[Ailist] Double negatives = positive ?

[Geof Cox]

Not a serious response I am afraid, Chris, but this reminds me of something
I read and re-published in my Cuttings newsletter some 3 years ago (it might
even have been from this ListServ)

A linguistics professor was lecturing his class.

³In English,² he explained, ³a double negative forms a positive.

In some languages, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative.¹

³However,² he continued, ³there is no language where a double positive can
form a negative.²

A voice from the back of the class was then heard to comment: ³Yeah, right.²

Have fun

Geof


Contact information:
Geof Cox / New Directions
Email: GeofCox at newdirections.uk.com
Web Site: http://www.newdirections.uk.com
Phone: 0117 968 1451  (international +44 117 968 1451)
Mobile: 07753 626284
Skype: geofcox.newdirections
Postal: 26A Downleaze, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1LZ

Member of Learning Consortium
email: geof at learningconsortium.net
Web: http://www.learningconsortium.net

Subscribe to my free e-newsletter Cuttings online



New Directions (Communications & Training) Limited is registered in
Scotland. Registration No. 102895
Registered office: 350 Lanark Road West, Edinburgh EH14 5RR
 
The information contained in this message may be confidential and legally
privileged. The message is intended solely for the addressee(s). If you are
not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use,
forwarding, dissemination, or reproduction of this message is strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender by return e-mail and destroy all copies of the
original message.

> From: Christopher J Chapman <ideahatching1 at btinternet.com>
> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:31:43 +0000
> To: "ailist at lists.business.utah.edu" <ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>
> Subject: [Ailist] Double negatives = positive ?
> 
> Hello everyone,*
> 
> In the world of coaching, some of us are understanding that when trying
> to get affirmations to work some people are helped by positive
> statements of what is wanted and for some other people that just does
> not work.  I have learned that for highly intellectual, academic
> thinkers statements containing double negative words do the trick
> better.  Actually, having both statements together (but two separate
> statements) works best.  In my view having both positive words and
> double negative ones in two separate affirmations work the best is
> because this fits with what we have discussed previously on this list
> about AI and neuroscience.
> 
> Are their many of you who have explored this already and can you tell us
> more about what you noticed or learned?
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> 
> Chris
> -- 
> 
> Christopher J Chapman
> near Cambridge, UK
> Profile page:
> http://www.ecademy.com/user/christopherchapman
> _______________________________________________
> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School
> of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list
> administrator. For subscription information, go to:
> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist