A functional model for the tag question paradigm: The case of invariable tag questions in English and Portuguese

While research has mostly focused on the pragmatics of variable tag questions, fewer studies have explored invariable tags, either for their own sake or in contrast with other types within and across languages. It will be argued that questions are as much part question system a unified functional model needs to consider both order compare function-to-form mappings reveal language variation, well factors motivating use. This study proposes one such comprising eight i.e., informational, affective, challenging, hortatory, facilitative, focusing, phatic regulatory, relation four clusters grammatical, dialogic, generic sociolinguistic features. Based analysis 539 British English European Portuguese, results show constructions more frequent functionally varied Portuguese (N = 397 vs. 142). In addition, based statistical analyses, corresponding multi-feature prediction models obtained proposed two languages under inspection, thereby uncovering novel contributions paradigm.