From: Andreas Johansson <andjo@...>
> Quoting "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...>:
> > On 9/25/07, Benct Philip Jonsson <conlang@...> wrote:
> > > (It is strange to a Swede that _yes_ both affirms a positive
> > > statement and counter-negates a negative statement,
> >
> > It's strange to us that you'd have separate words for those functions.
> > Ain't language great? :)
> In Sw. sailors are stereotypically depicted as acknowledging orders with _aj aj
> kapten!_. The dictionary tells me this is obsolete among real sailors.
> But doesn't 'aye' replace 'yes' also in simple the simple affirmative function
> in certain dialects?
For procedural voting:
All in favor: "Aye!"
All opposed: "Nay!"
The "aye's" have it.
I don't associate this usage to dialect (antiquated therefore formalized).
Outside of this context and as a simple "yes," pirates (along with "aargh") and
maybe places where words like "brogue," "lilt," or "isle" are involved (Scottie
on "Star Trek").
G