Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[river1974]

Dear teachers:

I don't need no money.

The above sentence is an example of "double negative". As I know, two negatives in the same sentence always represent an affirmation. But is that always true?

[bud]

No. It is often used in slang and in certain dialects. Then, the meaning is still negative.

There is a famous line from an old western movie whose title I do not remember: Badges?.. Badges?.. We don't need no stinking badges!

It is often used today with a substitute for badges, for expressing defiance. You could probably Google "stinking badges" to find the movie title. For some reason, I can't link to Google at the moment.

[river1974]

Thank you, Bud. I just Google "stinking badges" and find that the movie title you mentioned is "THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE". Do "badges" mean cops here?

[river1974]

So "I can't get no satisfaction" means "I can't get satisfaction" or "I get no satisfaction", right?

[bud]

Ah, The treasure of the Sierra Madre! Thanks.

Yes, a badge is the official ID of a law enforcer.

Yes, on the Stones line. Another oft-repeated one.

I'd guess that most times you see a double negative, it is meant as a negative. The logic that a double negative means a positive is such a big part of early English lessons that few make that mistake. The only time I can think of to use a double negative to mean a positive is when you are emphasizing that the positive is true.

Beth: If John doesn't go to Jamaica this weekend, maybe he'll come over and fix my car.

Cathy: He will not NOT go. He won the trip as a prize, and this is his last chance before the prize expires. (The second "not" would probably be stressed.)

[river1974]

Thanks for your detailed explanation, bud. Now that I've really got a clearer understanding of double negative!