Mondatszerep

Mondatszerep is a term used in Hungarian linguistics to describe the function or illocutionary force of a sentence within discourse. It refers to what the speaker intends to accomplish with a statement, such as presenting information, asking a question, issuing a command, or expressing emotion. The mondatszerep is realized through linguistic form, intonation, and punctuation, and it helps listeners interpret the speaker’s purpose.

Common types of mondatszerep include: állító mondat (declarative sentence), which states information; kérdő mondat (interrogative sentence), which asks for information or confirmation; felszólító mondat (imperative sentence), which gives a command or request; and felkiáltó mondat (exclamative sentence), which conveys strong emotion or emphasis. In some analyses, a wish or desire can also be described as a distinct optative function. In Hungarian, the sentence mood—kijelentő mód (indicative), felszólító mód (imperative), and felkiáltó mód (exclamative)—often aligns with the mondatszerep, alongside intonation and punctuation.

Mondatszerep is important for understanding sentence structure in context. While the syntactic components of a sentence (subject, predicate, modifiers) form its grammatical core, the mondatszerep explains how that core is used in communication. In education and linguistic description, it aids in classifying sentences, analyzing discourse flow, and teaching how tone, form, and punctuation signal different communicative intents.