All polar questions seem to add at least a final mora, which I take to be the spell out of a final question particle consisting of a mora. The realization of the final question particle (lenghtening versus lE) depends on ill understood syntactic variables: These include tense/aspect interactions and the present vs abence of a verb complement or a postverbal adjunct. (cf Nkemnji: 154 ff.
Words: Njikem a kÈ te npfEt akendong bÓ kÓO Gloss: N. Agr P-l Neg eat plantains Neg EQ (=Ev(idential) Qestion)) Translation: 'Didn't Njikem eat plantains?' Comment: Nkemnji glosses the question marker kOO as an evidential question marker. see next example for polarity reversing answer. (Njikem (1995: p.157) Contributor:Hilda Koopman
Words: ?mhm Gloss: no yes (Tones ?m-M hm (HL on M) Translation: he did! This form is decomposed. Nkemnji glosses it as no.yes. The tones of the particle above seem to be MHL which are the tones of Nkemnji likens this strategy to French si. It depends on the presupposition (see Nkemnji p. for the different scenarios) Contributor:Hilda Koopman
