A pragmatic reinterpretation of interrogative particles in Northern Sotho

Abstract

In this article an attempt is made to review the different pragmatic functions ascribed to interrogative particles in Northern Sotho. The distributional pattern of interrogative particles is explained in terms of principles pertaining to typological change. Concerning the semantic differences between the different interrogative particles, it is indicated that presupposition forms the cornerstone upon which the semantic differences between interrogative particles are based. The opinions held by Prinsloo and Louwrens pertaining to the interrogative particles na and naa, are supported while their views pertaining to a and afa are seen in a different perspective. It is indicated that the divergent functions which they ascribe to afa and a, for example, possibly result from the fact that they consider afa and a as facultative variants. This investigation has shown that afa and a are not facultative variants, whereas naa and na are.