A: You haven't heard it? B: No, I heard it (nodding a yes)
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- A: You haven't heard it? B: No, I heard it (nodding a yes)
I'd always expect as a positive response to a negative question Yes, I heard it / did.
Why so?
Link to video 22:32
american-english questions speech pragmatics
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
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up vote
1
down vote
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- A: You haven't heard it? B: No, I heard it (nodding a yes)
I'd always expect as a positive response to a negative question Yes, I heard it / did.
Why so?
Link to video 22:32
american-english questions speech pragmatics
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
2
This is a perfectly normal response. The first speaker has made an assertion, and the second speaker is responding that the assertion is untrue.
– Hot Licks
Dec 1 at 14:01
Like the OP, I would expect the reply 'Yes, I have.'
– Kate Bunting
Dec 1 at 14:28
1
@Kate That would be a different response. The negative response is directly commenting on the veracity of A’s statement, correcting a misconception. The positive response is just answering the question. It would also be quite natural to double the negation in the negative response: “No no, I heard it”.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 1 at 14:57
@HotLicks If it was an assertion, then No might be reasonable. As it's expressed in the question here, it's a question "You haven't heard it?" to which Yes is reasonable if the answerer has heard it. It seems likely in the interview that the sentence was intended and interpreted as an assertion.
– Andrew Leach♦
Dec 1 at 16:02
1
What's strange is that No, I haven't heard it is also a natural response. But the no is being used contextually. The first no is a rejection of the claim while the second no is an affirmation of the claim.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 1 at 16:51
|
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
- A: You haven't heard it? B: No, I heard it (nodding a yes)
I'd always expect as a positive response to a negative question Yes, I heard it / did.
Why so?
Link to video 22:32
american-english questions speech pragmatics
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
- A: You haven't heard it? B: No, I heard it (nodding a yes)
I'd always expect as a positive response to a negative question Yes, I heard it / did.
Why so?
Link to video 22:32
american-english questions speech pragmatics
american-english questions speech pragmatics
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
asked Dec 1 at 13:31
GJC
325210
325210
2
This is a perfectly normal response. The first speaker has made an assertion, and the second speaker is responding that the assertion is untrue.
– Hot Licks
Dec 1 at 14:01
Like the OP, I would expect the reply 'Yes, I have.'
– Kate Bunting
Dec 1 at 14:28
1
@Kate That would be a different response. The negative response is directly commenting on the veracity of A’s statement, correcting a misconception. The positive response is just answering the question. It would also be quite natural to double the negation in the negative response: “No no, I heard it”.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 1 at 14:57
@HotLicks If it was an assertion, then No might be reasonable. As it's expressed in the question here, it's a question "You haven't heard it?" to which Yes is reasonable if the answerer has heard it. It seems likely in the interview that the sentence was intended and interpreted as an assertion.
– Andrew Leach♦
Dec 1 at 16:02
1
What's strange is that No, I haven't heard it is also a natural response. But the no is being used contextually. The first no is a rejection of the claim while the second no is an affirmation of the claim.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 1 at 16:51
|
show 3 more comments
2
This is a perfectly normal response. The first speaker has made an assertion, and the second speaker is responding that the assertion is untrue.
– Hot Licks
Dec 1 at 14:01
Like the OP, I would expect the reply 'Yes, I have.'
– Kate Bunting
Dec 1 at 14:28
1
@Kate That would be a different response. The negative response is directly commenting on the veracity of A’s statement, correcting a misconception. The positive response is just answering the question. It would also be quite natural to double the negation in the negative response: “No no, I heard it”.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 1 at 14:57
@HotLicks If it was an assertion, then No might be reasonable. As it's expressed in the question here, it's a question "You haven't heard it?" to which Yes is reasonable if the answerer has heard it. It seems likely in the interview that the sentence was intended and interpreted as an assertion.
– Andrew Leach♦
Dec 1 at 16:02
1
What's strange is that No, I haven't heard it is also a natural response. But the no is being used contextually. The first no is a rejection of the claim while the second no is an affirmation of the claim.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 1 at 16:51
2
2
This is a perfectly normal response. The first speaker has made an assertion, and the second speaker is responding that the assertion is untrue.
– Hot Licks
Dec 1 at 14:01
This is a perfectly normal response. The first speaker has made an assertion, and the second speaker is responding that the assertion is untrue.
– Hot Licks
Dec 1 at 14:01
Like the OP, I would expect the reply 'Yes, I have.'
– Kate Bunting
Dec 1 at 14:28
Like the OP, I would expect the reply 'Yes, I have.'
