On the contrary

SIR – I was interested by Tore Fauske’s comment (Letters, June 30) that “No” seems to be used these days to mean “Yes”, as in: ‘No, I really enjoyed Labour Live.”

In contrast, when we started living in Cork, it took a while before we realised that “I will, yeah,” actually meant, “I absolutely under any circumstances will not.” Graham Masterton

Tadworth, Surrey

SIR – Even more common than starting a positive answer to a question with a “No”, is to start it with “Yes, no”.

Some months ago I heard a well-known, well-spoken, erudite interviewee answer a question with “Yes, no, absolutely.”

Let’s hope that, like a lot of crazes, it has a limited shelf life, and we can soon return to normality. Richard Hall

Boston, Lincolnshire