The following exchanges illustrate the power of the phrase "'Tain't neither" when used argumentatively. A: "Is too!" B: "'Tain't neither!" A: "Is too!" B: "'Tain't neither!" A: "No way!" B: "Way!" A: "No way!" B: "Way!" B obviously has a rhetorical advantage in exchange 1 that he is missing in exchange 2. Why this should be so is the subject of much academic investigation, but it is generally believed that the phrase's power derives from its definite rhythm, percussive consonants, and genuine down-home hokieness.