"Yeah .... Nah"

[Hondo]

Someone pointed out on the Radio yesterday how often sportspeople (or anyone) these days start of answers with "yeah ... no" or " yes ... no" or "yeah ... nah"

How's the knee injury? .... "yeah nah .... coming along OK"

Do you think you played well? ..... "yeah nah .... got a bit of the ball"

Well, is it yes or no?

After having it pointed out I heard 2 interviewees in a row on 5AA sports show do it I know I do it sometimes.

Anyone else notice this one or have any others? As usual with these things they wouldn't even be aware they are saying it.

[smithy]

AFL players are bad for it and it really p*sses me off...
Like you said "it's either yes or no"...

[am Bays]

"yeah, like y'no"

[Pup]

I actually do it every now and again unfortunately.

[JK]

Same us PUP - I actually used to hate hearing it, but am now unfortunately guilty of it myself a bit

[smac]

Not quite as annoying as "Absolutely". It's OK to be definite, but sometimes a simple "Yes" will do.

[zipzap]

It's all good at the end of the day to be perfectly honest. Absolutely.

[Dogwatcher]

There's also "obviously".


I have a theory about "yeah, nah".

You'll notice it's entered our vocabulary via the sportsman, mostly footballers use it.

I think it's kind of a defensive mechanism from players who:

A) are taught the value of team
B) don't want to look like big heads by acknowledging they're in good form.

and

C) don't want to admit they're in good touch so they can possibly slip past the opposition.

Example:

Reporter: "Lance, you're in great form, does it have anything to do with you eating less hamburgers?"

Lance: "Yeah (I am in great form and have stopped eating hamburgers), nah it's all just to do with the support the boys are giving me. It's a great team here at the Blues, and the boys only let me eat one hamburger now when we go to Maccas they're very supportive."

So in the first sense, they're agreeing, but quickly deflecting that by getting back on to team talk and reminding us all it's 'all about the team'.

I may be off track with this, but it's just my thought.

[Dirko]

Bullsh**t...Lance never ate Maccas nor HJ's.



However KFC was a dead set winner yeah nah....

[tigersupporter]

They just take it one interview at a time

[Hondo]

Dogwatcher that's a good point you raise ..... wanting to say one thing but actually saying another can lead to the syndrome

I do it when the answer I want to give is different from the answer I feel I should/have to give

"Do you think you're a great bloke?" ..... "Yeah (what I want to say ) .... nah (what I know I should say) ...... I do OK sometimes (stupid attempt at excessive modesty)"

[zipzap]

Dogwatcher I think you're probably right - that may explain the origin, though these days it's just one of those annoying things that has crept into our vernacular. Like 'chillax' or 'up close and personal' or '24-7'. I could go on....

Did anyone see Peter Goers' column* in the Sunday Mail last week? It was composed entirely of cliches and was rather amusing.

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

Mate, at least they're talking like AUSSIES!!!
None of that Seppo influence invading our lingo with words like
'Dee-fence', 'Butt' & 'Dude'
...Bee-atch!

[bayman]

'uno' as answers annoy me you know

[Mr66]

Reporter:"How did today's win feel?"
Player/Numbskull: :"Yeah, Nah it was fantastic".

Another cliche. AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
I hope some of these neanderthals get a theasaurus for chrissy.

[Psyber]

Reporter:"How did today's win feel?"
Player/Numbskull: :"Yeah, Nah it was fantastic".

Another cliche. AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
I hope some of these neanderthals get a theasaurus for chrissy.

But then they'll sit around trying to work out what to feed it and waste valuable drinking time!

[redden whites]

The footy media is shocking and the answers the same.I am amazed that clubs get their players to do so much.When was the last time you really gained anything from a footy interview with a player.Its all the same "yep he is a potential leader" , "someone needs to step up" ,"we cant believe we got him at pick No.10 were rated him so much better than that","we are totally thrilled with the group of draftees we got"(when has anyone ever said we missed out on everyone we wanted to get so had to make do) .My other gripe is the journo( no need to be actually be one if covering football) making a statement and not ask a question to the coach at the after match press conference and the coach having to give a response .Take a deliberate listen next time its amazing it happens 80% of the time I reckon.

[Mr66]

Reporter:"How did today's win feel?"
Player/Numbskull: :"Yeah, Nah it was fantastic".

Another cliche. AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
I hope some of these neanderthals get a theasaurus for chrissy.

But then they'll sit around trying to work out what to feed it and waste valuable drinking time!

LOL
How true.

[Dogwatcher]

My other gripe is the journo( no need to be actually be one if covering football) making a statement and not ask a question to the coach at the after match press conference and the coach having to give a response.

If you listen carefully enough, that's the sound of the column already written.

[redden whites]

My other gripe is the journo( no need to be actually be one if covering football) making a statement and not ask a question to the coach at the after match press conference and the coach having to give a response.

If you listen carefully enough, that's the sound of the column already written.

Never thought of that ...probably right