Ladle Ghoulash 48,826 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 2 minutes ago, Nagini said: grammer error Pls š We have forgotten our public MANNERS Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imogen2133 430 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 11 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said: āNot nothingā is a double negative, which becomes a positive. The whole rhetorical structure of the chorus is that sheās working backwards from a negative assumption (low self-esteem) to a positive affirmation (self-confidence). āUnlessā in this context is a conditional, which means that the negative assumption sheās making is conditioning her self-worth on her own perception of her capability. I donāt disagree that itās unnatural, but I think itās deliberate because it reflects the fact that the mindset sheās trying to work her away out of is fundamentally one based on negative self-characterization to the point that the best she can do is refute those thoughts to work towards aspiring to be stronger/more confident/freer. I know all of that and know it is supposed to be an empowering and uplifting part of the song and her working towards being strong but if you apply the double negative then the lyric would be "I'm something unless I know I can" which still doesn't make sense. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagini 3,991 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 Just now, Ladle Ghoulash said: Pls š I should of been more creativeĀ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladle Ghoulash 48,826 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 Just now, Nagini said: I should of been more creativeĀ Iām not nothing unless I can spell grammar correctly iktr We have forgotten our public MANNERS 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imogen2133 430 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Nagini said: I should of been more creativeĀ should have* Edited June 3 by imogen2133 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagini 3,991 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 Just now, imogen2133 said: should have* that's the jokeĀ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagini 3,991 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 Y'all I know my grammer up and down don't play w/ meĀ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imogen2133 430 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 1 minute ago, Nagini said: that's the jokeĀ oh whoops Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladle Ghoulash 48,826 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 1 minute ago, imogen2133 said: I know all of that and know it is supposed to be an empowering and uplifting part of the song and her working towards being strong but if you apply the double negative then the lyric would be "I'm something unless I know I can" which still doesn't make sense. The way that I read it is that sheās not just negating just the word ānothing,ā sheās negating the whole premise āIām nothing unless I know I can,ā which is an entirely defensible rhetorical structure. We have forgotten our public MANNERS Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imogen2133 430 Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 4 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said: The way that I read it is that sheās not just negating just the word ānothing,ā sheās negating the whole premise āIām nothing unless I know I can,ā which is an entirely defensible rhetorical structure. Well either way it is still very clunky and and a better lyric which makes much more sense would be "I am nothing, unless I know I can" Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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