I don't know nothing

Question

I also hear it in movies.Sometimes it could be "I don't wanna nothing", "I can't say nothing." etc.For me it's kind of strange and at first I thought it might be a slip of tongue, but later I heard more and more.What I have learnt is "I don't know anything", isn't it?So could you please explain this for me? Thanks.

Dnguha · Accepted Answer

It is incorrect to say, " I don't wanna nothing", "I can't say nothing". They ought to be, " I don't say anything." or " I can't say anything". Double-negative in a simple sentence denotes a positive interpretation. Thus, the first sentence stands "It is not that I don't wanna nothing". Such is the second case. " I don't know anything" is right, but the question-tag should be, " Do I?"and not "isn't it?" Remember, if the statement is affirmative, the question-tag will be negative, and vice-versa. Still, one should say, "I know nothing" instead of "I don't know anything". Movies are the living pictures of life. So, a movie projects, what people at large say. Colloquially, we do not take much care of the correctness, and therfore, commoners' speeches become hackneyed. But, when you are in your office of work, your speech should be impeccable.

Mr Wordy · Answer

"I don't want nothing", "I can't say nothing" etc. are low colloquial variants of "I don't want anything", "I can't say anything" etc. This use of the double negative is not good English, and you shouldn't copy it.

Occasionally, a double negative may be used correctly. For example, "I can't say nothing" may mean "I can't keep quiet", "I have to say something".

Erebreak · Answer

I don't say it like that myself. I just want to make sure the real meaning of this kind of expression. I do hear it from time to time and in my impression, black people like to say that.

CalifJim · Answer

erebreakI also hear it in movies.

One of the things that tells others about a person's background and character is the way they use language. A movie usually portrays a lot of different people, and they are not all the same. They come from different backgrounds, different socio-economic classes, different families. The person who writes the movie script makes it so that each character in the movie acts and speaks in a way consistent with his part in the movie. When the writer has one of the characters say things like "I don't know nothing", he is purposely using an expression that a certain kind of person would say. (Such characters are not normally English teachers, as you may imagine.)

So if you hear someone in a movie, perhaps a criminal, say "I don't know nothing", you are supposed to use that information about his way of speaking to give you an idea of the kind of person he is. You aren't supposed to imitate that way of speaking -- unless you want others to think you are a criminal. (Many other kinds of people might use expressions like this, not just criminals. I only used that as one example.)

English that you are taught in school is the way of speaking English common among educated people. That is the style of English you should imitate. Be careful not to imitate the English you hear in the movies when it is spoken by the types of people you don't want to be mistaken for. Imitate the language of those characters in movies who are good, educated people with admirable qualities.

CJ

Erebreak · Answer

Got it, thank you

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ, you did a great job helping someone understand English words better. I like your interpretation. Thanks from me as well

Anonymous · Answer

Sorry, this structure bothered me so much. At first, i also thought it's a mistake in using English or there must be something wrong and weakness in my listening, but not. In fact, in some lyrics song like Stronger by Britney Spears (i'm listening and staring at it's lyrics) we can find sentences such as "my loneliness ain't killing me no more" or "I dont need nobody". Well, the only way i cant peak the meaning out for myself is that they show the same meaning with "my loneliness aint killing me anymore" and "i dont need anybody". However, I still stuck with this kind of structure, please give me direction to use it. Thanks

I don't know nothing

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