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Part of the book series: Synthese Language Library ((SLAP,volume 13))

Abstract

Though questions play an important role in our daily life, they do not have that prominent a position within linguistic theory. We ask for information, confirmation, or deliberation, for help, support, or advice; we ponder hypotheses and inquire into problems. One who aims towards building up a theory is best advised to proceed by asking one question after another. We cannot even imagine an activity where we are not engaged, in some way or the other, in deliberating questions.

Mit Fragen kommt man nach Rom

It is due to the persistent efforts of Wolfgang Klein that this paper has ultimately been written. I want to dedicate it to my friend and teacher Manfred Bierwisch. Arnim von Stechow’s notes on topic and focus have inspired me; we arrived at some similar conclusions. I am grateful to Constance Guhl, who corrected my English.

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Wolfgang Klein Willem Levelt

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© 1981 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Wunderlich, D. (1981). Questions about Questions. In: Klein, W., Levelt, W. (eds) Crossing the Boundaries in Linguistics. Synthese Language Library, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8453-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8453-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8455-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8453-0

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