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25_Interrogative Pronouns (Wh-Words)

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Grammatical Concept: The Question Particle (kè)

Questions in Asaxi are formed morphosyntactically using the particle kè. It functions as a verbal question mark. Unlike English, Asaxi does not require changing the word order (inversion) to ask a question; the presence of the particle is sufficient.

1. The Interrogative Particle (kè)

Grammatical Function:

Pronunciation: IPA: /kə/

Usage & Positioning: The particle can appear at either boundary of the sentence, dictating the register.

  • A. Sentence-Final (Standard): Placed at the very end of the sentence, after the verb (and potentially after discourse markers).

    • Nuance: Standard, conversational, natural flow.
    • Example: John shěsonů kè? (“Does John read?“)

  • B. Sentence-Initial (Formal/Alert): Placed before the Subject Marker (to). It serves as a “Header” to announce an inquiry.

    • Nuance: Formal, emphatic, or used to clarify complex sentences.
    • Example: Kè John shěsonů? (“Query: Does John read?“)

2. Intonation

  • With kè: The intonation can remain flat or fall, as the particle carries the grammatical load.
  • Without kè: Informal questions can be formed simply by rising intonation on the final verb, but this is considered colloquial.

3. Interaction with Other Particles

  • Discourse Markers: If used Final, kè usually precedes purely emotional markers (like iŕa), or replaces them if they are redundant.
  • Negation: To ask a negative question (“Doesn’t he read?”), use the standard negative verb form + kè.
    • Example: To John shěsonůná kè? (“Does John not read?“)

4. Emphatic Gemination (kkè)

For added emphasis, agitation, or surprise, the initial k of the particle can be geminated (doubled).

  • Form: kkè
  • Pronunciation: /kːə/ (Held stop) or /kʰə/ (Strongly aspirated).
  • Nuance: “How on earth…?”, “What!?”, “Are you serious?”

Example:

Wo ksá cè kkè? 1SG HOW know QUES-EMPH “How do I know?!” (Agitated/Surprised).

Example Sentences

1. Yes/No Question (Present)

No wo ijo kè? SUBJ 2SG 1SG see QUES “Do you see me?”

2. Past Question (Initial)

Kè John zèxoxo? QUES SUBJ John PAST-depart “Did John depart?”

3. Future Negative Question

Ko panáshěsonů kè? she FUT-NEG-read QUES “Will she not read?”

Interrogative Pronouns (Wh-Words)

Grammatical Concept: The K-Derivation

Asaxi constructs specific Interrogative Pronouns (“Wh-words”) by attaching the interrogative prefix k- (derived from the particle kè (Particle)) to existing semantic roots.

1. The Inventory

InterrogativeMeaningRootEtymology & Logic
ksháWhoshá (Person)“Question-Person?“
kjoWhatjo (It)“Question-Thing?“
ksiWheresi (Unknown)“Question-Unknown?” (Derived from **siŕo (noun)
kvåWhenvå (When)“Question-Time?” (Derived from the conjunction vå).
ksèWhysè (Because)“Question-Reason?” (Derived from sèwo (BECAUSE Logical Clause Connector)).
ksáHowzá (With)“Question-Method?” (Derived from **[[zá (Relational Particle)

2. Syntactic Position (In-Situ)

Unlike English, which moves Wh-words to the front of the sentence (“What did you eat?”), Asaxi keeps them In-Situ (in their natural place).

You place the Wh-word exactly where the answer would go in a normal sentence.

  • Statement: John [apple] eats.
  • Question: John [what] eats kè?

3. Interaction with kè

While the Wh-word itself indicates a question, the sentence usually retains the Question Particle kè (Particle) at the end to mark the illocutionary force (the “Question Mark”).

  • Standard: [Wh-word] ... [Verb] kè?
  • Colloquial: The kè can sometimes be dropped if intonation is rising, but this is less formal.

Example Sentences

1. Subject Question (Who?)

Kshá shěsonů kè? who read QUES “Who is reading?”

2. Object Question (What?)

No kjo ijo kè? 2SG what see QUES “What do you see?”

3. Spatial Question (Where?)

John ksi aśù kè? John where walk QUES “Where is John walking?”

4. Causal Question (Why?)

Ko ksè xoxo kè? 3SG.FEM why depart QUES “Why does she depart?”

5. Modal Question (How?)

John ksá shěsonů kè? John how read QUES “How does John read?” (e.g., With glasses? Quickly? Via Braille?)

4. Dropping the Question Particle (kè)

Because Wh-words (kshá, kjo, ksi, etc.) inherently signal missing information, the Question Particle kè becomes semantically redundant. Therefore, it may be dropped from the sentence to increase efficiency.

Rule: You may drop kè only if the context clearly implies a direct inquiry.

  • Full Form: Kshá shěsonů kè? (“Who is reading?“)

  • Dropped Form: Kshá shěsonů? (“Who is reading?“)

Constraint: Indirect Questions

Context is vital because Wh-words also function as relative pronouns in declarative sentences (Indirect Questions). In these cases, the lack of kè (and the falling intonation) marks it as a statement.

Minimal Pair Comparison:

A. Direct Question (Asking)

Kshá cè? Who knows (QUES-Dropped) “Who knows?”])]

B. Indirect Statement (Answering)

(Wo) kshá cèná. (I) who know-NEG “(I) do not know who.” Analysis: Here, kshá acts as the Object of cèná. Since it is a statement of ignorance rather than a request for information, kè is absent, but the meaning is declarative.

5. Distinction from Clause Connectors

It is crucial to distinguish between Clause Connectors (which link existing information) and Interrogative Pronouns (which request missing information).

The Interrogative Prefix k- (derived from kè) marks the difference.

ConceptBase Form (Connector/Particle)FunctionWh-Word (Interrogative)Meaning
TimevåConnector (“When X happened…“)kvåWhen? (“At what time?“)
Reasonsè(wo)Connector (“Because…“)ksèWhy? (“For what reason?“)
MannerzáRelational (“With X…“)ksáHow? (“With what method?“)
Placesi(ŕo)Noun Root (“Unknown/Void”)ksiWhere? (“At what place?“)
PersonsháNoun (“Person”)ksháWho? (“Which person?“)
ThingjoPronoun (“It”)kjoWhat? (“Which thing?“)
Minimal Pair Comparison:

1. Connector (vå)

John xoxo vå… John depart WHEN… “When John departs…” (Sets a timeframe for another event).

2. Wh-Word (kvå)

John kvå xoxo? John WHEN? depart “When does John depart?” (Requests specific time data).

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