A-not-A question
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In linguistics, an A-not-A question is a polar question that offers two opposite possibilities for the answer. Examples in English are "Are you happy or sad?" and "Are you happy or not?". The answer to the former must be an echo answer, stating the correct alternative ("I am sad"); however, the answer to the latter can be yes or no in response to the first and more explicitly stated alternative.
Mandarin Chinese frequently uses A-not-A questions and answers them with echo answers, as in these examples:[1]:pp.558-563
- Nǐ yào bu yào chī júzi? ("You want not want eat orange?")
- Yào. ("Want.")
- Bu yào. ("Not want.")
- Tā màn-màn-de pǎo háishi bu màn-màn-de pǎo? ("(S)he slowly run or not slowly run?")
- Màn-màn-de pǎo. ("Slowly run.")
- Bu màn-màn-de pǎo ("Not slowly run.")
References [edit]
- ^ Li, Charles N., and Thompson, Sandra A., Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar, Univ. of California Press, 1981.
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