Double Negation_Lithuania.pdf

Irrespective of the fact that two negations in the same clause usually cancel each other out and resultin an affirmative sentence, the phenomenon of double negation in English is still a disputable problem.These aspects all lead to linguistic complexity of double negation in SLA followed by a descriptionof its relevant characteristics and contradictory aspects in English and Ukrainian. This study aimsto establish a cognitive model of double negation as understatement via a mitigation operation asregards its specific contextual effects and to explore the impact of the language of instruction on thelinguistic complexity of double negation to the learner of English. Within the theory of negation, thisresearch applies the hypothesis to the assumption that English is the main language of instruction fora Ukrainian learner, and how L2 learners’ comprehension and production of double negation occur. Thehypothesis is empirically tested against the English sentences with their Ukrainian equivalents and thetasks in the questionnaire written by learners of English. The results of my research suggest that whenlearners interpret L2 sentences with more than one negative element we identify both similar anddifferent double negatives in a students’ first and second language that influence enhanced awarenessof double negation and which is important for successful L2 comprehension and use.