Question word is clause initial
- Category
- Word Order
- Notes
- 'what', 'who', etc. come first in interrogative clause
| Language |
Feature Status |
Grammatical Notes |
Source |
Etymology Notes |
General Notes |
Phylogenetic Code |
| Cahuilla |
no |
|
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| Cupeño |
no |
|
|
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| Luiseño |
yes |
|
|
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| Serrano |
no |
|
|
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|
|
| Kitanemuk |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kawaiisu |
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Timbisha |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Western Mono |
yes |
|
|
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|
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| Chemehuevi |
no |
|
|
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|
| Southern Paiute |
no |
|
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|
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| Southern Ute |
yes |
|
|
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| Shoshone |
no |
|
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| Comanche |
no |
|
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| Idaho Shoshone |
|
|
|
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| Northern Paiute |
yes |
|
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| Gabrielino |
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Achagua |
yes |
|
Wilson & Levinsohn 1992: 125 |
|
|
|
| Resígaro |
no |
Not always, it seems as though most question words fill sentence-initial "slots," but when core participants are the questioned elements, these remain in situ. |
Allin, 1976:346-352 |
|
|
|
| Bare |
yes |
No information of form of question word |
Aikhenvald, 1995: 45 |
|
|
|
| Piapoco |
yes |
See examples on 273-275 |
Galindo, 2002: 273-275 |
|
|
|
| Yukuna |
yes |
|
Shauer & Shauer, 1978: p. 34-35 |
|
|
|
| Yavitero |
yes |
All examples on page 79 have the question word/question phrase in initial position. |
Mosonyi, 1987: p. 79 |
|
|
|
| Wapishana |
yes |
|
Santos, 2006: 234 |
|
|
|
| Wayuu |
yes |
The examples of content questions in the text in Mansen & Mansen (1979) have the question word clause-initially. |
Mansen & Mansen (1979). |
|
|
|
| Tariana |
yes |
|
Aikhenvald, 2003: 503 |
|
|
|
| Apurinã |
yes |
|
Facundes, 2000: 537 |
|
|
|
| Asheninka Apurucayali |
yes |
|
Payne 1982:20 |
|
|
|
| Maipure |
yes |
|
Zamponi 2003:51-52 |
|
|
|
| Yanesha' |
yes |
|
Duff-Tripp 1997:184 |
|
|
|
| Kinikinau |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Baure |
yes |
|
Danielsen 2007:348-72 |
|
|
|
| Nanti |
yes |
|
Michael, 2008. p. 391 |
|
|
|
| Paresi |
yes |
|
Brandão 2010:13 |
|
|
|
| Palikur |
yes |
|
Launey 2003:203 |
|
|
|
| Yine |
yes |
|
Matteson 1965:57 |
|
|
|
| Añun |
yes |
|
Patte 1989:104 |
|
|
|
| Bora |
yes |
|
Seifart - 2005:69 |
|
|
|
| Makiritare |
yes |
|
Hall 1988: 54 |
|
|
|
| Makushi |
yes |
|
Carson 1982: 123 |
|
|
|
| Eñepa |
yes |
|
Payne 2012:380 |
|
|
|
| Pemon |
yes |
|
de Armellada 1999: 143 |
|
|
|
| Guna |
yes |
it can also remain in-situ |
Smith texts |
|
|
|
| Naso |
no |
in-situ |
Quesada 2000 |
|
|
|
| Ika |
yes |
|
Frank 1985:112 |
|
|
|
| Kogi |
no info |
|
|
|
|
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| Cabecar |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Guaymí |
no |
Question words can stay in situ |
Quesada 2008:87-88 |
|
|
|
| Damana |
