Double negative
A double negative can basically have two different meanings. As a rhetorical figure (see also: litotes ), it is effectively an affirmation, as in logic .
In many languages, the double negative ( negation but) an affirmation of negation is (this is called 'negative Concord'). In the German language (also in colloquial language) it has practically disappeared as an affirmation of the negation (except in dialects and a few fixed idioms) and is understood as funny or can make the speaker appear uneducated. In other languages it represents the normal grammatical form of negation in this sense or is one of several normal possibilities of negation.
Double negative in standard German as affirmation
Double negative can appear in German in connection with adjectives:
- He's not untalented. means that the caregiver has talent.
It is also used in subordinate clauses:
- It is not true that I did not see that. means that the speaker has heard the corresponding event.
- He wasn't interested in not doing homework. means that the speaker wanted to do the homework very well.
The example is similar:
- Just because you 're paranoid doesn't mean they can't be after you anyway. If you resolve the double negation here, the meaning remains: They can be after you, or it is uncertain whether they are after you.
In terms of degree, the double negation can express nuances. The speaker makes such a weakly positive statement or avoids taking a clear position:
- I am not unhappy. includes: I am not unhappy, but neither am I happy.
In the case of binary terms, however, a double negative does not make sense:
- Instead of I'm not pregnant is customary alone I'm pregnant .
Double negation in High German as a negation
The double negation is used in lyric texts as an affirmation:
- Nobody doesn't have it as warm as Hans (from: Christian Morgenstern : Die Drei Spatzen , see below ) can be read as: "Nobody really has it as warm as Hans."
- It was not a love affair , Ulrike von Levetzow 's comment on the reply that she was said to have received from Goethe's love.
In addition, forms such as:
- Nobody doesn't do that.
- I don't know anyone.
outdated today in standard German and are only used for the special characterization of a speaker in literal speech.
Sometimes the phrase never and never is used (in the colloquial area) :
- You never do that. (Reinforcement of the negative or extreme doubt about an announcement, logically it should mean: you do it all the time and never fail to do it.)
- I would never have had this idea.
The rock band Ton Steine Schherd also used a double negative in their song No Power for Nobody .
Double negative in German dialects and regional languages
In Upper German dialects , the double negative to reinforce the negative is sometimes standard.
- No one can do that. (Nobody doesn't do that.) Means that nobody does that.
- I sia neana koi Heisle. (I don't see a house anywhere.) Means that the speaker does not see a house anywhere.
Examples from Central German dialects can also be found, e.g. B. from Lower Silesian :
- Assa sucked before she couldn't do anything. (Lower Silesian: Eat before you can't eat anything.)
In Low German there can be a double negative as well as a simple one. A reinforcement does not necessarily have to occur; for many speakers it is the common form of negation:
- And then Minsch can't piss off. (And that's why nobody can't drown in it.)
- I don't want any money for no money. (I don't want that for no money.)
- I've never seen such a big barg. (He has never seen such a big mountain.)
In the last sentence the form never does not appear , which is mostly used consistently in the sense of "never" and is therefore mostly written together.
Triple negative in dialects
An example from Hessian or Bavarian-Austrian:
- Does kaaner kaa knife net do? (Literally: "Doesn't anyone have a knife with them?", Meaning: "Doesn't anyone have a knife?")
Double negation in other languages
English
In the English language, unlike in German, the double negative is used to reinforce the negation.
This can also be seen in the following examples:
- I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy ( I shot the sheriff , but I didn't shoot the deputy ) ( Bob Marley )
- I do not need no parachute ( I do not need a parachute ) ( Cheryl Cole )
- We do not need no water ( we do not need water ) ( Bloodhound Gang )
- I can't get no sleep ( I can't sleep ) ( Faithless )
- I can not get no satisfaction ( I can not get enough ) ( Rolling Stones )
- This ain't nothing but a summer jam ( Das ist nothing but ein Sommerspass ) ( The Underdog Project )
- A little party never killed nobody ( A small party never brought someone to ) ( Fergie , Q-Tip & GoonRock )
- We do not need no education ( We do not need education and we do not need these non-formation ) ( Pink Floyd )
French
The negative in the French language consists of two words that surround the conjugated verb form.
- Je ne vais nulle part .
Literal translation:
- I am not going nowhere .
