The poly-functionality of the "da ne"-questions Cover Image

Полифункционалнoста на „да не“-прашањата
The poly-functionality of the "da ne"-questions

Author(s): Marija Kusevska, Eleni Bužarovska, Liljana Mitkovska
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Институт за македонска литература
Keywords: pragmatic analysis; communication functions; common ground; positive politeness; horizontal distance

Summary/Abstract: This paper undertakes a pragmatic analysis of da/ne (yes/no)-questions in Macedonian in order to determine their communicative functions in various contexts: offer, encouragement, empathy, disapproval, irony, etc. In comparison to polar dali-questions, which require a positive or negative response, da/ne-questions are biased because they require confirmation of the speaker’s presupposition about the polarity of the answer. This function can be achieved only if the addressee shares common ground and correctly interprets the presupposition of the speaker. The semantic feature of bias makes these questions suitable for signaling positive politeness and small horizontal distance between interlocutors.

  • Issue Year: 13/2015
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 277-290
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Macedonian