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The `yes-no' question marker suffix È -aa.

The type of question where the speaker simply requests information (usually the `truth value') about some event is formed by the addition of the suffix È aa to the LAST element in the sentence. This kind of question is known as a yes-no question. Questions about which of several alternatives are formed with a different prefix.

È aa is usually added to the last element in a sentence, but it can be used elsewhere, to focus on a particular element other than the general truth value of the sentence.

The usual rules about retention and deletion of final vowels and consonants apply with the use of È -aa. That is, final Ë -u is deleted from all nouns (for exceptions, see the section on Noun sandhi, § 1.311) before the addition of È -aa, as in the first sentence above. Other vowels are retained and glides ² y and  v are inserted according to the usual rules: ² y after i and e;  v after Ì uu, Ñ o and È aa (other vowel sequences do not occur.)



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Next: The question marker Up: Interrogatives Previous: Interrogatives



Harold_F.Schiffman