The English language has no word which is specifically a contradiction.

If we want to argue with a statement, we say “no, it’s not” or “yes, it is” or even “on the contrary”.

The German language has “doch“. So for example:

A: Well, I’m not paying for this.

B: Doch. (“Oh, yes, you are.”)

Inevitably, this is both a consequence of a national character and a factor in its creation, because that’s how language works (ooooh! Mama lookee! Hermeneutic reinsertion! OOooohhh!)

It’s also the reason pantomime is kinda different in German-speaking countries.

A: Doch.

B: Doch.

A: Doch.

B: Doch.

And so on.

(All right, that bit’s a lie. Probably.)

I just wanted you to know about “doch”. It can be quite heroic. It can mean “Hell if I will.” When Christoph Meili said “doch” he really meant it.

Anyway. Just remember: the doch option exists.