Yeah, no, I agree

[MadImmortalMan]

Why do people say "yeah no" when agreeing, or even sometimes even disagreeing with others? Is this related to the "ending every sentence with a question mark" (valley girl) thing people sometimes do in order to seem less assertive and nonthreatening? Or call it passive-aggressive maybe.


Listening to various things (TV pundits, radio, podcasts) I've begun noticing the "yeah, no" thing is beginning to stick out. I guess since I started noticing it, it no longer just flies by and I hear it all the damn time.

[Admiral Yi]

Never heard it.

[Jacob]

I've only heard it as disagreement, and it's come across like this:

"Yeah" = "I heard what you said and acknowledge it"/ "I'm thinking about what you just said"/ a simple cadence device (basically a slightly more articulate "uhmmm")

"No" = response to the question.

I guess in the case of a "yeah no, I agree" the "I heard you"/"I'm thinking"/cadence device function has expanded to be "yeah no" instead of just "yeah", and "I agree" is the actual substance of the reply.

[Sheilbh]

I say it. I also say the more rare 'no, no' in the same way, not for emphasis. I also have a bad habit of starting sentences with 'no'

[Tonitrus]

"yeah, no" by itself, has the very acidic, patronizing "no" feel about it. 

I've always felt the "yeah, no, I agree" uses the "no" as a kind of emphasis...as if the "yeah" starts as half-hearted agreement, but then the  "no, I agree" part uses the "no" to remove any implied doubt and strengthen the agreement.

It makes little sense, but then it is english. 

[MadImmortalMan]

I say it. I also say the more rare 'no, no' in the same way, not for emphasis. I also have a bad habit of starting sentences with 'no'

Do you think it's a communication device or just an affectation?

Like when people end a sentence that isn't a question with an upward inflection like a question, they are usually making an assertion. And maybe that question-ey inflection is a way to tone down the aggressive nature of making an assertion.

Does the "no" have a use of that nature or is it just maybe a mental pause like umm or like or one of those things?

[Tonitrus]

I say it. I also say the more rare 'no, no' in the same way, not for emphasis. I also have a bad habit of starting sentences with 'no'

Do you think it's a communication device or just an affectation?

Like when people end a sentence that isn't a question with an upward inflection like a question, they are usually making an assertion. And maybe that question-ey inflection is a way to tone down the aggressive nature of making an assertion.

Does the "no" have a use of that nature or is it just maybe a mental pause like umm or like or one of those things?

Often I see that also when someone thinks they know/believe something, but are leaving room for doubt and inviting opinion/discussion.

[MadImmortalMan]

I've always felt the "yeah, no, I agree" uses the "no" as a kind of emphasis...as if the "yeah" starts as half-hearted agreement, but then the  "no, I agree" part uses the "no" to remove any implied doubt and strengthen the agreement.

This makes sense. At least when used during agreement.

[PRC]

I say it as well, but i've only noticed this becoming a thing in the past two years.  Don't really recall hearing it before then.

[Ed Anger]

Still less annoyinging than message board posters using.....

"This"

Lazy young people.

[CountDeMoney]

Still less annoyinging than message board posters using.....

"This"

Lazy young people.

This.

[lustindarkness]

Still less annoyinging than message board posters using.....

"This"

Lazy young people.

This.

This.

[Ed Anger]

I'd flunk you both in my Supply Chain Management class.

[garbon]

Thinking about my use of "yeah, no, I agree" I think I tend to use it when someone has been emphatically pushing a point that I agree with and don't need convincing of.

When just "yeah, no" as a sign of disagreement, I'm generally being jokingly condescending.

[Tonitrus]

For the simple "yeah, no"....that exists in Russian as well, "da, nyet".  Where the "da" doesn't so much mean "yes" as it does simple acknowledgment of the point/assertion before filing the disagreement.