[quote=net surfer]
Quote Originally Posted by "Анатолий":1h5jtofq
You wouldn't teach naw, nope to an English learner, would you?
Why not if it's a real spoken language, the way people talk?

Two good friends are talking about this and that, then one takes a couple cans of beer out of his bag:
- Я тут новый Tuborg купил попробовать, будешь?
- 1) Нет, мне сегодня на машине надо ещё ехать (sounds not very friendly)
2) Не, мне сегодня на машине надо ещё ехать (sounds more friendly)

Maybe it's only me, I don't know.

EDIT: I know, it depends on inflexion as well, but anyway.[/quote:1h5jtofq]
I know what you mean.

Spoken or broken language, dialects and slang have their role in softening your speech. If you speak slightly different from norm, you are down-to-earth. In Australia, they say, "G'day mate" instead of hello or hi (with 'ay' sounding more like "ie" - G'die mite) and you are accepted as down-to-earth fella', a "mate". So, if you say "yep" and "nope" - it may sound friendlier than yes and no. I suggest to stick to Да, not Угу or Ага and Нет, not Не or Не-а while learning to avoid confusion. Slang and and all deviations should be learned last when you know what's correct.

Your intonation adn manners will do the trick of softening your speech.