CANT ON CAN’T
CANT ON CAN’T CAN’T, contraction of cannot. Cannot is sometimes also spelled can not. The one-word spelling is by far the more common. It is thought of as to be unable to do otherwise than. Can’t is an idiomatic phrase, but has sometimes been criticized as a double negative, perhaps because it has been confused with can, but. The construction has sometimes been criticized as a redundancy, but it has been around for more than a century and appears in the writing of many distinguished authors. The expression cannot (or can't) seem to has occasionally been criticized as illogical, and so it is. Sounding like cant, which doesn’t have the apostrophe, both meanings by shear placement, are quite different. Cant is whining, to talk hypocritically, or insincere statements made to give one the appearance of goodness, piety, or the like. It would seem like cant is to rant. So, reflecting upon a cant of “can’t; A long time ago, I was having a discussion with one of my students. So confident was he of being able to do anything, he made a few blank statements; “I (he) don’t accept the word can’t, it is not in my vocabulary.” “I believe there is nothing I can’t do.” With that, I, being the person to create a conversation out of common parlance, but taking a position of advocatus diaboli, I could not remain reticent. (As if no one realized) I examined his statement(s) and questioned why he “don’t” accept the word. By him using another word, “don’t”, gives a similar meaning to “won’t and wouldn’t”, thus all seeming to represent “can’t”, in some other fashion. In others words, by him stating that he “don’t” accept the word “can’t”, could be a contradiction as this would indicate he “can’t” accept the word “can’t”, which seemed to demonstrate non acceptance. In addition to him actually using the word in a statement, therefore recognizing it as a word, it IS in his vocabulary. I think people view “cant” as failure or not trying. Though it may seem to be a word to suggest “limitation”, it has some profound logic on why it should be accepted. Speaking of limitation, Bruce Lee was working out with one of his students, when the subject, somewhat to “can’t” started. The student was frustrated and told Bruce he was so because he “couldn’t” perform some of the stretches/exercise like he once had, long past. (Cue, “ Mission Impossible” skit – your mission; Who was the student and what did Bruce say in response. No, this writing is not about to self-destruct) Where was I, yes my student. I told him to punch me in the face, and that I would not resist and/or block. Upon his misunderstanding, he clarified that I wanted him to strike me without any repercussion. His reply was that he “couldn’t”. Therefore along the similarity of “won’t, wouldn’t”, don’t, couldn’t, would seem to be that close to “can’t” Although be able to do something, and not doing it for various reasons, may not fall in strict guidelines of not able to. But with can’t, being not able to do something, as far as if one could as well as if one should. Thoughts?
CANT ON CAN’T CAN’T, contraction of cannot. Cannot is sometimes also spelled can not. The one-word spelling is by far the more common. It is thought of as to be unable to do otherwise than. Can’t is an idiomatic phrase, but has sometimes been criticized as a double negative, perhaps because it has been confused with can, but. The construction has sometimes been criticized as a redundancy, but it has been around for more than a century and appears in the writing of many distinguished authors. The expression cannot (or can't) seem to has occasionally been criticized as illogical, and so it is. Sounding like cant, which doesn’t have the apostrophe, both meanings by shear placement, are quite different. Cant is whining, to talk hypocritically, or insincere statements made to give one the appearance of goodness, piety, or the like. It would seem like cant is to rant. So, reflecting upon a cant of “can’t; A long time ago, I was having a discussion with one of my students. So confident was he of being able to do anything, he made a few blank statements; “I (he) don’t accept the word can’t, it is not in my vocabulary.” “I believe there is nothing I can’t do.” With that, I, being the person to create a conversation out of common parlance, but taking a position of advocatus diaboli, I could not remain reticent. (As if no one realized) I examined his statement(s) and questioned why he “don’t” accept the word. By him using another word, “don’t”, gives a similar meaning to “won’t and wouldn’t”, thus all seeming to represent “can’t”, in some other fashion. In others words, by him stating that he “don’t” accept the word “can’t”, could be a contradiction as this would indicate he “can’t” accept the word “can’t”, which seemed to demonstrate non acceptance. In addition to him actually using the word in a statement, therefore recognizing it as a word, it IS in his vocabulary. I think people view “cant” as failure or not trying. Though it may seem to be a word to suggest “limitation”, it has some profound logic on why it should be accepted. Speaking of limitation, Bruce Lee was working out with one of his students, when the subject, somewhat to “can’t” started. The student was frustrated and told Bruce he was so because he “couldn’t” perform some of the stretches/exercise like he once had, long past. (Cue, “ Mission Impossible” skit – your mission; Who was the student and what did Bruce say in response. No, this writing is not about to self-destruct) Where was I, yes my student. I told him to punch me in the face, and that I would not resist and/or block. Upon his misunderstanding, he clarified that I wanted him to strike me without any repercussion. His reply was that he “couldn’t”. Therefore along the similarity of “won’t, wouldn’t”, don’t, couldn’t, would seem to be that close to “can’t” Although be able to do something, and not doing it for various reasons, may not fall in strict guidelines of not able to. But with can’t, being not able to do something, as far as if one could as well as if one should. Thoughts?