– Kate Bunting
Dec 1 at 14:28
1
1
@Kate That would be a different response. The negative response is directly commenting on the veracity of A’s statement, correcting a misconception. The positive response is just answering the question. It would also be quite natural to double the negation in the negative response: “No no, I heard it”.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 1 at 14:57
@Kate That would be a different response. The negative response is directly commenting on the veracity of A’s statement, correcting a misconception. The positive response is just answering the question. It would also be quite natural to double the negation in the negative response: “No no, I heard it”.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 1 at 14:57
@HotLicks If it was an assertion, then No might be reasonable. As it's expressed in the question here, it's a question "You haven't heard it?" to which Yes is reasonable if the answerer has heard it. It seems likely in the interview that the sentence was intended and interpreted as an assertion.
– Andrew Leach♦
Dec 1 at 16:02
@HotLicks If it was an assertion, then No might be reasonable. As it's expressed in the question here, it's a question "You haven't heard it?" to which Yes is reasonable if the answerer has heard it. It seems likely in the interview that the sentence was intended and interpreted as an assertion.
– Andrew Leach♦
Dec 1 at 16:02
1
1
What's strange is that No, I haven't heard it is also a natural response. But the no is being used contextually. The first no is a rejection of the claim while the second no is an affirmation of the claim.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 1 at 16:51
What's strange is that No, I haven't heard it is also a natural response. But the no is being used contextually. The first no is a rejection of the claim while the second no is an affirmation of the claim.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 1 at 16:51
|
show 3 more comments
1 Answer
1
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-2
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Actually, in English, you always say YES if your answer
is POSITIVE, and say NO if your answer is NEGATIVE
regardless of how the question is phrased.
Example:
(1) Have you finished your lunch?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
(2) Have you not finished your homework?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
It may not be true in some languages such as Chinese.
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
-2
down vote
Actually, in English, you always say YES if your answer
is POSITIVE, and say NO if your answer is NEGATIVE
regardless of how the question is phrased.
Example:
(1) Have you finished your lunch?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
(2) Have you not finished your homework?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
It may not be true in some languages such as Chinese.
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
Actually, in English, you always say YES if your answer
is POSITIVE, and say NO if your answer is NEGATIVE
regardless of how the question is phrased.
Example:
(1) Have you finished your lunch?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
(2) Have you not finished your homework?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
It may not be true in some languages such as Chinese.
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
up vote
-2
down vote
Actually, in English, you always say YES if your answer
is POSITIVE, and say NO if your answer is NEGATIVE
regardless of how the question is phrased.
Example:
(1) Have you finished your lunch?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
(2) Have you not finished your homework?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
It may not be true in some languages such as Chinese.
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Actually, in English, you always say YES if your answer
is POSITIVE, and say NO if your answer is NEGATIVE
regardless of how the question is phrased.
Example:
(1) Have you finished your lunch?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
(2) Have you not finished your homework?
Yes, I have; or No, I haven't.
It may not be true in some languages such as Chinese.
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
answered 2 days ago
Victor
11
11
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Victor is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
add a comment |
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
Hi Victor, welcome to EL&U. Note that this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites: an answer is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. It's not enough to just say "you always do X" - what's your evidence for this rule? You can edit your post to add a reference; for further guidance, see How to Answer. Make sure you also take the Tour :-)
– Chappo
2 days ago
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
This is not true. It’s true of the basic functions of yes and no (which work the same way in Chinese, incidentally; you’re thinking of Japanese), but there are many exceptions. You can use a negative with a positive answer as in the question here, and you can also use an affirmative with a negative answer if you’re being sarcastic (“I’m the greatest poet ever, aren’t I?” — “Yeah, I don’t think so.”).
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
yesterday
add a comment |
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2
This is a perfectly normal response. The first speaker has made an assertion, and the second speaker is responding that the assertion is untrue.
– Hot Licks
Dec 1 at 14:01
Like the OP, I would expect the reply 'Yes, I have.'
– Kate Bunting
Dec 1 at 14:28
1
@Kate That would be a different response. The negative response is directly commenting on the veracity of A’s statement, correcting a misconception. The positive response is just answering the question. It would also be quite natural to double the negation in the negative response: “No no, I heard it”.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 1 at 14:57
@HotLicks If it was an assertion, then No might be reasonable. As it's expressed in the question here, it's a question "You haven't heard it?" to which Yes is reasonable if the answerer has heard it. It seems likely in the interview that the sentence was intended and interpreted as an assertion.
– Andrew Leach♦
Dec 1 at 16:02
1
What's strange is that No, I haven't heard it is also a natural response. But the no is being used contextually. The first no is a rejection of the claim while the second no is an affirmation of the claim.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 1 at 16:51