Ote: hiztunaren ziurtasunik eza

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present some empirical data to support two claims related to the Basque particle «ote»: First, that «ote» can be used to make a rhetorical question, even though this is not its only (or most important) function. Second, that «ote» is used in a question when the speaker feels no certainty about the hearer's capacity to answer it. More generally, I explain why the traditional approaches to this Basque particle cannot satisfactorily explain it: A semantic or grammatical analysis cannot do when facing this issue. To finish with, I sketch a pragmatic explanation for «ote», and I defend that only when we adopt a pragmatic viewpoint are we able to grasp the uniqueness of this particle.