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Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 10:26:09 +0100
From: Philip Anderson <phil.anderson@amsjv.com>
Organization: Alenia Marconi Systems ISD
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Subject: Re: an infinate loop
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Date: 2001-07-16T10:26:09+01:00
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Robert Dewar wrote:
> 
<snip request for a reference, which would be interesting>

> To me in english is it just as clear to say
> 
> "if you are free today, can you ...
> 
> "if you are not busy today, can you ...
> 
> And it would be interesting to see "studies* refuting this ...


In this case with a simple negative I don't think there is a difference,
but it changes with more complicated conditions.  Consider:

"If you are not stress-free ..."
v
"If you are stressed ..."

or

"If it is not raining or snowing ..." where English has no rule that
"not" has precedence over "or" or vice versa.


Also, what is the reply to "are you not busy today?"

"Yes [I am not busy today]" or "no [I am not busy today]"?

where I believe the expectation is different to speakers of different
languages.


On the other hand, a clear neagtive like "not empty" is better than an
unclear positive like "partly-filled" - and even "positive" can be
ambiguous to French-speakers!


-- 
hwyl/cheers,
Philip Anderson
Alenia Marconi Systems
Cwmbr�n, Cymru/Wales