I spent several hours, studying on this site and on others the topic of "yes/no answers to negative questions". Eventually, I decided to make up my own sentences on how I understood this topic. Could you check them please:
(0a) Won't John go to work? — as far as I understand, we can perceive this question the one way:
i) the questioner thinks John will go to work
(1a) No, he will not. — natural
(2a) No, he will. — incorrect because illogical since saying it, the answerer wants to emphasize his disagreement with the questioner but proceeding from the question, the questioner and the answerer both think the same, they think John will go to work
(3a) No. — natural, without ambiguity; means "No, he will not."
(4a) Yes, he will. — natural
(5a) Yes, he will not. — unnatural
(6a) Yes, you're right. He will not. — incorrect because "you're right, he will not" is illogical since proceeding from the question, the questioner thinks the other way round, thinks John will go to work
(7a) Yes. — natural, without ambiguity; means "Yes, he will."
Some conclusions:
(2a) is incorrect, that's why the short answer "No." in (3a) has no ambiguity.
(6a) is incorrect, that's why the short answer "Yes." in (7a) has no ambiguity.
(0b) Will John not go to work? — formal; as far as I understand, we can perceive this question two ways:
i) the questioner thinks John will go to work, and then we should answer as we did it above in "Won't John go to work?";
ii) the questioner thinks John will not go to work, and then we should answer the way I consider below:
(1b) No, he will not. — natural
(2b) No, he will. — natural but informal; the answerer wants to emphasize his disagreement with the questioner who thinks John will not go to work
(3b) No. — natural, usually means "No, he will not."; but also can be perceived ambiguous, meaning both "No, he will." and "No, he will not."
(4b) Yes, he will. — natural
(5b) Yes, he will not. — unnatural
(6b) Yes, You're right. He will not. — natural
(7b) Yes. — natural, usually means "Yes, he will."; but also can be perceived ambiguous, meaning both "Yes, he will." and "Yes, You're right. He will not."
Some conclusions:
(2b) is correct, that's why the short answer "No." in (3b) is ambiguous.
(6b) is correct, that's why the short answer "Yes." in (7b) is ambiguous.
Do you agree with all I wrote or maybe something is still wrong?