“I don’t think” versus “I think + not”
This paper explores an overlooked yet intriguing phenomenon: the different preferences of first language (L1) and second language (L2) groups in the use of I don’t think and I think+not. Based on naturally occurring data from linguistically and culturally contrastive groups of American English speak...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2017
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53452 |
| _version_ | 1848759147442470912 |
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| author | Sabet, Peyman G.P. Zhang, G. |
| author_facet | Sabet, Peyman G.P. Zhang, G. |
| author_sort | Sabet, Peyman G.P. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper explores an overlooked yet intriguing phenomenon: the different preferences of first language (L1) and second language (L2) groups in the use of I don’t think and I think+not. Based on naturally occurring data from linguistically and culturally contrastive groups of American English speakers, Chinese and Persian English speakers, this study finds that I don’t think highlights the speaker’s opinion, and I think+not focuses on the content conveyed. There is a correlation between the negative power and the distance between I think and the negative marker: the closer the two, the stronger the negativity. While I don’t think has more negativity force, I think+not has more mitigating weight and can be employed as a politeness strategy. The L1 speakers differ from the L2 speakers but are closer to the Chinese than the Persians; the striking variations occur between the L1 speakers and the Persians. The Persians are found to be the most indirect; the Chinese are more direct than the Persians but less direct than the L1 speakers. The differences between L1 and L2 groups relate to the first-language transfer and cultural influence. This study implies that different varieties of English use need to be addressed in language teaching. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:55:16Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-53452 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:55:16Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-534522019-09-02T07:25:19Z “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” Sabet, Peyman G.P. Zhang, G. This paper explores an overlooked yet intriguing phenomenon: the different preferences of first language (L1) and second language (L2) groups in the use of I don’t think and I think+not. Based on naturally occurring data from linguistically and culturally contrastive groups of American English speakers, Chinese and Persian English speakers, this study finds that I don’t think highlights the speaker’s opinion, and I think+not focuses on the content conveyed. There is a correlation between the negative power and the distance between I think and the negative marker: the closer the two, the stronger the negativity. While I don’t think has more negativity force, I think+not has more mitigating weight and can be employed as a politeness strategy. The L1 speakers differ from the L2 speakers but are closer to the Chinese than the Persians; the striking variations occur between the L1 speakers and the Persians. The Persians are found to be the most indirect; the Chinese are more direct than the Persians but less direct than the L1 speakers. The differences between L1 and L2 groups relate to the first-language transfer and cultural influence. This study implies that different varieties of English use need to be addressed in language teaching. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53452 10.1515/text-2017-0010 De Gruyter fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Sabet, Peyman G.P. Zhang, G. “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” |
| title | “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” |
| title_full | “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” |
| title_fullStr | “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” |
| title_short | “I don’t think” versus “I think + not” |
| title_sort | “i don’t think” versus “i think + not” |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53452 |