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).

Angaben zum Objekt

• Standort: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Umfang: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: 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)

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Urheber: Bardenstein, Ruti

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: 10.1515/ip-2022-2003
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023061514034386158953
• Rechteinformation: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 14.08.2025, 10:55 MESZ