"must not be" from the Kitchen Debate

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	Teleostomi  #399461  Thu, 02 Aug 07 07:35 AM This is from the famous Kitchen Debate fought between Khrushchev and Nixon. Which of the following does "must not" mean in Nixon's sentence? (1) The Soviet top officials ought not to be afraid of ideas. (2) The Soviet top officials are seemingly not being afraid of ideas. (3) Anybody, whether he be Russian or American, ought not to be afraid of ideas. KHRUSHCHEV We always knew that Americans were smart people. Stupid people could not have risen to the economic level that they’ve reached. But as you know, "we don’t beat flies with our nostrils!" In 42 years we’ve made progress. NIXON You must not be afraid of ideas.    Teleostomi Joined on Sat, Jun 10 2006 Regular Member (557)
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	nona the brit  #399462  Thu, 02 Aug 07 07:37 AM 1 or 3 - it's not clear just from simply looking at the language but probably 3, as 1 would be a little insulting!    nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member (11,450) The name says it all.

	Teleostomi  #399471  Thu, 02 Aug 07 08:19 AM Hi nona the brit! I'm not yet sure when the so called "epistemic 'must'" is possible! Like "You must be kidding!" "You must know the whereabout of the secret sword!"    Teleostomi

	nona the brit  #399478  Thu, 02 Aug 07 08:52 AM Those examples are fine.    nona the brit

	Teleostomi  #399489  Thu, 02 Aug 07 09:46 AM I mean, what's the obstacle for the same kind of interpretation for the Kitchen Debate example? In other words, why is (2) not possible?    Teleostomi

	nona the brit  #399490  Thu, 02 Aug 07 09:57 AM Well, I suppose it is feasible, but logic tells us it's one of the other meanings in that context. Additionally, that meaning of 'must not' is very rarely used. I don't think I've ever heard it in 'real life'. It sounds like something out of a 1930s film where everyone speaks terribly terribly formally in posh accents, to me.    nona the brit
Accents

	Teleostomi  #399842  Fri, 03 Aug 07 06:32 AM Ah, I see! That usage of  "must" is rare is quite new to me! Thank you very much! By the way, Do the following use of "must"  (in the epistemic sense) sound posh, too? (1) "Has she gone deaf! She must hear it." (2) "You can't taste the garlic in that sweet roll? That's impossible. You must taste it!" (3) "Can you hear the battle?" She shook her head. "Only the wind …" "More than wind! Sword strikes … horses at the gallop … shouting. You must hear it."    Teleostomi

	CalifJim  #399880  Fri, 03 Aug 07 07:53 AM (4) It has to be the case that you Russians are not afraid of ideas. I think this is a distinctly American use of must not. But without the audio of the whole thing, I can't be sure.  Nixon may have been saying something different which can't be captured in writing but which might be heard in his intonation patterns. CJ    CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member (17,765) "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
Intonations

	Teleostomi  #399890  Fri, 03 Aug 07 08:25 AM Thanks, but (2) in #1 and your (4) isn't the same thing?    Teleostomi