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sikuani |
yes |
|
de Kondo (Vol.1) - 1985:44; Queixalós - 2000:387-400 |
|
|
|
| Macaguan |
yes |
also attach prefix (ba-) to verbs |
Buenaventura - 1993:46 |
|
|
|
| Aguaruna |
yes |
|
Overall 2007:365-70 |
|
|
|
| Northern Emberá |
yes |
|
Mortensen 1999:93 |
|
Catío |
|
| Waorani |
no |
|
Peeke 1991:21 |
|
|
|
| Ingá |
yes |
|
Levinson 1972:260-1 |
|
|
|
| Matses |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mapudungun |
yes |
|
Zúñiga 2006, p. 254 |
|
|
|
| Páez |
no |
|
Jung:186 |
|
|
|
| Quechua Ayacuchano |
yes |
|
Soto 1976:53-55 |
|
|
|
| Tikuna |
no |
Question word can appear both clause initial or non-clause initial |
Montes 2004b:153 |
|
|
|
| Urarina |
yes |
|
Olawsky:814 |
|
|
|
| Waunana |
yes |
Based on examples |
Sanchez and Castro 1977:26 |
|
|
|
| Andoke |
no |
|
Landaburu 1979: 149 |
|
|
|
| Puinave |
yes |
|
Giron 2008: p394 |
|
|
|
| Central Aymara |
yes |
|
Huayhua Pari 2001: 296 |
|
|
|
| Kakua |
yes |
|
Bolaños fieldnotes |
|
|
|
| Kaingang |
no info |
|
Silva 2011/Goncalves 2011 |
|
|
|
| Minica Witoto |
yes |
|
Minor and Minor 1982. p.58 |
|
|
|
| Hup |
yes |
|
Epps 2008 |
|
|
|
| Nadëb/Roçado dialect |
yes |
|
Weir 1984:109-110 |
|
|
|
| Dâw |
yes |
|
Martins 2004 |
|
|
|
| Desano |
yes |
|
Miller 1999, p. 131 |
|
The interrogative pronouns used to form questions either begin the sentence or directly follow the topic. |
|
| Cubeo |
yes |
|
Morse & Maxwell 1999, p. 144 |
|
|
|
| Kotiria |
yes |
|
Stenzel 2004 |
|
|
|
| Makuna |
yes |
|
Smothermon & Smothermon 1993, p.61 |
|
|
|
| Koreguaje |
yes |
|
Cook & Criswell 1993, p.57-58 |
|
|
|
| Barasano |
yes |
Question-word questions begin with an interrogative pronoun. |
Jones & Jones 1991, p.120 |
|
|
|
| Tanimuca |
yes |
|
Strom 1992, p.141 |
|
|
|
| Siona |
yes |
|
Wheeler - 1987:137 |
|
|
|
| Tukano |
yes |
|
Ramirez 1997: 328-331 |
|
|
|
| Yanomami |
yes |
|
Ramirez 1994: 217 |
|
|
|
| Ninam |
yes |
|
Goodwin-Gomez: 60 |
|
|
|
| Sanumá |
yes |
|
Borgman 1990: 67 |
|
|
|
| Surui |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Karitiana |
yes |
|
Everett 2006:324 |
|
|
|
| Nheengatu |
no |
|
Cruz 2011:348 |
|
|
|
| Paraguayan Guaraní |
yes |
|
Ayala 1996:39 |
|
|
|
| Aché |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kokama |
yes |
|
Vallejos 2010:545 |
|
|
|
| Nyangumarta |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Jingulu |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Wambaya |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Bunuba |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Walmajarri |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Nyulnyul |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Warrwa |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Worrorra |
no |
|
ms7.4 |
|
|
0 |
| Garrwa |
yes |
|
76 |
|
|
1 |
| Gooniyandi |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Warlpiri |
yes |
|
L203 |
|
|
1 |
| Bardi |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Yugambeh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yorta Yorta |
yes |
|
76-78, 106 |
|
|
1 |
| Yir Yoront |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yindjibarndi |
yes |
|
164 |
|
|
1 |
| Yidiny |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Yanyuwa |
yes |
|
27 |
|
|
1 |
| Yandruwandha |
yes |
|
47 |
|
|
1 |
| Yan-nhangu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yalarnnga |
yes |
|
55 |
|
|
1 |
| Woiwurrung |
yes |
|
77-78 |
|
|
1 |
| Wirangu |
yes |
|
91-3 |
|
|
1 |
| Wemba-Wemba |
yes |
|
H 56 |
|
|
1 |
| Warumungu |
yes |
