The case of question-based exclamatives: From pragmatic rhetorical function to semantic meaning

Abstract: In this paper, I analyze the cyclic linguistic evolution of questions via Bardenstein’s ‘persistence principle’ (Bardenstein, Ruti. 2020b. Persistent argumentative discourse markers. The case of Hebrew rectification-marker be-ʕecem (‘actually’). Journal of Pragmatics 172. 254–269) and argue that questions become “polysemous” via a core function. I show that it is the question’s initial rhetorically-recruited function that motivates its semantic change (alongside grammatical and prosodic changes) and it is that function that also persists throughout its history. I focus my analysis on question-based exclamatives whose peresistent function is the speaker’s strong stance and show that this function persists even when the question-based exclamative cyclically evolves into an adverbial NPI (Negative Polarity Item).

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: The case of question-based exclamatives: From pragmatic rhetorical function to semantic meaning ; volume:19 ; number:2 ; year:2022 ; pages:209-232 ; extent:24 ; Intercultural pragmatics ; 19, Heft 2 (2022), 209-232 (gesamt 24)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Bardenstein, Ruti

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/ip-2022-2003
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023061514034386158953
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:55 AM CEST