Those who are familiar with ancient Russian writings know that they were created by a continuous "ligature" of words without intervals, especially since they did not have any punctuation marks. Only by the end of the 15th century did a period appear in the texts, at the beginning of the next century a comma joined it, and even later a question mark “registered” on the pages of the manuscripts. It is noteworthy that up to this point, his role was played by a semicolon for some time. An exclamation mark followed the question mark.
The symbol originates from the Latin word quaestio, which translates as "search for an answer." To depict the sign, the letters q and o were used, which were first depicted on the letter one above the other. Over time, the graphic appearance of the sign took the form of an elegant curl with a dot at the bottom.
What does the question mark mean
Russian linguist Fedor Buslaev argued that punctuation (the science of punctuation marks) has two tasks -help a person express his thoughts clearly, separating sentences, as well as its parts from each other, and express emotions. This purpose is served, among others, by a question mark.
Of course, the very first thing this symbol means is a question. In oral speech, it is expressed by the appropriate intonation, which is called interrogative. Another question mark can mean bewilderment or doubt. Sentences with a question mark sometimes express a figure of speech called a rhetorical question. It is asked not for the purpose of asking, but in order to express admiration, indignation and similar strong feelings, as well as to encourage the listener, reader to comprehend this or that event. The answer to the rhetorical question is given by the author himself. In the company with an exclamation mark, the question mark conveys the meaning of extreme surprise.
Where to put it if you need to express a question
Where does a sentence in Russian put a question mark? The symbol is usually located at the end of the sentence, but not only. Let's consider each case in more detail.
- The question mark is at the end of a simple sentence expressing a question. (For example: What are you looking for here? Why does water turn to ice?)
- The question mark is placed inside the interrogative sentence when listing homogeneous terms. (For example: What do you want to cook - soup? roast? turkey?)
- In compound sentences, this sign is placed at the end even if all its parts contain a question, even if only the last part of the sentence contains it. (For example: 1. How long will Iwait for the call, or will my turn come soon? 2. He sincerely laughed, and who would remain indifferent to such a joke?)
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In complex sentences, a question mark is placed at the end:
1. When the question contains both the main and the subordinate clause. (For example: Do you know what surprises happen on campaigns?)
2. When it is contained only in the main clause. (For example: Don't we also want peace?)3. If the question is in a subordinate clause. (For example: Various bold thoughts overcame his inflamed mind, although could this help his sister in any way?)
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In an allied sentence, a question mark is placed at the end:
1. If the question contains all of its parts. (For example: Where should I go, where should I seek shelter, who will give me a friendly hand?) 2. If the question contains only the last part of it. (For example: Be honest with me: how long do I have to live?)
Where to put a question mark if you need to express doubt
When indicating doubt, suspicion, reflection, a question mark is placed in the middle of the sentence and enclosed in brackets: Some people in uniforms, prisoners or workers (?) Came and sat around the fire.
When the question mark can be omitted
In a complex sentence, in which the subordinate clause sounds like an indirect question, the question mark is not put. (For example: I didn't tell him why I didn't read this book.) However, if the questioning tone is toois large, then a sentence with an indirect question can be crowned with this sign. (Example: I can’t figure out how to solve this problem after all? They were persistently interested in how I became a millionaire?)
Portable
Sometimes the interrogative symbol is mentioned in a speech with an allegorical purpose, wanting to express something mysterious, incomprehensible, hidden. In this case, the phrase "question mark" sounds like a metaphor. (For example: Those events forever remained for me an unexplained mystery, a question mark, some kind of bright but confusing dream.)
Question mark somersaults
There are languages in which this symbol becomes "upside down". For example, in Greek and Old Church Slavonic (used by the Orthodox Church) languages, it is written with a hook down, a dot up. In Spanish, the sign at the end of an interrogative sentence is complemented by its inverted "twin". Curl turned the other way, it adorns Arabic texts. The question mark turned upside down and the programming language.
