT, HTEC Group, Content Insights in Strawberry Energy. Z obsežno terensko raziskavo, vključno z opazovanjem na kraju samem, študija identificira skupne izzive in učinkovite strategije, specifične za startup okolja. Ključne ugotovitve poudarjajo pomen avtonomije in opolnomočenja, pri čemer zaposleni, ki imajo nadzor nad svojimi delovnimi procesi, izkazujejo večje zadovoljstvo pri delu, ustvarjalnost in produktivnost. Poudarjena je tudi vloga namena in smiselnega dela, saj zaposleni, usklajeni s poslanstvom in cilji podjetja, izkazujejo večjo zavzetost in angažiranost. Poleg tega študija poudarja vpliv kohezivne organizacijske kulture in učinkovite komunikacije pri ohranjanju motivacije zaposlenih, zlasti v obdobjih hitre rasti. Izboljšani sistemi priznanj, vključno z denarnimi in nedenarnimi nagradami, znatno dvigujejo moralo in spodbujajo kulturo spoštovanja. Raziskava ponuja uporabna priporočila za podjetnike in vodje startupov, ki se osredotočajo na izgradnjo pozitivne kulture, spodbujanje avtonomije in opolnomočenja, vzpostavitev učinkovitih motivacijskih strategij, spodbujanje ravnovesja med poklicnim in zasebnim življenjem ter izboljšanje komunikacije. Izvajanje teh priporočil lahko ustvari motivirano, angažirano in produktivno delovno silo, ki je ključnega pomena za rast in trajnost startupov v dinamičnem poslovnem okolju. Ta študija prispeva dragocene vpoglede na področje angažiranosti zaposlenih v podjetniških okoljih