Why do Americans say "I didn't do nothing"?

Question

When they really mean "I didn't do anything" ?

Answer 1

Don't be too harsh on them, after all English is NOT their official language. Interestingly ( and rather strangely) they don't have an official language!

Answer 2

Since Americans are from all nationalities it goes to reason that they also have a wide variety of languages and dialects. The ethnic representation in the US is from every corner of the globe.

In the southern states where I live they have a long drawl and speak so fast and with such an accent that I thought that they were scottish when I first heard one from the hills!

In Santa Monica, Ca, there are a community of British speaking people. In New England on the eastern seaboard they have an accent like John F Kennedy. In New York and Los Angeles you have many accents... to name just a few.

This particular sentence you give could describe any number of Americans from many area's of the country.

Americans are diverse, especially on the west coast.

There are many American Families that go back in their histories to pre civil war periods and back to the 1700's.

Being born English I do admit that there is a bad use of the language here. But it is an evolutionary process that has given rise to rock and roll, rap and additional words to the english dictionary so I cannot berate it.

Answer 3

A difference in dialect. You forget that there are many people in this country whose ancestors came from countries where languages other than English were spoken. In many other languages--especially Italian--you can use as many negatives as you like in a sentence. They learned to speak along the same pattern as their native language, and the habit was passed down to their children and grandchildren.

In mine, Cherokee, negatives consist of "tla" and the prefix "yi-" attached to what it precedes. Like if you were to say "I don't want to," you would say Tla yiquaduli. Our word for "I want to" is "aquaduliha." Now do you see how confusing only having one negative in a sentence can be for non-English speakers?

People have the right to be different, and I think the non-Americans would do well to respect our ways. Maybe then we'll respect theirs ;) But the aniyonega (UK people) still have that smallpox blanket thing to live down first....

Answer 4

The double negative rule doesn't seem to apply to the American version of the English language.

Answer 5

Because they do not speak English and are very lazy when it comes to language. Of course two negatives make a positive so they obviously do not realist that they are really saying "I did it."

Answer 6

Because the majority of them are too dumb to realise what a double negative is?

flammable and inflammable are actually different, one refers to solid materials, the other to liquid or gaseous fuels (I can't remember which way round though, and I'm too stoned to get the dictionary)

AND WHAT THE HELL IS "YALL" ?!?!?!?!?!? Why not try seperating it into the two words it's supposed to be: "you all"

I'm not a big fan of the yanks, the stupidity of the masses is just one of the reasons

Answer 7

Double negatives! Not the most intelligent nation on this planet! they think Britain is the same as England.

Answer 8

I'm an American and have never said it that way. I guess it's just another downward spiral in the English language...I'm embarrassed!!!

Answer 9

Not true. A lot of Americans know what a double negative is.

Answer 10

Because they are thick. Some Brits say it too - but only if they're either thick or very young, too young to know.