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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:10 pm Post subject: double negative |
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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? |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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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? |
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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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So "I can't get no satisfaction" means "I can't get satisfaction" or "I get no satisfaction", right? |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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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.) |
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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your detailed explanation, bud. Now that I've really got a clearer understanding of double negative! |
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