Question mark in Russian, its functions and spelling

Anyone who is familiar with Old Russian script knows that they were created by a continuous "writing" of words without intervals, especially in them there were no punctuation marks. Only at the end of the 15th century did the dot appear in the texts, at the beginning of the next century a comma joined it, and even later a question mark appeared on the pages of the manuscripts. It is noteworthy that up to this point his role for a while was played by a semicolon. After the question, the exclamation mark did not slow down .

The symbol originates in the Latin word quaestio, which translates as "search for an answer". To represent 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 below.

What does the question mark mean?

Russian scholar-linguist Fedor Buslaev claimed that punctuation (the science of punctuation marks) has two tasks - to help a person clearly express their thoughts, separating sentences, as well as parts of each other, and expressing emotions. Among these, the question mark also serves these purposes.

Of course, the very first thing that this symbol means is the question. In oral speech, it is expressed by a corresponding intonation, which is called interrogative. Another question mark may indicate bewilderment or doubt. Proposals with a question mark sometimes express a figure of speech, which is called a rhetorical question. He is asked not to ask, but to express admiration, indignation and similar strong feelings, and also to urge the listener, the reader to comprehend this or that event. The author himself answers the rhetorical question. In the company with an exclamation mark, the interrogative conveys the meaning of extreme surprise.

Where to put it, if you need to express a question

In which place of the sentence in Russian put a question mark? The symbol is usually located at the end of the sentence, but not only. Let us consider each case in more detail.

• The question mark is at the end of a simple sentence expressing the question. ( For example : What are you looking for, why does the water turn into ice?)
• The question mark is located inside the interrogative sentence when listing the homogeneous terms. ( Example : What to cook for you - soup? Roast? Turkey?)
• In complex sentences, this sign is placed at the end and in the event that all its parts contain a question, even if it contains only the last part of the sentence. ( For example : 1. How long will I wait for the call, or Will my turn soon come? 2. He sincerely laughed, and who would have remained indifferent to such a joke?)
• 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 happens in the campaigns of surprise?)
  2. When it is contained only in the main sentence. ( For example : Do we really do not want peace?)
  3. If the question is in the subordinate clause. ( For example : Different bold thoughts overwhelmed his inflamed consciousness, although could this at least help his sister?)
• In an unclassified proposal, a question mark is put in the end:
  1. If the question contains all of its parts. ( For example : Where should I go, where should I look for a shelter, who will give me a friendly hand?)
  2. If the question is only the last part of it. ( For example : Be frank with me: how much longer do I have to live?)

Where to put a question mark, if you need to express doubt

When denoting doubt, suspicion, meditation, a question mark is placed in the middle of the sentence and bracketed: Some people came in robes, prisoners or workers (?) And sat around the fire.

When the question mark can not be put

In a complex sentence, in which the subordinate sounds like an indirect question, a question mark is not put. ( For example : I did not tell him why I did not read this book.) However, if the questioning intonation is too great, then a suggestion with an indirect question can be crowned with this sign. ( Example : I can not figure out how to solve this problem after all? They were very interested in how I became a millionaire?)

Figurative meaning

Sometimes a question mark is mentioned in a speech with an allegorical goal, wanting to express something mysterious, incomprehensible, hidden. In this case, the phrase "question mark" sounds like a metaphor. ( For example : Those events have forever remained for me not clarified by a secret, question mark, some bright, but confusing dream.)

Quads of the question mark

There are languages in which this symbol becomes "upside down". For example, in Greek and Old Slavonic (used by the Orthodox Church) languages, it is written crochet down, a dot up. In Spanish, the sign at the end of the interrogative sentence is supplemented by its inverted "twin". Turned by a curl in the other direction, he decorates the Arabic texts. Downward the question mark turned and the programming language.