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/lit/ - Literature

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12099859 No.12099859 [Reply] [Original]

this is probably going to seem like a really strange opinion, but does anyone else think the question mark is unnecessary. by the syntax of a sentence you can virtually always tell when something is a question or not. and i just think sentences sound better without the question mark, they sound calmer, a question mark at the end of a sentence always raises it to an unnatural pitch. i personally prefer to never use it. what does /lit/ think

>> No.12099876

>a question mark at the end of a sentence always raises it to an unnatural pitch
Isn’t that literally the point? To make you read it in the tone of a question.

>> No.12099878

>>12099876
why does a question have to be in the tone of a question.

>> No.12099880

>illiterate fag traumatized by smartphone instant messaging from early childhood
Tell your mother to consider postnatal abortion.

>> No.12099884

>>12099859
>>12099878
pretty fucking based
when i type up posts on /lit/ i will frequently leave out the question mark

>> No.12099888

>>12099878
To make it easier to identify, I guess. I might not be completely necessary, but it’s how people speak.

>> No.12099892

>>12099859
>by the syntax of a sentence you can virtually always tell when something is a question or not

"Virtually always". Huh. You really think it wouldn't create confusion and ambiguity when reading a sentence that could be both a statement and a question.

Here is some dialogue:

"What is your name."
"Jake."
"Jack."
"Excuse me."
"Jack, right."
"Jack. No, it's Jake."
"I'm sorry, Jock."
"Are you kidding me."

>> No.12099898

>>12099892
that would be confusing even with question marks.

>> No.12099899

>>12099898
for the reader not at all you dumb brainlet, it’s only confusing to the reader sans question marks

>> No.12099903

>>12099892
I don't see your point to be honest

>> No.12099906

>>12099859
It's not strictly necessary, but it's a very useful clarification. The exclamation mark is less necessary, it doesn't mark out a specific linguistic feature.

>>12099878
Why do we have to speak intelligibily? It makes things easier.

>> No.12099910

>>12099903
It's pretty clear, no.

>> No.12099917

>>12099878
>>12099859

Imagine ignoring other languages to the point you think sentence structure always change when it comes to questions

>i just think sentences sound better without the question mark, they sound calmer, a question mark at the end of a sentence always raises it to an unnatural pitch

Also imagine being so obscure to yourself that you can give answers to your own insignificant questions and not realize you did

>> No.12099921

>>12099906
CAPS LOCK IS SUPERIOR TO EXCLAMTION MARK IN EVERY WAY

>> No.12099925

>>12099892
Your example is very poorly chosen imo
I dislike it

Maybe you should post it again with question marks added to show us how it makes sense then, because I don't think that adding in question marks would change much at all

>> No.12099929

>>12099925
How does it not make sense?

"What is your name?"
"Jake."
"Jack?"
"Excuse me?"
"Jack, right?"
"Jack? No, it's Jake."
"I'm sorry, Jock."
"Are you kidding me?"

>> No.12099934

>>12099906
Thats my point though, I dont think a question mark adds intelligibility

>> No.12099942

>>12099929
ok I now see how in certain situations question marks might be valuable

>> No.12099946

>>12099929
This is not a good example. It still reads very unclear. If this was in a book I would probably have to read it a few times. It's just poorly written dialogue.

>> No.12099954

omitting a question mark can work for dramatic effect. like this one from harry potter. Snape asks Harry why he thinks Malfoy planted a cursed necklace, and Harry says "I just know, Professor". Snape responds, "You just....know." Its a question, but in the tone of a statement, and it wouldnt be as dramatic if he said "You just...know?"

>> No.12099965

>>12099954
>harry potter

>> No.12100029

>>12099859
Really?

>> No.12100165

>>12100029
damn...

>> No.12100190

>You're gay.
>You're gay?
Pretty big difference dude

>> No.12101078

>>12100190
just lacks context desu

>> No.12101335

>>12099859
capital letters are redundant too. i used abstain from using them in primary school out of protest lol

>> No.12101350

>>12099880
kek

>> No.12101359

>>12099921
CAPS LOCK SHOULD BE MANDATORY.

>> No.12101364

>>12101335
that's actually true. i would argue capitals should only be used for proper nouns, they dont need to be at the beginning of sentences

>> No.12101373

>>12100190
but if "you're gay" came after someone saying "i just wanted to tell you, i'm gay" then it would still come across as a question. its easy to tell when someone is saying it as a declaration or for confirmation

>> No.12101449

>>12099880

This. At the very least try sticking a boulder in that gaping cavity of yours so your skull at least has the appearance of convexity.