A punctuation mark (?) placed at the end (in some languages, e.g. Spanish, and at the beginning, inverted) interrogative sentence … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
question mark- (Question mark) A punctuation mark expressing questioning intonation. Placed at the end of a sentence, and in some languages (for example, Spanish) also at the beginning of a sentence inverted... Font terminology
question mark- Graphic sign "?", used to indicate an interrogative sentence. IN Spanish two question marks are used: one upside down at the beginning of the phrase, and the other at the end. Topics... ... Technical Translator's Guide
question mark- Cm … Synonym dictionary
Question mark
Question mark- 1. A question mark is placed at the end simple sentence, containing a question, for example: Did their brother really come? Vladimir Ivanovich? (Chekhov). Matchmaking? Yes? (Fedin). Note. A question mark can be placed in... ... A reference book on spelling and style
Question mark (?)- ? Request "?" redirects here. See also other meanings. A question mark (?) is a punctuation mark usually placed at the end of a sentence to express a question or doubt. Found in printed books since the 16th century, but to express... ... Wikipedia
question mark- a punctuation mark (?) placed at the end (in some languages, such as Spanish, and at the beginning, inverted) of an interrogative sentence. * * * QUESTION MARK QUESTION MARK, punctuation mark (?), placed at the end (in some ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Question mark- Question mark (foreign) about the unknown, mysterious, doubtful. Wed. Some of the phenomena that attracted my eyes while walking along Nevsky still remain mysteries, question marks, something like history... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)
question mark- A punctuation mark that is placed: 1) at the end of an interrogative sentence. Won't you leave? No? (Chekhov); 2) optionally in interrogative sentences with homogeneous members after each homogeneous member for the purpose of dividing the question. Who are you... ... Dictionary linguistic terms
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- Virus attack, Igor Budkov. Residents of the virtual world - letters, signs, numbers watch every day from the monitor screen real world. Adults work on the monitor, children study at school. The question mark serves as...
The question mark, as a punctuation mark, which is usually placed at the end of a sentence to express a question or doubt, has been found in printed books since the 16th century, but it was established to express a question much later, only in the 18th century. It was invented by the brothers Johann and Wendelin von Speyer (Wendelin and Giovanni da Spira), German book printers who worked in Venice from 1468 to 1477. More precisely, the pioneer in the use of this sign is Johann von Speyer. He was the first printer to use Arabic numerals for page numbering, and was also the first to use the colon and question mark. But, most likely, fertile ground was prepared for the appearance of a question mark in print media. And it happened, apparently like this: the first scientists wrote in Latin, they placed the word questio - that is, “question” - at the end of the sentence, which, shortened to “Qo,” was placed at the end of interrogative sentences. To save valuable space, "Qo" was shortened to "Q", which introduced another problem - readers might confuse it with the end of a word.
As a result, "Q" began to be placed above the "o", which ultimately led to the formation of the well-known symbol. Over time, “o” turned into a dot, and “Q” into a squiggle. So, the letter “Q” became the ancestor of a new punctuation mark; already in the 16th century, only a hook remained from it, then a dot was added, which gave us the current question mark. There is another version of the origin of this sign: it is believed that it came from Ancient Greece. The Greeks usually put a semicolon at the end of a sentence. If it was necessary to convey a special emotion, they swapped the period and comma - the comma was at the top, and the period at the bottom. But, in Greek Until now, the question is indicated by a semicolon (;) rather than a question mark (?).
Russian alphabet - successor Greek alphabet. In the Russian language of the 16th-18th centuries, a question mark was called a question mark. Initially, instead of a question mark, a semicolon was also used, which were called “sub-decimal points” or “half dots”. The son of an Astrakhan priest, V.K. Trediakovsky, introduced a question mark into his text in 1748 (however, a description of its function is found in M.V. Lomonosov’s “Russian Grammar”) and introduced the use of semicolons in the modern sense - no longer at the end of interrogatives sentences, and to separate parts complex sentence and (sometimes) when contacting. It is V.K. Trediakovsky who is credited with formulating the rules for using signs from the point of view of syntactic features.
We all know that a question mark is placed at the end of a sentence and expresses doubt or question. But not everyone knows that this punctuation mark comes from two Latin letters“q” and “o” (these are the first and last letters of the Latin word “quæstio”, which means “search” or “question”).
Previously, such an abbreviation (qo) was used to end a question sentence, and later it was replaced by a ligature in the form of a question mark. Originally, the letter "q" was written above the "o". Later, such writing turned into the modern style known to us.
In most languages, a question mark is placed exclusively at the end of a sentence. But in Spanish, question marks and exclamation marks (“¡!” and “¿?”) are placed at the beginning and end of a sentence. In this case, the inverted sign stands before the sentence, and the ordinary sign at the end. For example: “¿Cómo estás?” (Spanish).
The Spanish language has long used one question mark. It was only after 1754, when the Royal Academy of Languages published the second edition of Spelling, that question marks began to begin and end interrogative sentences. The same goes for the exclamation mark.
Such a rule was not immediately found wide application. In the 19th century, there are still texts where there are no question marks and exclamation marks inverted at the beginning of sentences. But the syntax of the Spanish language is considered peculiar, and sometimes it is difficult to determine in which part of a complex phrase the interrogative part begins. Therefore, over time, all texts began to include two question marks and exclamation marks in sentences.
For quite a long time in the Spanish language, inverted signs were used only in long sentences in order to avoid their false interpretation. But in short and simple questions put just one question mark at the end of the sentence.
