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Date: | Tue, 6 Nov 2001 19:43:30 EST |
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In a message dated 11/6/2001 2:14:03 AM Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< In my last post, I noted that double negatives in a clause do not mean the
same as a strictly positive statement. >>
Hi, All,
Couldn't resist this! I'm sure you've all heard this one, but just in case -
An English professor was giving a lecture about double negatives. On and on
he droned, and the students in the back slumped lower and lower in their
chairs. "Two negatives give a totally different meaning to a sentence than a
positive!" he lectured. "This is true in many different languages. We know
of no other construction like this. In fact, there is no known usage where
two positives make a negative!"
A student from the back straightened up, looked him straight in the eye, and
said, "Yah. Right."
Apologizing in advance,
Gretchen in San Jose
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