After verbs and expressions of fear / anxiety can in the next sentence after que a ne stand. However, this ne does not mean a negative. If the main clause is negative, there is never a ne in the que clause. The use of this ne is optional.
Latin
In Latin , a double negation basically means a reinforced affirmation.
scire = to know
nescire = do not know.
non nescire = to know (very) well
Russian
In Russian , the double negative is the common expression of the negative and must be used.
- Я никуда не иду
- (Yes nikuda ne idu)
literally:
- I am not going anywhere.
Meaning:
- I do not go anywhere.
Serbian
In Serbian, the grammatically correct form requires the double negative.
Slovenian
In Slovenian - as in many other Slavic languages - the double negative is a correct form, but it can sometimes lead to ambiguities as to whether the positive or the negative is meant.
- I do not know anybody.
means Slovenian:
- Ne poznam nikogar.
Sorbian
As already indicated under Slovenian, the double negative is also to be used in Sorbian in order to negate a statement.
- Yes ničo njewěm.
literally:
- I don't know anything.
Spanish
The Spanish (syntactic) negation consists of two words ( adverbs ) which come before and after the conjugated verb form or, if there is a participle, before the conjugated verb form and after the participle.
- No he visto nada
literal translation:
- Not I-haven't seen anything.
- I didn't see anything.
analogous translation:
- I did not see anything.
Italian
In Italian , the double negative is often mandatory:
- Non ho visto niente / nulla
literally:
- I haven't seen anything .
Meaning:
- I did not see anything.
Afrikaans
In Afrikaans , the double negative is formed with the word “nie”, which corresponds to the German “nicht” and the Dutch “niet”.
- ek never understood. (I do not understand)
If the negative is not at the end of the sentence, a second negative must be added at the end of the sentence.
- ek never understands everything. (I don't “don't” understand everything).
Other forms of negation are associated with the words "no one" ( no one ), "niks" ( nothing ), "geen" ( no ), "nêrens" ( nothing ), "nooit" ( never ), "geensins" ( by no means ), "G'n" ( none ) and "never" ( never ) formed, which are always followed by "never" at the end of the sentence.
- Daar is nuus never. (There are no news.)
- Dit het ek nog nêrens gesien never. (I've never seen that before.)
- Hy het nooit sy broer never waste. (He has not yet forgiven his brother.)
- Nobody wou dit never do. (Nobody wants to do that.)
- Dit sal nooit never birth. (That will never happen.)
- Ons het g'n motors op die pad gesien never. (We didn't see any cars on the way.)
- Nobody is niks never. (Nobody sees anything.)
Dutch
When a double negative is used in Dutch , the meaning is mostly affirmed.
- Ik heb nooit geen dorst. (I'm never out of thirst.)
Meaning:
- Ik heb altijd dorst. (I'm always thirsty.)
In the example
- Ik zou dat nooit niet doen. (I would never fail to do this.)
double negation is used to reinforce the negation.
Meaning:
- Ik zou dat beslist nooit doen. (I would definitely never do that.)
confusion
Sometimes the double negative is also used for confusion and the comic effect:
- That is not stupid.
This effect is also described by the stylistic device litotes .
Application examples (quotations)
- From the language of the law:
- Section 118 of the German Civil Code (BGB) for a declaration of joke contains five negations that are related to one another in different ways, so that most readers should only understand it after a long period of reflection: A declaration of intent that is not seriously intended, which is given in the expectation that the lack of seriousness will not be misunderstood is void. (Negations: not, lack, not, misunderstood, void )
- From the language of the poets (emphasis only here):
The three sparrows
by Christian Morgenstern
In an empty hazel bush
there are three sparrows sitting belly to belly.
Erich on the right and Franz on the left
and cheeky Hans in the middle.
You have your eyes closed, completely closed
and over there it's snowing, hu!
They move close together.
Nobody is as warm as Hans.
They hear all three of their hearts thumping.
And when they are not gone, they are still sitting.
- Popular music:
"Claudia has a German shepherd / she has that for a reason." ( The doctors - Claudia has a German shepherd )
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hedde Zeijlstra: Sentential negation and negative concord. Dissertation. University of Amsterdam.
- ↑ Article on Sprach-Blog.de
- ↑ See e.g. B. only the title: "... it wasn't a love affair": a collection of texts. Ed. V. Jochen Krauss. Zurich 1997.