Pq: Dependent and independent polar questions are structurally identical.
Q=or: Dependent polar questions are marked by the coordination, through the use of a question conjunction meaning ‘or,’ of an affirmative sentence and its negative equivalent.
he/she ask-pst.3sg soup cook-pst.3sg
‘He/she asked whether the soup was ready.’
(2) taw kityγl-as ismit pajtāχt-as man āťi.
he/she ask-pst.3sg soup cook-pst.3sg or not
‘He/she asked whether the soup was ready or not.’
(3) ismit pajtāχt-as.
soup cook-pst.3sg
‘The soup is ready.’ (S. D.)
(4) 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).