I used to think all languages had opted for a similar way to accept or decline, to confirm or deny. 2 little words, short to be as efficient as possible.
yes – no
oui – non
sí – no
ja – nein
да / da – нет / niet
The first language to alter my viewpoint was the Turkish language, which uses longer words: evet (yes) et hayır (no). Depending on where a Swahili speaker lives, one will either say the words ndio (yes) or hapana (litteraly « there isn’t »), or a sound and a nod. Thus a long « eeeeh » with raised eyebrows will show agreement, while a « huh-huh » and a nod will show disagreement.
Lastly I came to discover a language that entirely skipped the question. In Gaelic, the official language of Ireland, there is neither yes, nor no. To answer the following question « do you want to go there? », a simple « I do want to go » or « I don’t want to go » will suffice. The sole verb confirms or declines. And this influences the English spoken by the Irish, who would never lose a game of « neither yes nor no »!
Thanks to the FICEP for organising language initiations and to Paula Nic Cionnaith for sharing her culture on a rainy Saturday of May in the Hotel de Ville.