SILGLOBALGlossary of
Linguistic Terms

Glossary term Q

Question

Definition

Here are two senses of question:

  1. A question is an illocutionary act that has a directive illocutionary point of attempting to get the addressee to supply information.
  2. A question is a sentence type that has a form (labeled interrogative) typically used to express an illocutionary act with the directive illocutionary point mentioned above. It may be actually so used (as a direct illocution), or used rhetorically.

Examples

(English)

Here are some examples of sentences, ordered to illustrate the two senses of question above:

  1. An illocutionary act that attempts to obtain information from an addressee
  • Tell me your name.
  • Give me your address.

 

      2. Sentences with inverted word order or interrogative pro-forms

  • What’s your name?
  • Did you sleep well?

Kinds

More specific concepts within question.

Alternative Question Tag Question Wh-Question Yes-No Question

See also

Directive Illocutionary Point Addressee Sentence Interrogative Mood Direct Illocution Interrogative Pro-Form

Sources 4

  1. Crystal 1985, 254
  2. Hartmann and Stork 1972, 190
  3. Larson 1984, 234
  4. Mish 1991, 966
Explore the bibliography

Find a term or reference

Try “phonology”, “evidentiality”, or “Crystal”. esc to close.