Can't and don't

Question

Hi, Any difference in meaning between these two sentences? 1. I *can'*** speak Japanese. 2. I *don'*** speak Japanese. Thanks. Kit

Paco2004 · Accepted Answer

Hello Kit

I can speak Japanese and I do speak Japanese because I'm a native Japanese speaker. I think in most European languages including English they would say rather "I don't speak English/French/Spanish" than "I can't speak English/French/Spanish". On the other hand I tend to say "I can't speak English" rather than "I don't speak English". I once had a thought that this tendency would come from our language structure. But it should not be the case, because I rarely say "I can't speak Kansai's Japanese dialect". In this case I would rather say "I don't speak Kansai's Japanese dialect". So my conclusion is that that tendency of mine comes from that I always feel inferior about my poor skills in speaking English.

paco

Just the truth · Answer

Any difference in meaning between these two sentences?

1. I *can'*** speak Japanese.
2. I *don'*** speak Japanese.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Though there is a difference in the actual meaning of do/don't & can/can't, in some situations, the two structures can be virtually identical, at least with respect to the intended effect.

Policeman: Could you help this young man out, Jack. I heard you lived in Japan for a year.

Jack: Sorry, I don't/can't speak Japanese.

Here, the net effect is the same. But imagine Paco was in Canada and someone who knew him quite well asked him,

"Do you speak Japanese everyday, Paco?"

Paco's reply: No, I don't speak Japanese at all. I haven't since I started this language program.

Here the meaning is obviously different because the context has changed.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Paco wrote: I once had a thought that this tendency would come from our language structure. But it should not be the case, because I rarely say "I can't speak Kansai's Japanese dialect".

JTT: I have often thought so too, Paco. Not so much this specific situation but in other situations I've noticed Japanese ESLs tend to use 'can' in situations where ENLs would not. One common one is about food; "Can you eat {_____}?".

But there are others I've noticed that now elude me.

Casi · Answer

Any difference in meaning between these two sentences?

1. I *can'*** speak Japanese.
2. I *don'*** speak Japanese.

1. lack of ability
2. conscious choice

Note, to admit an inability (i.e., I can't) can be avoided by using a form that expresses a conscious choice (e.g., I don't).

Kit · Answer

Thanks!<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello JTT

I think you are a great English teacher because you are very good at making scenarios (or should I say 'contexts'? fit to usage of each English phrase.

In the Japanese language we have so-called potential verbs. We often use them to state simple facts when we have some emotion (delight/proud and admiration when using 'can', and regret when using 'cannot') about the fact. So a Japanese girl who met you somewhere would write in her diary like this;

Today I went to Tokyo Disneyland and there I could meet a nice American guy. Luckily there were rather few people in the park. Therefore we could find good seats in the restaurant and could have a long talk together though I could not understand his English. What I was surprised at is he could speak Japanese very fluently and he could eat Japanese food, even sushi. I think I can like him and I'll be happy if I can get married to him.

paco

Just the truth · Answer

Today I went to Tokyo Disneyland and there I [could meet] met a nice American guy. Luckily there were rather few people in the park. Therefore we were able to [could] ['could' is impossible in English because 'could' is not a past tense so it can't be used here] find good seats in the restaurant and we had [could have] a long talk together though I could not understand his English. What I was surprised at is he could speak Japanese very fluently and he [could eat] ate Japanese food, even sushi. I think I [can] like him and I'll be happy if I [can] could get married to him.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This is part of what I was talking about, Paco. It seems sometimes where Japanese "sees" a potential, English sees a fact.

Perhaps the common question that has puzzled me the most is "Can you eat Japanese food?". It almost sounds like Japanese people are saying, "How can anyone eat this stuff?!"

Japanese food is incredibly delicious. It's a non question to my mind.

Equivocal · Answer

1. I *can'*** speak Japanese.
2. I *don'*** speak Japanese.

On their own they seem to mean the same thing. But you can look abit closer. If we try to tease apart their meanings:

1a. it is NOT POSSIBLE that I speak Japanese
2a. it is NOT TRUE that I speak Japanese

Now, in a simple sense where you simply want to say that you are Japanese illiterate, both would synonymous because what you mean is this:

1b. it is NOT POSSIBLE that I speak Japanese IN ALL SITUATIONS
2b. it is NOT TRUE that I speak Japanese IN ALL SITUATIONS

However, if we plug-in some specific situation, the difference becomes clearer:

1c. I can't speak Japanese when I'm solving a math problem
1d. it is NOT POSSIBLE that I speak Japanese IN THE SITUATION where I'm solving a math problem
2c. I don't speak Japanese when I'm solving a math problem
2d. it is NOT TRUE that I speak Japanese IN THE SITUATION where I'm solving a math problem

In 1c, it could be because you aren't that good in Japanese and solving a math problem takes up too much brain power. The use of can't reflects a denial of ability, usually by an external constraint.

In 1d however, it could be that you were thought math in German and so when you solve math problems you only speak German and not Japanese. But it doesn't mean that you can't speak Japanese when you solve math problems, you could if you wanted to but you just don't. The use of don't seems to reflect more of an internal constraint rather than an external one.

eq

YamelaineGarcia · Answer

When you say you can't sounds like if you have given up. But, if you say I don't, then you are just saying you don't know.

Can't and don't

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