double negatives (was "bad French")

On Thu, 12 Oct 2000, Barry Garcia wrote:

> CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU writes:
> >And English negative attraction ("Negation is marked on the verb, unless
> >there is a quantifier such as 'some', 'any', or 'all', in which case it is
> >marked solely on the quantifier") conflicts with the negative concord
> >("Mark negation everywhere you can") of many other languages, including
> >non-standard dialects of English itself.
>
> I never liked the rule that you cannot have double negatives in English. I
> always thought phrases sounded stronger if you had the double negative. I
> know that informally, i use it alot (I dont need to take no test for
> that....). Of course, i know when to not use it, such as in Classes
> (depending on type), talking to superiors, and in papers, of course :).
> But, i notice friends and people around me always using double negatives
I personally think they should be allowed, but the pedants disagree.  Still:

I want to go to the dance.

means something different to me than

I don't want to not go to the dance.

I use the first (well--I don't go to dances, period, but by way of
example...) when my reasons are positive (I'm going to have fun, I'll
meet friends) and the second when my reasons are negative (if I don't go
I'll be left out).

I don't know if I'm making any sense, but that's how I use the double
negative.

And OC I rather like the ne...pas, ne...jamais, ne...rien, etc.
constructions in French.

YHL