4. SYNTAX
There is a flexibility as far as the placement of the questioned
constituent is concerned. The movement of the questioned elements
is related to their focus. Consider the following examples:
- rmaoSa kba Aaegaa?
rameš kab a:yega:?
Ramesh when come-3s-fut
When will Ramesh come?
80a. kba Aaegaa rmaoSa?
kab a:yega: rameš?
80b. rmaoSa Aaegaa kba?
rameš a:yega: kab?
80c. Aaegaa kba rmaoSa?
a:yega: kab rameš?
- sarlaa khaÐ jaaegaI?
sarla: kahã: ja:yegi?
Sarla where go-fs
Where will Sarla go?
81a. sarlaa jaaegaI khaÐ?
sarla: ja:yegi: kahã:?
81b. khaÐ jaaegaI sarlaa?
kahã: ja:yegi: sarla:?
81c. jaaegaI khaÐ sarlaa?
ja:yegi: kahã: sarla:?
The question-word in the sentence initial position carries a stronger
focus than when it is in the second position. In other words, it is
marked by more stress in the sentence initial position than in other
positions. Interrogative sentences (80) and (81) are in natural word
order. In (80a) and (81a), the subject is stressed, in (80b) and (81b)
the question words are stressed, and in (80c) and (81c) the verb is
stressed. The interrogative sentences (80c) and (81c) do not
necessarily invoke an answer.