Interrogative Constructions in Hadiyya
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempts to identify and describe interrogative constructions in Hadiyya. The
language uses yes-no questions, alternative choice questions, tag questions, content
questions and echo questions. Yes-no questions are derived from declarative sentences
by suffixing the question morpheme -nniyye or by applying a rising intonation.
Alternative choice questions are formed by suffixing the reduced question morpheme -
nnii on the first alternative; the lengthened final vowel also serves as disjunction. Tag
questions can be formed using the tag marker -lla or by posing yes-no questions on
declarative or imperative sentences. Tag questions are mostly confirmative.
Content questions are constructed using one of the wh-words and are mostly cleft. Whwords
are basically found in situ. However, wh-movement, such as fronting is allowed
for contrastive focus reading. Clefting is the main device for focus; focus can also be
marked by the suffix -du(yye). Morphologically wh-words inflect for case and number,
and marked for focus. The basic wh-words can also be the base for the derivation of
other wh-words.
Another question types are echo questions. Pure or wh-echo questions can be formed
based on declarative, interrogative and imperative sentences. Echo questions have
similar syntactic structure to the corresponding echoed sentences. Hence echo
questions are distinguished by the accompanying lengthened rising intonation.
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Keywords
Hadiyya. The language uses yes-no questions, alternative choice questions, tag questions