can (followed by another word) can sound almost like
kin, or partway between
kin and
kun, with a full
n on the end.
can't (followed by another word) can sound almost like
kan with the final
n clipped short by placing the tongue in position to say
t, but not really saying the
t, at least not completely. Detecting the comparatively clipped sound of
can't is how you know it's
can't, and not
can. (The same clipped sound occurs at the end of
don't and
won't and similar words, by the way.)
Further,
can is normally relatively unstressed, and
can't is normally relatively stressed. The vertical bar shows the clipping of the
nt.
I can see it. =
ikinSEE'it.
I can't see it. =
iKAN'| (t)SEE
'it.
(In this case the
t somewhat attaches to
see, as if there were two words, thus:
kan tsee.)
______________
I can't not go is a different situation. This is more of a semantics problem than a pronunciation problem. Strictly
speaking, this is not a double negative, because the two negatives
negate two different verbs. One negative applies to the ability
or possibility of
can; the other negative applies to the action of
going.
The meaning is, "It's not possible for me not to go", or more simply,
"I have to go". That is, "People are expecting me to go. I
must live up to their expectations." Here it's likely you'll hear
three stressed syllables in succession, perhaps with
not a little less stressed:
i
KAN|(t)'NO|(t)'GO'.
CJ