Asking the negative (Was: Proving a Negative)

--- by JLS
------ for the GC

---- JASON K. is commenting in "The greatest living philosopher":

there is a linguistic tic among the native population of phrasing questions, thus:
-- Would you not care for a beer? -- Do you not think he should be here by now? -- You're not going?! (when you get up to go, put on your coat, open the door, etc)

Yes, it is strange. I wonder the Gricean reason. I suppose 'not' is a polite marker, "Would you not care for a beer?" seems more polite than the intrusive, "Would you care for a beer?". In that the first, but not the second, requires a 'si' in French (the second requires a 'oui' -- or something). In general, when I organise a party I ask the butler (if I have one) to just OFFER things. I find that the pre-request ("Would you, would you not, ...") tends to inhibit people. I know it inhibits me. If I am asked, out of the blue, if I would care NOT for a beer? I first feel pity for the beer. Someone is asking me to care for it.

"Do you not think he should be here by now?" is more of a neg-raising, so called by the linguists. It asks for: say yes or no to "I don't think he should be here by now". It seems more polite than the affirmative, which is a sordid inquisition in our doxastic beliefs. Cfr. "Do you believe in God?" -- versus the far more polite, "Don't you believe in God?".

The third, "You're not going?" is also a marker of politeness. Surely it would be rude, under the circumstances (hat on, door open), if not downright otiose, to ask whether you are going. Surely the implicature is that the utterer does NOT desire you to leave.

The Irish can be a very polite lot. Etc.