LINGUISTIC AND EXTRA-LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF CONFIRMATION QUESTIONS IN MODERN ENGLISH
Keywords:
confirmation questions, tag questions, pragmatics, intonation, epistemic modality, conversational analysis, extra-linguistic factors, Modern English.Abstract
This article investigates the structural, semantic, and pragmatic characteristics of confirmation questions in Modern English. Confirmation questions, often realized through tag questions, declarative questions with rising intonation, or specific lexical markers, serve not only to verify information but also to manage interpersonal relationships, express epistemic stance, and regulate conversation flow. The study analyzes the linguistic mechanisms (syntax, morphology, prosody) and extra-linguistic factors (social context, power dynamics, gender, cultural norms) that influence the formation and interpretation of these interrogative structures. The research highlights the multifunctionality of confirmation questions, demonstrating their role as key tools in communicative competence and social interaction.
References
[1] Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. – London: Longman, 2018. – 1200 p.
[2] Holmes, J. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. – London: Routledge, 2020. – 350 p.
[3] Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher's Course. – Boston: Heinle & Heinle, 2019. – 480 p.
[4] Crystal, D. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. – Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. – 500 p.
[5] Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. – Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. – 340 p.
[6] Tannen, D. You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. – New York: William Morrow, 2019. – 320 p.
