Re: Question about Questions

H. S. Teoh scripsit:

> Mandarin Chinese doesn't raise the pitch at the end of a question
Li & Thompson, _Mandarin Chinese_ 18.1:

It is always possible to turn a declarative statement into a question by
using a slightly rising intonation pattern.  In context, it is generally
easy to identify such a question: for example, if A and B have been talking
about whether A is going to go somewhere, and B says to A

        ni3 qu4
        you go

with a slightly rising intonation, A will typically take this as a question
and not a statement or command.

[This means, of course, that the falling tone on qu4 will fall from, and to, a
slightly higher level than would otherwise be the case.]

--
John Cowan           http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
Please leave your values        |       Check your assumptions.  In fact,
   at the front desk.           |          check your assumptions at the door.
     --sign in Paris hotel      |            --Miles Vorkosigan