“反问”范畴的重新分析——基于“新言语行为分析”概念的讨论

Re-Analysis of Rhetoric Question—Based on the Concept of Neo Speech Act

根据"新言语行为分析"的概念,反问是言语行为的一种。基于对言语行为的重新分类,可以发现,人类言语行为有"给予"和"索取"两大基本功能;根据索取目标的不同,向他人"索取动作"的为祈使行为,而向他人"索取信息"的行为就是询问;根据"索取信息"的不同则体现为疑问、揣问、考问和反问。反问的本质是"说话人在预设听话人认识与自己不一致的前提下,索取听话人对于说话人所提供命题的附和"的言语行为。由此可见,反问并不等于无疑而问,是询问而非陈述的一种,也是包含不确定性的,并不简单都是对于命题的否定,它也是可以甚至有时还是非常需要回答的。

＂Rhetorical Question＂is very common Linguistic phenomenon.The basic conclusions in the linguistic circles are：1） Rhetorical Question is not genuine question;2） Rhetorical Question is question without doubts;3） Rhetorical Question is a negation of statement;4） Rhetorical Question is the form of interrogative plus emphatic mood;5） The answer of Rhetorical Question is unnecessary.These conclusions have been perfectly clear and have formed inherent patterns.But not all of them tally with linguistic fact.This paper holds that the Rhetorical Question is a kind of Speech Act.Based on reclassifying of the Speech Act,it is found that there are two basic functions＂give＂and＂ask for＂in the speech acts.According to the differences of the aim of ＂asks for＂,＂ask for action ＂from others is imperative act and ＂ask for information＂from others is inquiry act.According to the differences of ＂the information＂ there are four kinds of questions：genuine question,question with speculation,question with torture,and rhetorical question.The essence of rhetorical question is a speech act,that＂on the presupposion of the different opinion from the listener,the speaker still asks for the echo of statement from the listener.＂Therefore,it is concluded that rhetorical question does not mean question without doubts.It is interrogative rather than declarative.It contains certain indeterminacy and is not simply the negation of statement.Sometimes it even needs to be answered.