On the Typology of Wh-questions

Book excerpt: Offers an explanation for a long-standing question in the typological distinction among languages with respect to formation of interrogatives which use questions words such as "who" and "what." Proposes that the availability of question particles and the properties of question words contribute to the typological distinctions found, and argues that the availability of question particles correlates with the lack of fronting of question words. Of interest to scholars working on interrogatives, syntactic theory, comparative syntax, Chinese syntax, and typology. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR