how do you answer? Yes/No 是/不 Oui/Non/Si Ja/nein/noch Yes/No 对/不 Oui/Non/Si Ja/nein/noch How do you answer an affirmative question and a negative question? we can see 3 different ways: English way, Ch

ming

how do you answer? Yes/No 是/不 Oui/Non/Si Ja/nein/noch

Yes/No 对/不 Oui/Non/Si Ja/nein/noch

How do you answer an affirmative question and a negative question?

we can see 3 different ways: English way, Chinese way, French-Deutsch way.

Is it hot?

(when it is) yes, 是，oui，ja

(when it is not)no，不，non，nein

Is it not hot?

(when it is) yes, 不，si，noch
(when it is not)no，是，non，nein

how do other languages answer these two questions?

24 сент. 2014 г., 10:22

Комментариев · 3

Another one :

When someone says: Do you mind doing this ...?

You are supposed to say No (as in "No, I don't mind..)

24 сентября 2014 г.

I'm aware that this yes/no issue can cause misunderstanding.

I remember one classic example when an Asian student who was staying with an English family told his landlady that he would be going to London for the day.

She said:

'Then you won't be home for dinner, then?'

He replied:

'Yes.'

By this reply, he meant 'Yes - what you say is correct'. However, his English landlady interpreted this as 'Yes - I will be home for dinner'. So she made for dinner for him, and was angry when he didn't show up. He was upset, because thought that he has told her that he didn't need dinner.

Would this same misunderstanding happen between two people of different cultures speaking your language?

24 сентября 2014 г.