Ni = Y + No?

Question

Hey, so ever since I've come across the word "ni", I've treated it as if it meant "y no". This works for pretty much any example I've come across:

"No son pollos ni ratas son".

"No puedo saltar ni caminar"

I've also learned it means "neither-nor" and "even" when used in certain contexts. My question is in Shakira's song La Tortura, she says "No solo de pan vive el hombre Y no de excusas vivo yo". Shouldn't that be "No solo de pan vive el hombre ni de excusas vivo yo"?

I like that song and the way she and Alejandro Sanz do it. - rac1, Sep 20, 2013

Man doesn't live on bread alone. Nor do I live on excuses. - rac1, Sep 20, 2013

Answer 1

You're right. In common Speaking one would say ni instead of ni yo. It may be just a creative use of language for the lyrics to fit better into the music. In addition, maybe unintentionally or maybe not, there is a clear emphasis on the no in the latter.

Answer 2

I think it could be done either way.

Man does not live by bread alone and I don't live with excuses.

Man does not live by bread alone and neither do I live with excuses.

Answer 3

ni means neither or nor. Prefiero neither un gato ni un perro, no me gustan animales.

Answer 4

Yes, I think either could be done and thus, that you can´t say the second clause Should start with Ni. That is just another possibility.

When using songs to learn any language, it´s important to realize that a lot of artistic license is wielded to ¨make things fit¨, be that rhythmically, number of syllables, tone, rhyming, whatever.

Also, I think the way she writes it emphasizes the no a bit more strongly that employing ni would.

Lastly, though either could work, I think that I have noticed the use of no when I might expect ni, more often when there is a change of speaker, as was the case here. Not a hard and fast rule, but something I seem to notice.