This talk analyzes pronominal competition and its pragmatic consequences in Scottish Gaelic (Celtic). In cases of competition cross-linguistically, use of a particular pronoun can trigger pragmatic effects like negative appraisal (N-effects). Although Scottish Gaelic exhibits a superficially similar pattern of competition and negative appraisal, I show that existing accounts based on referential potential (Sichel & Wiltschko 2020) and structure (Patel-Grosz & Grosz 2017) are unable to capture the Scottish Gaelic pattern. Instead, I argue that negative appraisal in Scottish Gaelic stems from the absence of positive appraisal, signaled via use of exempt anaphors. Apparent N-effects in Scottish Gaelic are, then, better characterized as not-P-effects. The file Bossi_SuB25_handout.pdf is the handout for my talk. You can use it to follow along with me in the video or read it as a stand-alone version. The video file is called Bossi_SuB25_video.mp4. It should be able to be played in your browser, but if this option doesn't work, you can download the video as well. I’ll be holding a live, in-person Q&A at 18:30-19:30 London time / 13:30-14:30 New York time / 10:30-11:30 Los Angeles time on Friday 4 September over Zoom: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/96213602345?pwd=MDJyN2lPSGxBZmV5bmNNbCtqbEtFdz09. The password is sub2020. Due to my university’s security settings, **you must be logged into a Zoom account to join the call**. You’re also welcome to email me questions and comments at madeline_bossi@berkeley.edu.