Questions in argumentative dialogue

Despite questions having a long-standing history in theoretical linguistics, the interface between empirically grounded corpus linguistics of questioning behaviour and analytically driven pragmatic theory question structure context has received significantly less attention. This paper aims to contribute this field research by showing that four-way categorisation into types, namely, pure questioning, assertive rhetorical challenge allows us capture represent over two million words natural language argumentative dialogue. In type dialogue been claimed serve as engine drives shape development discourse. Our investigation covers three genres discourse which play key role, namely political debates, moral dilemmas sessions participatory deliberative democracy. Through deep algorithmic analysis data, we test variety hypotheses from argumentation linguistic theory, clearly demonstrating for first time (particular types of) directly catalyse argument illocutionary consequences non-canonical are much more varied than previously thought. • Empirical study questions. Natural argumentation. Pure, information-seeking Rhetorical Assertive