Marking of dependent polar questions (Synja Khanty)

Pq: Dependent and independent polar questions are structurally identical.

(Q): The only structural difference between dependent and independent polar questions is the optional use of a question particle with the former.


(1a) xalewat jām tūrəm pit-ǝl?

tomorrow good weather begin-prs.3sg

‘Will the weather be nice tomorrow?’ (S. O.)


(1b) (luw) inśǝs-s-əlli xalewat jām tūrəm pit-ǝl.

(s)he ask-pst-obj.3sg tomorrow good weather begin-prs.3sg

‘(S)he asked whether the weather will be nice tomorrow.’ (F. L.)


(1c) amuj xalewat jām tūrəm pit-ǝl, luw inśǝs-s-əlli.

whether tomorrow good weather begin-prs.3sg (s)he ask-pst-obj.3sg

‘(S)he asked whether the weather will be nice tomorrow.’ (S. O.)


(2a) miša mēt-ǝs?

Misha tired-pst.3sg

‘Is Misha tired?’ (S. O.)


(2b) miša amuj mēt-ǝs, luw inśǝs-s-əlli.

Misha whether tired-pst.3sg (s)he ask-pst-obj.3sg

‘(S)he asked whether Misha was tired.’ (S. O.)


(2c) amuj mēt-ǝs, luw miša inśǝs-s-əlli.

whether tired-pst.3sg (s)he Misha ask-pst-obj.3sg

‘(S)he asked whether Misha was tired.’ (S. O.)


(3) (luw) inśǝs-s-əlli, mɔ̄jǝŋxu jik jiś-ǝl muj anta.

(s)he ask-pst-obj.3sg guest water drink-prs.3sg what maybe

‘(S)he asked whether the guest would drink water.’ (F. L.)


In Synja Khanty, embedded polar questions are identical to simple polar questions (1b). The order of the subordinate and the matrix clause is not fixed. Moreover, the embedded question can be marked with the amuj particle ‘whether, I wonder’, or the muj anta ‘what maybe’ construction (F. L., S. O.).

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás