The English language is peculiar, as I suppose all languages are, but as an English example:
“This weather is not atypical” does not mean “this weather is typical.”
Or does it?
For me, the two sentences mean (slightly) different things. Even if slight, still a significant difference.
Double negatives aren't easy to comprehend. "I don't got no fetchin' up on this smart learnin' stuff".
ReplyDeleteI was taught double negatives were a "no-no" (how's that for irony, or an oxymoron) but apparently, double negatives are now acceptable in certain circumstances.
DeleteDouble negatives are fine. It’s when someone invents new words that I get tripped up.
ReplyDeleteI think Shakespeare was the last "one" to really invent a lot of new words (and coin new phrases). In the modern day, Tina Fey may be the best at inventing new words although I have no examples and nothing on which to base that.
Deletehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/HIMARS_-_missile_launched.jpg
ReplyDeleteMy German friends of years ago could not get how in English you can chop a tree DOWN and then chop it UP.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a quirky language