XPost: sci.lang, alt.usage.english
This use of (inserted) [... Not really...] has been common
at least since the 1960's
esp. for teenagers.
___________here, Hemingway used it in a short story
entitled "Night Before Battle"
(This use is not typical. Not really)
..............
..............
..............
“That’s the same way you said ‘Casa del Campo.’’’
“Yeah,” he said. “I laugh every time I think of that.” Then he went on, “You see, now, they’re not frightened of tanks anymore. Nobody is. We aren’t either.
But they’re still useful. Really useful. Only with the anti-tank now they’re so damn vulnerable. Maybe I ought to be in something else. Not really. Because they’re still useful. But the way they are now you’ve
got to have a vocation for them. You got to have a lot of political
development to be a good tank man now.”
“You’re a good tank man.”
“I’d like to be something else tomorrow,” he said. “I’m talking
awfully wet but you have a right to talk wet if it isn’t going to hurt anybody else. You know I like tanks too, only we don’t use them
right because the infantry don’t know enough yet. ...........
___________________________________Subject: not really / really not
Date: Mon, 27 May 2024 07:17:00 +0000
From: tonbei <
musatokyo@juno.ocn.ne.jp>
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
I have a question about the following sentences from a novel.
He(Marino) inflicted an injury
that can't ever heal, not really, and
Lucy just made it worse.
("Book of the Dead" by Patricia Cornwell, p268)
context (or situation):
1) Marino inflicted an injury on Scarpetta, but she kept it to herself.
2) Rather, she covered for him, and didn't accuse him.
3) Knowing this, Lucy, her niece, got angry and condemned her weak attitude.
4）Lucy realized that she had distressed her aunt by doing so, although
she should have comforted the aunt.
question: about "not really"
"really not" emphasizes "not", but I can't be sure of the meaning of
"not really."
I guess "not really" might have an effect to soften the tone of the
previous sentence.
If so, "Not really would mean: "In fact the injury inflicted by Marino
was not so severe that it can't be cured. Rather, what Lucy did could
get it worse. "
I may be confused. What do you say?
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