[Ads-l] Misnegation: "lack of impunity"

Laurence Horn laurence.horn at YALE.EDU
Sat Jul 25 01:08:14 UTC 2020


> On Jul 24, 2020, at 7:45 PM, Nancy Friedman <wordworking at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> I haven't seen any mention of this apparent misnegation in that rousing
> speech yesterday by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), so I bring it up
> here as a matter of linguistic interest:
> 
> "This issue is not about one incident. It is cultural. It is a culture of *lack
> of impunity*, of accepting of violence and violent language against women
> and an entire structure of power that supports that."
> 
> Emphasis added. From the context, it appears she meant "a culture of
> *impunity*"--of getting away with bad behavior.
> 
> Video here:
> https://www.npr.org/2020/07/23/894596598/i-could-not-allow-that-to-stand-ocasio-cortez-rebukes-republican-for-vulgar-insu
> 
Indeed.  Noticed it, and agree on the analysis.

LH

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