In linguistics, an echo answer or echo response is a way of answering a polar question without using words for yes and no. The verb used in the question is simply echoed in the answer, negated if the answer has a negative truth-value. For examples:
- "Did you go to the cinema?" (or "Didn't you go to the cinema?")
- "I did not." or "I didn't go."
Read more about Echo Answer: Finnish, Celtic Languages, Latin, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese
Famous quotes containing the words echo and/or answer:
“To write is to make oneself the echo of what cannot cease speakingand since it cannot, in order to become its echo I have, in a way, to silence it. I bring to this incessant speech the decisiveness, the authority of my own silence.”
—Maurice Blanchot (b. 1907)
“Inspector Clouseau: How can a blind man be a lookout?
Chief Inspector Dreyfus: How can an idiot be a policeman? Answer me that!
Inspector Clouseau: Its very simple. All he has to do is enlist.”
—Blake Edwards (b. 1922)