Hindi-Urdu Interrogative Particles

@cite{bhatt-dayal-2014} @cite{bhatt-dayal-2020} @cite{dayal-2025}

Particles related to question formation in Hindi-Urdu, following @cite{bhatt-dayal-2014} and @cite{dayal-2025}.

Hindi-Urdu lacks a dedicated wh-complementizer for polar questions (unlike English whether or Italian se). Instead, it uses:

1. kya: — a polar question particle (PQP), placed at PerspP (not CP). Appears in matrix and quasi-subordinated questions, but NOT subordinated.
2. ki — a general subordinator (like Hungarian hogy), compatible with both declarative and interrogative complements.

The absence of a clause-typing particle means:

• Simplex polar questions (just p, no "or not") cannot be subordinated (clause-typing cannot be forced at CP).
• kya: in embedded position is the hallmark of quasi-subordination.

structure Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.ParticleEntry : Type

A Hindi-Urdu particle entry.

• form : String
• gloss : String
• clauseTyping : Bool

  Is this a clause-typing particle (CP-level)?

• polarQuestion : Bool

  Is this a polar question particle (PerspP-level)?

• inSubordinated : Bool

  Can it appear in subordinated interrogatives?

• inQuasiSub : Bool

  Can it appear in quasi-subordinated interrogatives?

• withResponsive : Bool

  Compatible with responsive predicates?

• withRogative : Bool

  Compatible with rogative predicates?

instance Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instReprParticleEntry : Repr ParticleEntry

Equations

• Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instReprParticleEntry = { reprPrec := Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instReprParticleEntry.repr }

def Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instReprParticleEntry.repr : ParticleEntry → Nat → Std.Format

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

instance Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instBEqParticleEntry : BEq ParticleEntry

Equations

• Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instBEqParticleEntry = { beq := Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instBEqParticleEntry.beq }

def Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instBEqParticleEntry.beq : ParticleEntry → ParticleEntry → Bool

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.
• Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.instBEqParticleEntry.beq x✝¹ x✝ = false

def Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.ki : ParticleEntry

ki — general subordinator. Compatible with both declarative and interrogative complements. NOT a clause-typing particle.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.kya : ParticleEntry

kya: — polar question particle (PQP). Sits at PerspP, not CP. Appears in matrix and quasi-subordinated contexts only. Incompatible with nirbhar kar-na: "depend on" (rogativeCP: selects CP only). Compatible with pu:ch-na: "ask" (rogativeSAP) and sava:l yeh hai "the question is" (rogativePerspP).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.ya_nahi : ParticleEntry

ya: nahii: — "or not", provides overt alternative for polar questions. Required in subordinated polar questions (since kya: is unavailable).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.allParticles : List ParticleEntry

Equations

• Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.allParticles = [Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.ki, Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.kya, Fragments.HindiUrdu.Particles.ya_nahi]