undefined | Better HN

0 pointsdanielscrubs6y ago0 comments

Reminds me of the confusion with negatives and languages: -Vill du inte ha glass? [Don't you want ice cream?] -はい [Yes]

Does she want ice cream? Answer: No, she doesn't. I added a not, so she's reversing the answer as Japanese people do.

The number of times I've been dumbstruck by this is larger than I'd like to admit, and I'm a coder.

0 comments

English has similar confusion even for plain, non negated questions.

Q: "Do you mind if I sit here?"

A1: "Not at all!"

A2: "Sure!"

Both are valid answers and mean the same thing, the person asking is welcome to sit there. This has always amused me.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

English has similar confusion even for plain, non negated questions.

Q: "Do you mind if I sit here?"

A1: "Not at all!"

A2: "Sure!"

Both are valid answers and mean the same thing, the person asking is welcome to sit there. This has always amused me.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse