FUNCTIONAL AND PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

Abstract

Abstract: This article investigates the functional and pragmatic features of interrogative sentences in English and Uzbek, offering a comparative analysis of how questions operate within distinct linguistic, social, and cultural frameworks. Interrogative sentences play a vital role in communication, serving not only to seek information but also to perform a wide range of interactive functions—such as expressing uncertainty, eliciting responses, softening requests, signaling politeness, negotiating social relations, and managing conversational turns. The study examines both the structural forms and communicative functions of interrogatives in the two languages, highlighting the ways in which their usage reflects underlying pragmatic principles and culturally embedded norms. In English, interrogative sentences exhibit a variety of structural types including yes/no questions, wh‑questions, tag questions, and alternative questions each associated with distinct pragmatic functions. English interrogatives often make use of intonation patterns, auxiliary verbs, and pragmatic markers to convey nuances of meaning, such as politeness, emphasis, hesitation, or speaker attitude. For example, tag questions can serve not only to request confirmation but also to soften assertions or build solidarity between interlocutors. The pragmatic use of interrogatives in English demonstrates cultural preferences for indirectness, negotiation of social distance, and sensitivity to face‑saving strategies within interaction.