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From: alan@dragon.acadiau.ca (Alan McKay)
Subject: Re: Words for yes
Message-ID: <1995Oct2.165337.20434@relay.acadiau.ca>
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References: <43mtgj$8d9@mckinley.cit.macalstr.edu> <vbwn3br7ay1.fsf@dptmaths.ens-cachan.fr>
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 16:53:37 GMT
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Vincent Zoonekynd <zoonek@DPTMaths.ENS-Cachan.Fr> writes:

>The same holds for German (Ja/Doch).

>In Japanese, hai means that you agree. It may be translated by yes or
>no depending on the question. The other way round for iie.

This is a classic example of trying to translate something that can't
be translated.

There is no english word for the German "doch".  It is used when someone
asks a question with a negative in it, and the response negates the
negative.

Do you have a coat?  yes.

I heard you don't have a coat.  doch.


-- 
                     Do witches run spell checkers?
http://www.acadiau.ca/cc/alan/
