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Example 23-20
folem
wanem
nao yufala i klem long hem?
folem
follow
wanem
what
nao
now
yufala
2pl
i
agr
klem
claim
long
loc
hem?
3sg
For what reason did you claim [it] from him?
Comment:
The fronted object suggests shock or dismay or accusation. Note the use of focus particle
nao
with the fronted interrogative. Examples like this one are found in recordings of cross-examination in court.
Type:
naturalistic spoken
Source:
Meyerhoff nd
Language:
Bislama
by
Miriam Meyerhoff
cite
Datapoints:
Position of interrogative phrases in content questions: Interrogative phrase initial
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