Into modern Spanish big influence provides English language. Today, this language is increasingly limited to just one question mark. This trend can be observed especially clearly on forums on the Internet.
As for the Russian language, until the end of the 15th century, all texts were written either without spaces between words, or were divided into unbroken segments. The period in Russian writing appeared in the 1480s, and the comma in the 1520s. The semicolon appeared later and was used as a question mark. Even later, question marks and exclamation marks began to be used. The dash was first used in his texts by N. Karamzin, and by the end of the 18th century. this punctuation mark began to be used more actively.
Question mark inverted vertically and horizontally by 180
As a rule, you can hardly find an inverted question mark in the Russian language. But in Spanish this sign is important. It is used at the beginning of a sentence and serves as an addition to the main question mark, which, as in all other languages, is placed traditionally. Or it may have nothing to do with the main question mark at all, since intonation in Spanish can change. And the first few words in a sentence may be called into question. Also, an inverted question mark can be used not only at the beginning or end of sentences, but also in the middle of a sentence. Immediately before the question word.
Where is an inverted question mark used?
1. An inverted question mark is used in operating systems Microsoft Windows, since it is forbidden to use the traditional question mark there.
2. A question mark flipped 180 degrees horizontally (the curl is rotated to reverse side) is used in Arabic.
3. A vertically inverted question mark (i.e., the dot is at the top and the hook is at the bottom) is used in Greek and Church Slavonic.
Perhaps it would be possible to use a question mark upside down in our language as not a question mark, but rather an affirmative one and meaning that this is an answer to some question. But! For what additional rules In russian language?
How to write an inverted question mark
Writing it in any file is as easy as shelling pears. Yes, it's not on the keyboard, but that's not a problem. There is a keystroke combination to write a sign. You must press the ALT key and, while holding it, dial the number combination 0191. In this case, the language should be switched to English.
Anyone who is familiar with Old Russian writings knows that they were created in a continuous “letter” of words without intervals, especially since there were no punctuation marks in them. Only towards the end of the 15th century did a period appear in the texts, at the beginning of the next century a comma joined it, and even later a question mark was “written” on the pages of manuscripts. It is noteworthy that until this moment, its role was played by the semicolon for some time. Following the interrogative, he was not slow to appear and
The symbol comes from the Latin word quaestio, which translates as “search for an answer.” To depict 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 on the appearance of an elegant curl with a dot at the bottom.
What does a question mark mean?
Russian linguist Fyodor Buslaev argued that punctuation (the science of) has two tasks - to help a person express his thoughts clearly, separating sentences, as well as its parts from each other, and to express emotions. The question mark serves these purposes, among others.
Of course, the very first thing this symbol means is a question. In it is expressed by the corresponding intonation, which is called interrogative. It can also mean bewilderment or doubt. Sentences with a question mark sometimes express what is called a rhetorical question. It is asked not for the purpose of asking, but in order to express admiration, indignation, etc. strong feelings, and also encourage the listener, reader to comprehend a particular event. The answer to the rhetorical question is given by the author himself. When accompanied by an exclamation mark, a question mark conveys the meaning of extreme surprise.
Where to put it if you need to express a question
Where in Russian sentences do they put a question mark? The symbol is usually located at the end of the sentence, but not only. Let's consider each case in more detail.
- A question mark is found at the end of a simple sentence expressing a question. ( For example: What are you looking for here? Why does water turn into ice?)
- A question mark is placed inside an interrogative sentence when listing homogeneous members. (For example: What should I cook for you - soup? roast? turkey?)
- In complex sentences, this sign is placed at the end even if all its parts contain a question, even if it contains only the last part offers. ( For example: 1. How long should I wait for the call, or will my turn come soon? 2. He laughed sincerely, and who would remain indifferent to such a joke?)
- The question mark is placed at the end:
1. When the question contains both a main clause and a subordinate clause. ( For example: Do you know what surprises happen on hikes?)
2. When it is contained only in the main clause. ( For example: Don’t we really want there to be peace?)
3. If the question is subordinate clause. (For example: Various bold thoughts overwhelmed his inflamed mind, although could this at least help his sister in any way?) - In a non-union sentence, a question mark is placed at the end:
1. If the question contains all its parts. ( For example: Where should I go, where should I seek shelter, who will extend a friendly hand to me?)
2. If the question contains only the last part of it. ( For example: Be honest with me: how long do I have left to live?)
Where to put a question mark if you need to express doubt
When indicating doubt, suspicion, reflection, a question mark is placed in the middle of the sentence and enclosed in brackets: Some people in robes, prisoners or workers(?) came and sat around the fire.
When you don't have to put a question mark
In a complex sentence in which the subordinate clause sounds like a question mark, it is not used. ( For example: I didn’t tell him why I hadn’t read this book.) However, if the interrogative intonation is too strong, then a sentence with an indirect question can be crowned with this sign. ( Example: I can’t figure out how to solve this problem? They persistently asked how I became a millionaire?)
Figurative meaning
Sometimes the question symbol is mentioned in speech for an allegorical purpose, wanting to express something mysterious, incomprehensible, hidden. In this case, the phrase “question mark” sounds like a metaphor. ( For example: Those events forever remained for me an unresolved mystery, a question mark, some kind of vivid but confusing dream.)
Question mark somersaults
There are languages in which this symbol is turned upside down. For example, in Greek and Old Church Slavonic (used Orthodox Church) in languages it is written with a hook down, a dot up. In Spanish, the sign at the end of a question sentence is complemented by its inverted “twin.” Turned in a curl in the opposite direction, it decorates Arabic texts. The programming language also turned the question mark upside down.
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