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Teleostomi Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
"must not be" from the Kitchen Debate
This is from the famous Kitchen Debate fought between Khrushchev and Nixon. Which of the following does "must not" mean in Nixon's sentence?
(1) The Soviet top officials ought not to be afraid of ideas.
(2) The Soviet top officials are seemingly not being afraid of ideas.
(3) Anybody, whether he be Russian or American, ought not to be afraid of ideas.
KHRUSHCHEV
We always knew that Americans were smart people. Stupid people could not have risen to the economic level that they’ve reached. But as you know, "we don’t beat flies with our nostrils!" In 42 years we’ve made progress.
NIXON
You must not be afraid of ideas.
Top answer
1 or 3 - it's not clear just from simply looking at the language but probably 3, as 1 would be a little insulting!
- 1 or 3 - it's not clear just from simply looking at the language but probably 3, as 1 would be a little insulting!
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9 Answers
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1 or 3 - it's not clear just from simply looking at the language but probably 3, as 1 would be a little insulting!
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Hi nona the brit!I'm not yet sure when the so called "epistemic 'must'" is possible! Like "You must be k
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I mean, what's the obstacle for the same kind of interpretation for the Kitchen Debate example?
In other words, why is (2) not possible?
In other words, why is (2) not possible?
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Well, I suppose it is feasible, but logic tells us it's one of the other meanings in that context.
Additionally, that meaning of 'must not' is very rarely used. I don't think I've ever heard it in 'real life'. It sounds like something out of a 1930s film where everyone speaks terribly terribly formally in posh accents, to me.
Additionally, that meaning of 'must not' is very rarely used. I don't think I've ever heard it in 'real life'. It sounds like something out of a 1930s film where everyone speaks terribly terribly formally in posh accents, to me.
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Ah, I see! That usage of "must" is rare is quite new to me!
Thank you very much!
By the way, Do the following use of "must" (in the epistemic sense) sound posh, too?
Thank you very much!
By the way, Do the following use of "must" (in the epistemic sense) sound posh, too?
(1) "Has she gone deaf! She must hear it."
(2) "You can't taste the garlic in that sweet roll? That's impossible. You must taste it!"
(3) "Can you hear the bat
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(4) It has to be the case that you Russians are not afraid of ideas.
I think this is a distinctly American use of must not.
But without the audio of the whole thing, I can't be sure. Nixon may have been saying something different which can't be captured in writing but which might be heard in his intonation patterns.
CJ
I think this is a distinctly American use of must not.
But without the audio of the whole thing, I can't be sure. Nixon may have been saying something different which can't be captured in writing but which might be heard in his intonation patterns.
CJ
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Tele,
no, that one use was the only one that sounded 'posh' to me. The use of 'must not' when we would normally say 'aren't'.
no, that one use was the only one that sounded 'posh' to me. The use of 'must not' when we would normally say 'aren't'.
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