On the communicative status of the baffling question

In the article the communicative status of the baffling question is defined. The traditional classification of sentences is based on their communicative purpose. The only communicative purpose of the interrogative sentence is an inquiry about information which the speaker does not possess. Thus, the interrogative sentence is naturally connected with the answer. The speech act theory was the first to emphasize the atypical functions of the interrogative utterance. And it inspired linguists to explore non-interrogative semantics of this communicative type. The present analysis is based on the theory of cardinal and intermediary communicative types of sentences, presented by Professor M.Ya. Blokh, as it clearly classifies all the recognized non-interrogative functions of the question. Cardinal and intermediary communicative types of sentences are identified on the basis of their actual division. The rheme of the interrogative sentence is informa-tionally open. Its function consists in marking the rhematic position in the response sentence. The appearance of secondary functions is rooted in transposition or oppositional substitution, i.e. the transfer of the properties of one communicative type in another, with the aim of achieving an expressive effect. Modern linguistics admits existence of interrogative utterances which combine a purely interrogative function with different implied emotive meanings. Besides performing its main function (to obtain information from the interlocutor), the baffling question conveys emotional-evaluative attitude of a speaker towards the facts and situations of real life. Perplexity is closely connected with the semantics of interrogation, because it emphasizes the lack of knowledge, doubt, distrust, which is inherent to the question. It can be often used with such related emotions as surprise and astonishment. The author states that emotional-evaluative meaning of the baffling question can transfer an interrogative utterance into the emphatic declaration of one's personal attitude to the interlocutor's words. Thus, the baffling question is an intermediary (an interrogative-declarative) predicative construction distinguished by mixed communicative features. In the article the fraction of the emotional component of this kind of interrogative question is also analyzed. In this question different compatibility of the primary informational and the secondary (emotive) function can be observed. The emotional coloring of the baffling question can be intensified by elliptical, interrogative-negative constructions, interrogative constructions with direct word order, complex sentences and graphical expressive means. If the emotional tension is rather high, the rheme is not filled up in the answer. Thus, the baffling question can be followed by the reply that emphasizes its declarative (evaluative and emotional) implication. Due to its connotations, the answers to such a question can also contain evaluation and be quite emotional. They may include interjections, repetitions and exclamations, imperative and evaluative constructions. The declarative nature of the baffling question often invites counter-questions (e.g. rhetorical).

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