Negative!

So, you ever wonder why some languages use double negatives to mean just "no"? Well, it's often argued that it doesn't make sense to allow double negatives to mean no because "no, no" should mean "yes."

Ok, logically that makes sense...

"I don't have no bread."
I do have bread.

Or: "Don't nobody have no bread."
Nobody has bread... or Everybody has no bread.

But, that's only if you think of "no" or negativity as a switch. Once, on, once off, etc.

If you think of it less like a toggle switch and more like a button that can be pressed deeper and deeper... it makes more sense. So:

Don't (negativity alert) nobody (extra negativity) have no (really really negative) bread.

Or, at least, that's a way to think about it so it doesn't offend your sensibilities. And, next time a language guardian tells you that people that say that are deficient in some way, you can say - psh, listen.

posted by Sarah @ 9:00 PM