When answering a negative question with あまり, it will normally be the positive
(by japanese rules). For example:

person A: 彼に来ないで欲しいですか？  
person B: あまり

By literal translation, person A is asking person B, "Do you want him not to
come". And person B reply when translated to english means "not really". In
other words, person B (somewhat) wants him to come. Since the question is
negative and the answer is also negative. This holds when following basic
japanese rules. But I get the impression that person B あまり might also mean
"あまり来ないで欲しい" which means "I do NOT want him to come". The question is, when
one answers a negative question with あまり, does it mean the former "I WANT him
to come" or does it mean the latter "I do NOT want him to come"
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2020-02-23T06:39:49.623
74573
2020-02-27T05:15:56.497
2020-02-27T05:15:56.497
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question
colloquial-language negation polarity-items
あまり when used to answer a negative question
> person A: 彼に来ないで欲しいですか？ person B: あまり
>
> By literal translation, person A is asking person B, "Do you want him not to
> come". And person B reply when translated to english means "not really".

Yes, that is right. あまり usually goes with negative verbs so the meaning of
this dialogue is that person B doesn't want him to come.

> The question is, when one answers a negative question with あまり, does it mean
> the former "I WANT him to come" or does it mean the latter "I do NOT want
> him to come"

It means the latter.
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2020-02-23T08:04:35.457
74574
2020-02-23T08:04:35.457
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer
あまり is an adverb to mean a “little” or “not very” with a negative.

来ないで欲しい I don’t want him to come

あまり来ないで欲しい I don’t really want him to come

It’s softer than a plain negative sentence but is also used in the opposite
way とても for “very”

寿司を好き I like sushi

寿司をとても好き I really like Sushi

寿司を好きじゃない I don’t like Sushi

寿司をあまり好きじゃない I don’t like sushi very much

寿司を全然好きじゃあない I don’t like sushi at all
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2020-02-23T16:27:53.943
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2020-02-23T16:27:53.943
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answer