So, 'si' does survive in French after all. I never would have guessed.

Perhaps somewhat interestingly, the Scandinavian languages (Danish/Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, etc.) make a similar distinction between plain 'yes' ('ja') and the affirmation of a negation ('jo).

English seems to have largely discarded that subtlety, despite the presumed influence of vikings from the north as well as those from across the channel.

Sligthly reduced use of shit and fucking would not have been seriously detrimental to my enjoyment of the article.