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

[Laurence Horn]

> On Jul 24, 2020, at 8:31 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> I noticed this too.
> 
> I also thought her use of "accost" was a little odd, as it apparently
> included the idea of speaking insultingly.
> 
> JL

Hmmm.  Unlike the hypernegation, that didn’t strike me as odd. I don’t have OED at the moment, but AHD has for “accost”:

1. To approach and speak to, especially aggressively or insistently, as with a demand or request.
2. To approach and speak to with the intent of having sex.

(2) clearly didn’t apply to Rep. Yoho but (1) seems accurate enough for the incident as Rep. Ocasio Cortez describes it, even in the absence of an explicit demand or request.  

LH
 
> 
> On Fri, 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
>> 
>> 
>> Nancy Friedman
>> Chief Wordworker
>> www.wordworking.com
>> http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com
>> Medium <https://medium.com/@wordworking>
>> 
>> tel 510 652-4159
>> cel 510 304-3953
>> twitter/instagram  Fritinancy
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> 
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