Answers
Jun 19, 2012 - 08:04 PM
Hi Shannon! Italian as other Latin-stemmed languages use double negatives and it's use is not ungrammatical. This might be confusing but I'll try to clarify it. When saying "no" as "We don't want", then the double negative there just adds force to the fact that you don't want something. So if you rephrase the English translation of "Non vogliamo niente di dolce, grazie", it would be: "No thanks, we don't want anything for dessert".
In case you're offering something, it has a positive meaning, because you want the other person to take something, and it's actually more polite to use double negative in this case, because it's actually less straightforward than "vuole qualcosa da bere". So "non desidera niente da bere?" would best translate in English as "Would you happen to like something to drink?" or "Is there anything to drink that I could offer you?". We of course don't give more semantically precise translations, because we want to make the translation as literally close as the Italian sentence.
Hope this helps! Cheers!
In case you're offering something, it has a positive meaning, because you want the other person to take something, and it's actually more polite to use double negative in this case, because it's actually less straightforward than "vuole qualcosa da bere". So "non desidera niente da bere?" would best translate in English as "Would you happen to like something to drink?" or "Is there anything to drink that I could offer you?". We of course don't give more semantically precise translations, because we want to make the translation as literally close as the Italian sentence.
Hope this helps! Cheers!
Jun 20, 2012 - 08:33 PM
Leo, it should be "its use is not ungrammatical," not "it's use is ungrammatical." Just a small point on punctuation, but hey, it's a dark world out there.
And thanks for monitoring these questions so closely - it's helpful to read the Qs and As. Your hard work is appreciated!
LOOKING FORWARD TO ITALIAN 4 AND 5!!!!
And thanks for monitoring these questions so closely - it's helpful to read the Qs and As. Your hard work is appreciated!
LOOKING FORWARD TO ITALIAN 4 AND 5!!!!
Jun 21, 2012 - 02:57 PM
Thanks for pointing that out Michael, I'll be more careful with that from now on, and thanks for your words of support. We're working on Italian 4 and 5 as we speak, so hopefully it should be out soon! Cheers! A presto!
Jun 21, 2012 - 10:51 PM
Bella notizia, Leo! Grazie.
Jun 22, 2012 - 03:25 PM
Prego Rosemarie, se tutto va bene lanceremo i livelli 4 e 5 di Italiano fra pochi mesi! A presto!
Jun 22, 2012 - 08:08 PM
Thanks Leo, that clears things up for me. Its tough learning all the new grammar rules! Looking forward to getting Italian 4 +5 when they're done
Jun 22, 2012 - 08:24 PM
You're welcome Shannon : ) yeah there are intricacies in the language that only over time they become clear and second nature. Hopefully we'll have Italian 4+5 out within a couple of months. Have a great weekend!