doesn't sound too unnatural to me

[Winwin2011]

QUOTE=5jj;1011002]I was recommended a book doesn't sound too unnatural to me.

Somebody gave a book to me - I was given a book.
Somebody recommended a book to me - I was recommended a book.[/QUOTE]

What does "doesn't sound too unnatural " mean in the above sentence?

Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

The deliberate double negative is used to show that 5jj thinks the sentence is acceptable.

 

[Winwin2011]

The deliberate double negative is used to show that 5jj thinks the sentence is acceptable.

Thanks Rover.

"It wasn't uninteresting" equals to "It was interesting". It seems that "It was interesting" is more simplier than a double negative. Why do we use double negative ?

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks Rover.

"It wasn't uninteresting" equals to "It was interesting". It seems that "It was interesting" is more simplier than a double negative. Why do we use double negative ?

No, "It wasn't uninteresting" suggests that while not being particularly fascinating, it was not completely without some points of interest.

 

[Winwin2011]

No, "It wasn't uninteresting" suggests that while not being particularly fascinating, it was not completely without some points of interest.

Thanks, bhai.

Does "I can’t get no satisfaction" have the same meaning of "I can’t get any satisfaction."?

 

[Rover_KE]

Why do we use double negatives?

It's sometimes a neat way of not giving something complete approval or of implying certain reservations.

'She's not unlike her mother' (she has some features or characteristics similar to her mother's).

'I don't entirely disapprove of my daughter's tattoo' (it's been tastefully done but I wish it was out of sight'.

Does "I can’t get no satisfaction" have the same meaning as "I can’t get any satisfaction"?

Yes.

 

[UM Chakma]

"I can't get no satisfaction" and "I can't get any satisfaction". I have read number of times to get the meaning. Although Rover's answer was "yes", I feel that both don't have the same meaning. I know I am wrong but I just cannot think that both have the same meaning. I have showed what I can mean below.

I can't get no satisfaction = I can get satisfaction. This is what I mean the meaning both have.

Let me give you more contexts.

"I haven't no food." The meaning I can get from this context is "I have food".

And I think this is not unrelated question that I have raised.

 

[SoothingDave]

"I can't get no satisfaction" and "I can't get any satisfaction". I have read number of times to get the meaning. Although Rover's answer was "yes", I feel that both don't have the same meaning. I know I am wrong but I just cannot think that both have the same meaning. I have showed what I can mean below.

I can't get no satisfaction = I can get satisfaction. This is what I mean the meaning both have.

Let me give you more contexts.

"I haven't no food." The meaning I can get from this context is "I have food".

And I think this is not unrelated question that I have raised.

You have to realize that the logical analysis of two negatives cancelling out to create a positive does not always apply to slang.

Many native speakers use double negatives to emphasize the negativity rather than to cancel it out. Or simply because they are not concerned with grammar rules.

They can't get no satisfaction. They ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[5jj]

"I can't get no satisfaction" and "I can't get any satisfaction". I have read number of times to get the meaning. Although Rover's answer was "yes", I feel that both don't have the same meaning. I know I am wrong but I just cannot think that both have the same meaning.

Despite what logic tells us, some native speakers of English use a double negative as a reinforcement of a negative. This may be generally considered substandard, but most of us understand the intended meaning.

(later) I see Dave beat me to it.