kérdéskifejezés

Kérdéskifejezés is a term used in linguistics to describe the set of linguistic devices by which a clause is made into a question in Hungarian. It covers pronunciation, syntax, and lexical elements that signal interrogativity, as well as discourse strategies aimed at eliciting information or confirmation.

The main components of kérdéskifejezés include: 1) kérdőszók, the interrogative words such as ki, mi, hol, mikor, hogyan, milyen, melyik, which introduce content questions (for example, Ki írta ezt a levelet? What questions about identity or description); 2) yes–no questions, which Often rely on intonation or the enclitic particle -e attached to the verb or other word (Megjött-e? Jössz-e?); 3) indirect questions, embedded clauses introduced by the conjunction hogy (Megmondaná, hol van a bank?); and 4) variations in word order and prosody that signal a question, especially in spoken language.

Kérdéskifejezés also covers pragmatic and discourse aspects, such as focus, politeness, and confirmation goals. In everyday use, interrogative forms help steer conversation, request information, or seek verification, with formality and register influencing which devices are chosen. In Hungarian, direct questions typically employ interrogative words or question intonation, while indirect questions appear within declarative clauses; yes–no questions often rely on -e or rising intonation.

Examples:

Ki írta ezt a levelet? Miért nem érkezett meg időben? Hol található a bank? Jössz-e a találkozóra? Tudná mondani, mikor indul a járat?