Questions and interrogative sentences in Czech

The aim of this thesis is to describe the system of questions and question sentences in Czech language. The question is defined here as being an utterance with interrogative function. In the first chapter, the position of question within the system of other communicative functions is being searched for. The primary function of questions (interrogative) and distinctive formal devices of question sentences (e.g. rising tone in a yes/no question or a question-word in a wh-question) can be contrasted with secondary functions, e.g. an expression of an expectation of a certain answer, surprise etc. Those can be signalized by the form, for instance by the word order, negation or by particles. Complex relations between both primary and secondary formal devices of questions and their functions are examined. The questions without interrogative form and the question sentences lacking interrogative function are dealt with too. In the second part of the thesis, the theoretical observations are applied in the analysis of the questions in TV debates. Therefore, the interpretation is extended with the information about the specific forms and use of interrogative utterances in an authentic dialogue