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Lcchang Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Persistent assertions
Hi, I have been reading an article about Alcatraz and I've found the following passage can't be understood by me.:
The collaborative effort of attorney general Homer Cummings and Director of the Bureau of Prisons, Sanford Bates, produced a legendary prison that seemed both necessary and appropriate to the times. The emergence of persistent assertions about J. Edgar Hoover's interest and influence with regard to Alcatraz cannot be corroborated, but neither have they been completely denied. With the public peace constantly threatened by crime, a response had to be made and Alcatraz was that response.
Does the sentence in blue color suggest that J.Edag Hoover also influenced the construction of Alcatraz? And whom does the word "neither" refer ro? Why have they been denied? Please advise.
LCChang
The collaborative effort of attorney general Homer Cummings and Director of the Bureau of Prisons, Sanford Bates, produced a legendary prison that seemed both necessary and appropriate to the times. The emergence of persistent assertions about J. Edgar Hoover's interest and influence with regard to Alcatraz cannot be corroborated, but neither have they been completely denied. With the public peace constantly threatened by crime, a response had to be made and Alcatraz was that response.
Does the sentence in blue color suggest that J.Edag Hoover also influenced the construction of Alcatraz? And whom does the word "neither" refer ro? Why have they been denied? Please advise.
LCChang
Top answer
In this sentence, "neither" does not refer to a person or thing; it's a way of joining two negative statements. The sentence says that these persistent assertions cannot be corroborated, but they have not been completely denied either. At least, that's what I think it's trying to say.
- In this sentence, "neither" does not refer to a person or thing; it's a way of joining two negative statements.
- The sentence says that these persistent assertions cannot be corroborated, but they have not been completely denied either.
- At least, that's what I think it's trying to say.
- In fact, the sentence seems to have got muddled.
- Literally, it says that the emergence of the assertions (rather than the assertions themselves) cannot be corroborated, which seems unlikely to be the intended meaning.
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2 Answers
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In this sentence, "neither" does not refer to a person or thing; it's a way of joining two negative statements. The sentence says that these persistent assertions cannot be corroborated, but they have not been completely denied either.
At least, that's what I think it's trying to say. In fact, the sentence seems to have got muddled. Literally, it says that the emergence of the ass
At least, that's what I think it's trying to say. In fact, the sentence seems to have got muddled. Literally, it says that the emergence of the ass
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