The Discursive Functions of zar-Questions in Macedonian and Serbian

This paper explores polar questions introduced by the particle zar in standard Macedonian and Serbian. The pragmatic-discourse properties of zar-questions, despite being a distinct type, remain understudied. The paper aims to establish the functional distribution and the pragmatic properties of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mitkovska, Liljana, Bužarovska, Eleni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fondazione Università Ca' Foscari 2024-12-01
Series:Balcania et Slavia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.30687/BES/2785-3187/2024/01/003
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Summary:This paper explores polar questions introduced by the particle zar in standard Macedonian and Serbian. The pragmatic-discourse properties of zar-questions, despite being a distinct type, remain understudied. The paper aims to establish the functional distribution and the pragmatic properties of these questions by analyzing examples from literary prose. The identified three discourse types exhibit striking similarity in both languages, which suggests a convergent functional development of zar. It also shows that zar functions as a modal operator of assertiveness rather than a typical interrogative particle.
ISSN:2785-3187