Marking of polar questions (Northern Mansi)

PhonInt: Polar questions appear in the same word order as their declarative equivalents and are marked exclusively by intonation.


(1) ismit pajtāχt-as.
soup cook-pst.3sg
‘The soup is ready.’ (S. D.)

(2) ismit pajtāχt-as?
soup cook-pst.3sg
‘Is the soup ready?’ (S. D.)


1.figure. The intonation contour of sentence (1). The falling of the pitch contour can also be observed 

(blue line).


2.figure. The intonation contour of the interrogative sentence (2). The typical rising intonation can be 

observed on the penultimate syllable (blue line).

Author: 

Szilvia Németh