A Structural and Pragmatic Investigation of Conducive Interrogatives in Contemporary Persian Conversations

Not only do the interrogatives characteristically serve the pragmatic function of questioning, they are also used for a variety of other functions. Yes-no biased interrogatives, such as rhetorical, tag, and conducive interrogatives, imply that a particular answer is expected or desired. The current study describes conducive interrogatives from structural and pragmatic perspectives in contemporary Persian conversations. It is also aimed towards pointing out some differences among the types of biased interrogatives. The present research demonstrated that, from a structural point of view, assertive words (e.g., combinations of baɂzi ‘some’), some special constructions (e.g., the coordination tags of yā čize digeɂi ‘or something else’, yā hamčin čizi ‘or something like this’), and the wh- interrogatives with self-supplied answers are some factors for positive conductivity. From a pragmatic point of view, conducive interrogatives are helpful when requesting confirmation, expressing surprise, criticizing, introducing or presenting information, offering or asking for help, and reaching an agreement. The current study also attested to the existence of epistemic, deontic, and desiderative conductivity in Persian. Findings suggest that the incorporation of special constructions, in addition to particular usages in the context, will result in a matched or reversed polarity between the interrogatives and their answers.