Yes/No Questions in Ẹ̀dó: Structure and Derivation

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explain the syntax of yes/no questions in Ẹ̀dó language. In line with its aim, the paper answers two research questions. First, what is the structure of yes/no questions? Second, how is this structure derived? The study relies on primary data from a questionnaire survey and observation of the language in use, as well as secondary data from a textual corpus. The corpus shows Ẹ̀dó forms polar questions in two ways: the use of prosody and five question markers. This paper confirms the position of previous studies; these markers have distinct distributions. Notwithstanding, it posits Ẹ̀dó polar questions have the same structure. This submission is born

Some Pragmatic Points of Description of Conducive Questioning in Courtroom Interrogation

“…As a result of this, questions are often considered as having both structural and pragmatic interpretations (Raymond 2003). It is pertinent to note that questions as linguistic elements have attracted investigations in different spectrums of linguistic studies (Asuka 2018, Ọláńrewájú 2022, Usenbo 2022). While scholars draw on question types such as yes/no questions, declarative, wh-questions, alternate questions, and tag questions in the structural analysis of questions, they often turn to Pragmatics for finer interpretative analysis especially when questions are viewed as discourse rather than grammatical elements.…”