1.2.2. Alternative interrogatives
Alternative interrogatives are questions that offer two or more alternatives for the addressee to choose from (see the example below). They cannot be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but have to be answered by choosing one of the offered options (or offering alternatives).
re
ix2 wish tea or coffee
‘Would you like tea or coffee?’
Syntactically, there are different possibilities to structure these questions, depending on the number of proposed alternatives. If there are only two alternatives, then these are typically contrasted by the use of the conjunction or [Syntax 3.1.2.1] or by using non-manual markers such as body-leans. Furthermore, they can be located in different positions of the signing space (usually in the left and right space in front of the signer), and can further be marked by a small body lean to the right and to the left respectively (see example below). This construction can also be understood as an inclusive ‘would you like something to drink such as tea or coffee?’ instead of an either/or ‘would you like either tea or coffee?’.
re bl-left bl-right
ix2 wish tea coffee
‘Would you like tea or coffee?’
When there are more than two options, it is possible to locate them on the fingertips of the non-dominant hand to distinguish between the options as in the following example [see also Pragmatics 2.2.3]. This gives the addressee the possibility to answer with the number on which the option was located.
re
A: ix2 wish first meat second chicken third fish palm_up
‘Would you like meat, chicken or fish?’
B: second.
‘I would like the chicken.’
Alternative interrogatives are usually accompanied by raised eyebrows that are used throughout the whole phrase, similar to polar interrogatives.