Documentation

Linglib.Fragments.Mandarin.QuestionParticles

Mandarin question particles #

Mandarin marks polar questions with the neutral sentence-final particle ma 吗 and the confirmation-seeking ba 吧; both attach to declarative word order, and neither forms constituent questions — wh-words stay in situ, and under ma a wh-word takes only its indefinite reading, so the string remains a polar question. The clause-initial evidential adverb nándào 难道 forms surprise polar questions and is incompatible with declaratives and wh-questions. This file provides the three as Particle values with recorded licensing distributions; nandao's evidential felicity conditions live with their analysis.

Main declarations #

References #

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def Mandarin.QuestionParticles.ma :
Particle

ma 吗 is the neutral sentence-final polar question particle.

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    def Mandarin.QuestionParticles.ba :
    Particle

    ba 吧 is the confirmation-seeking question particle, distinct from the homophonous suggestion-softening ba of imperatives.

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      def Mandarin.QuestionParticles.nandao :
      Particle

      nándào 难道 is a clause-initial evidential adverb forming surprise polar questions.

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        def Mandarin.QuestionParticles.allQuestionParticles :
        List Particle

        All Mandarin question particles indexed in this file.

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