,,,lo cual no suele ser gran cosa acerca de nada

Question

In a book I am reading (my first), I am concerned this sentence may be in error.

"El asunto es que por lo común da incómodo sentido a un mundo donde la mayoría de la gente más bien se contenta con oír lo que ya está acostumbrada a oír, lo cual no suele ser gran cosa acerca de nada"

It's meaning is, roughly, "The thing is, that he usually makes uncomfortable sense to a world where the majority of people would rather be content with hearing what they are accustomed to hearing, which is often much about nothing."

It seems to say "which is not often much about nothing", because of the first "no".

It would make sense to me if it were written "lo cual suele ser gran cosa acerca de nada", meaning "which is often much about nothing.

Is this an error, or does the first "no" belong?

Thank you, Ken

Answer 1

I see it as "which is not often much about anything"

That inclusion of the no "triggers" that nada because double negatives are allowed in Spanish.

No tengo nada= I don't have anything. [correct]

No tengo nada= I don't have nothing [wrong]

So basically, a "nada" can mean "anything" or "nothing" based on context.

Makes sense now, the double negatives, and phrasing, were confusing me. Thank you! - amaken, Jul 15, 2012

Answer 2

I suppose it is how you interpret the last part which I see as,

"Which is usually not a big deal about nothing", where the no is necessary to make not a big deal.

Thanks Eddy! - amaken, Jul 15, 2012

Answer 3

Hi, Ken. I, too, think that it's the double negative thing (required in Spanish) that's throwing you off.

No tengo nada que decir = correct

Tengo nada que decir = wrong

Thank you for more examples Mariana! It makes sense to me now. Double negatives,, interesting. - amaken, Jul 15, 2012