|
55 |
|
|
1 |
| Wangkumara |
yes |
|
r26 |
|
|
1 |
| Uradhi |
No |
|
390 |
|
|
0 |
| Paakantyi |
yes |
|
156-157 |
|
|
1 |
| Pitta-Pitta |
yes |
|
214 |
|
|
1 |
| Pintupi |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Nyungar |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Nhanta |
yes |
|
126 |
|
|
1 |
| Ngiyambaa |
yes |
|
148 |
|
|
1 |
| Ngayawang |
No info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Muruwari |
yes |
|
120 |
|
|
1 |
| Mpakwithi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mayi-Yapi |
yes |
|
70 |
|
|
1 |
| Martuthunira |
yes |
|
107, 109, 237-238 |
|
|
1 |
| Marrgany |
yes |
|
338 |
|
|
1 |
| Kuuk Thaayorre |
No |
|
232 |
|
|
0 |
| Kuku Yalanji |
yes |
|
140 |
|
|
1 |
| Kugu-Nganhcara |
No |
|
404 |
|
|
0 |
| Kaurna |
No info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Kalkatungu |
yes |
|
103 |
|
|
1 |
| Jaru |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Guugu-Yimidhirr |
No |
|
70 |
|
|
0 |
| Gureng Gureng |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Gupapuyngu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gumbaynggirr |
yes |
|
288-290 |
|
|
1 |
| Gugu-Badhun |
yes |
|
133-9 |
|
|
1 |
| Yuwaalaraay |
Yes |
|
57 |
|
|
1 |
| Dyirbal |
No |
|
264-6 |
|
|
0 |
| Duungidjawu |
yes |
|
63 |
|
|
1 |
| Djinang |
No |
|
47 |
|
|
0 |
| Djabugay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diyari |
yes |
|
149 |
|
|
1 |
| Dharuk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dharawal |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Darkinyung |
yes |
|
25-27 |
|
|
1 |
| Bularnu |
yes |
|
97 |
|
|
1 |
| Biri |
yes |
|
56 |
|
|
1 |
| Bidjara-Gungabula |
yes |
|
47; 49 |
|
|
1 |
| Batyala |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Arabana |
yes |
|
126-7 |
|
|
1 |
| Alyawarr |
yes |
|
128-9 |
|
|
1 |
| Nyikina |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Yawuru |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ngarinyin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yulparija |
Yes |
|
33 |
|
|
1 |
| Wathawurrung |
yes |
|
83 |
|
|
1 |
| Mathi-Mathi |
yes |
|
104-105 |
|
|
1 |
| Hunter River and Lake Macquarie |
yes |
|
48 |
|
|
1 |
| Thanggati |
yes |
|
35 |
|
|
1 |
| Katthang |
yes |
|
56 |
|
|
1 |
| Panyjima |
n/a |
|
164 |
|
|
0 |
| Ngarinyeri |
yes |
|
30-31 |
|
|
1 |
| Kurrama |
yes |
|
217-220 |
|
|
1 |
| Yingkarta |
yes |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Githabul |
yes |
|
45 |
|
|
1 |
| Gunya |
yes |
|
338 |
|
|
1 |
| Kunjen |
No |
|
131 |
|
|
0 |
| WesternTorres |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Wakaya |
yes |
|
106 |
|
|
1 |
| Yindjilindji |
yes |
|
504 |
|
|
1 |
| Bandjalang |
yes |
|
134 |
|
|
1 |
| Ngaatjatjara |
yes |
|
101 |
|
|
1 |
| Arrernte |
No |
|
97 |
|
|
0 |
| Kokatha |
No |
|
66 |
|
|
0 |
| Karajarri |
Yes |
|
347 |
|
|
1 |
| Pitjantjatjara |
No |
|
G 249 |
|
|
0 |
| Ritharrngu |
Yes |
|
57 |
|
|
1 |
| Warrgamay |
Yes |
|
36 |
|
|
1 |
| Warluwarra |
yes |
|
874 |
|
|
1 |
| Warnman |
Yes |
|
40 |
|
|
1 |
| Djapu |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Bilinarra |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Wiradjuri |
yes |
|
39 |
|
|
1 |
| Aghu-Tharnggala |
Yes |
|
69 |
|
|
1 |
| Narungga |
No |
|
91 |
|
|
0 |
| Tharrkari |
No |
|
17 |
|
|
0 |
| Wajarri |
No |
|
86 |
|
|
0 |
| Warungu |
yes |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
| Adnyamathanha |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yagua |
yes |
|
Payne and Payne 1990:310 |
|
|
|
| Baniwa |
yes |
|
Ramirez 2001 |
|
|
|
