How Do You Spell DOUBLE NEGATIVE?

Pronunciation: [dˈʌbə͡l nˈɛɡətˌɪv] (IPA)

The spelling of the phrase "double negative" is straightforward, but the pronunciation may be a bit tricky for non-native English speakers. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is /ˈdʌbəl ˈnɛɡətɪv/. The initial "d" is pronounced as a voiced dental plosive, the "u" as a short vowel sound, and the "b" as a voiced bilabial plosive. The "ɛ" is pronounced as a short e sound, and the "ɡ" as a voiced velar plosive. Finally, the "ətɪv" is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by "t" and "ɪv" sounds.

DOUBLE NEGATIVE Meaning and Definition

1. A double negative refers to the use of two negative words or constructions in a sentence, resulting in positive meaning. It is a linguistic concept where the negation elements are employed in excess, cancelling each other out and ultimately conveying an affirmative sense. This linguistic phenomenon is prevalent in various languages and has both grammatical and logical implications.

   In English, a double negative usually emerges when two negative words appear alongside each other, such as "not", "never", "nobody", "nothing", or "no". For instance, the sentence "I don't have no money" is a typical example of a double negative. The word "don't" implies negation, but when coupled with the word "no", they cancel each other out, ultimately conveying the positive meaning that the person does have money.

   Double negatives can also appear in more complex sentence structures, where multiple negative elements contribute to the overall meaning. These can include negative words in combination with negative prefixes or suffixes, as in "un", "in", or "dis". For instance, "I cannot disagree with you" combines the negative "not" with the negative prefix "dis-", creating a double negative that results in an affirmative meaning of agreement.

   While double negatives are often associated with informal speech or dialectal patterns, they may also serve certain rhetorical functions in literature, poetry, or informal communication. However, in formal writing and standard English usage, the double negative pattern is generally avoided, as it can lead to confusion and ambiguity.

   Overall, the concept of a double negative involves the use of two negative elements in a sentence, which, when combined, cancel each other out and convey a positive meaning.

Common Misspellings for DOUBLE NEGATIVE

• souble negative
• xouble negative
• couble negative
• fouble negative
• rouble negative
• eouble negative
• diuble negative
• dkuble negative
• dluble negative
• dpuble negative
• d0uble negative
• d9uble negative
• doyble negative
• dohble negative
• dojble negative
• doible negative
• do8ble negative
• do7ble negative
• douvle negative

Etymology of DOUBLE NEGATIVE

The etymology of the term "double negative" can be traced back to the combination of the words "double" and "negative".

The word "double" originated from the Old French word "doble" or "double", which ultimately derived from the Latin word "duplus", meaning "twofold". "Double" refers to something that is multiplied by or consisting of two.

The word "negative" also has Latin roots, coming from the word "negativus". It signifies "denial" or "negation", relating to the absence or opposite of something.

When these two words are combined, "double negative" refers to the usage of two negatives in a sentence, which can potentially create ambiguity or cancel each other out, leading to a positive meaning. The concept of a "double negative" has been used in grammar and linguistic studies to analyze the structure and interpretation of sentences.

Similar spelling words for DOUBLE NEGATIVE

• double entry,
• double entendre.