Documentation

Linglib.Phenomena.Questions.Studies.Theiler2021

Theiler (2021): Denn as a Highlighting-Sensitive Particle #

@cite{theiler-2021} @cite{zheng-2025} @cite{dayal-2025}

@cite{theiler-2021} analyzes German denn as a flavoring particle that signals the question is prompted by a salient/highlighted proposition in the discourse context. In polar questions this manifests as an evidential-bias requirement; in wh-questions it merely signals informational need.

This study file records denn's left-peripheral layer assignment within the @cite{dayal-2025} cartography [SAP [PerspP [CP ...]]]: denn sits at PerspP, alongside its Mandarin parallel nandao (@cite{zheng-2025}). The PerspP analysis predicts that denn — like nandao — should be incompatible with subordinated interrogatives. The point of contrast with nandao is the wh-question compatibility of denn: denn is at the (matrix) PerspP layer but is not restricted to polar questions.

source
def Phenomena.Questions.Studies.Theiler2021.denn_layer :
Fragments.German.QuestionParticles.QParticleEntry → Features.QParticleLayer

Theiler's layer assignment for denn. The _ argument is unused because the layer is a theoretical overlay, not a computed property of the fragment entry.

Equations
Instances For
    source
    theorem Phenomena.Questions.Studies.Theiler2021.denn_is_PerspP :
    denn_layer Fragments.German.QuestionParticles.denn = Features.QParticleLayer.perspP

    denn sits at PerspP, the same layer as Mandarin nandao.

    source
    theorem Phenomena.Questions.Studies.Theiler2021.denn_evidential :
    Fragments.German.QuestionParticles.denn.requiresEvidentialBias = true

    denn requires evidential bias — the highlighting/salience condition is what surfaces as a positive-evidential requirement in polar questions. This connects the PerspP assignment to the bias profile in the fragment.

    source
    theorem Phenomena.Questions.Studies.Theiler2021.denn_wh_unlike_nandao :
    Fragments.German.QuestionParticles.denn.whOk = true ∧ Fragments.Mandarin.QuestionParticles.nandao.whOk = false

    Unlike Mandarin nandao, denn is compatible with wh-questions. Both are PerspP-layer particles requiring evidential bias, but denn lacks the polar-only restriction.