Interrogative structures in Setswana : a functional approach

Abstract

This study is concerned with interrogative structures in Setswana. It is mainly concerned with the syntax and pragmatics of these structures in Setswana. Setswana examples are taken from literary works. Setswana, like any other language, has two main types of questions, namely: (a) Yes-No questions and (b) WH-questions. In this dissertation the term 'Yes-No questions' is preferred to 'General questions' even though these questions are not always answered by 'yes' or 'no'. The term 'WH-questions' is preferred to 'Special question' because these are questions marked by interrogative words. 'Yes-No questions' are marked by intonation and/or by the use of interrogative markers study that there are in Setswana. It becomes evident in this not only pragmatic differences between questions marked by intonation and those marked by interrogative markers, but also between questions marked by different interrogative markers. The interrogative markers A and naare/naa/ nnaare/nnaa are identified in Setswana. The structure a ke re/SN_ ke re is also investigated as a possible interrogative marker, because it occurs only in interrogative sentences.

'WR-questions' are marked by certain interrogative words such as mang?(singular)/bomang?(plural); eng?; leng?; kae?; jang?; goreng? and ntlhang?/ntlheng? in Setswana. These questions are divided into four types, namely WR-questions when questioning the NP, Adverbial questioning, Propositional questioning and questioning when using interrogative determiners. WR-questions word groups are also investigated. A general survey of the available published sources in Setswana on the interrogatives shows that very little or nothing has been done on the syntax, morphology, semantics and pragmatics of interrogatives. In Chapter 1 we present the main aim of the study. Chapter 2 surveys literature on interrogatives in Setswana. In chapter 3 we develop a theoretical framework which forms the basis for the analysis of the study as a whole. 'Yes-No' and 'Rhetorical questions' are handled in chapter 4. While 'WR-questions' are discussed in Chapter 5, Chapter 6 presents a complete summary of the study. The framework used in this study is the Functional Approach. This approach is motivated after a discussion of other different approaches has been made. Interrogative devices are identified, namely intonation; interrogative markers; interrogative words or wh-words and interrogative determiners.