I'm not not licking toads.

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DanH34
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I'm not not licking toads.

Post by DanH34 »

I've been thinking about negation and double-negatives recently, and am reminded of one of my favourite Simpsons moments. So how does your natlang/conlang handle this one?

As usual, I'm altering the words used to match my existing vocabulary, so feel free to go nuts.

:eng:
Marge: Homer, are you licking toads again?
Homer: I'm not not licking toads.

:con: Zidhgebzhail - In which double-negatives make for a more emphatic statement, so this construction requires a second clause using the dummy verb.

Maadzh: Hoemerr, dil nentef kwEntan-at?
Homer, are you eating food again?
Hoemerr: vil nentef Entanoi hynoi.
I'm not eating food not.
Spoiler:

Maadzh: Hoemerr-Ø, d-il nent-ef kw-Ø-Enta-n-at?

Marge: Homer-VOC.SG.M, 2-ERG.SG.M food-ACC.SG.M Q-PRS-eat-SIMPLE-REPETITION

Hoemerr: v-il nent-ef Ø-Enta-n-oi hyn-oi.
Homer: 1-ERG.SG.M food-ACC.SG.M PRS-eat-SIMPLE-NEG_REALIS dummy.verb-NEG_REALIS
Life's a bitch, then you die.

Zidhgebzhail Orthography
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