A rhetorical question does not demand an answer: it is said in the form of a question, but its content hides a known thought, an affirmation or a denial. A rhetorical question in negative form usually expresses affirmation: «Kim bahorni sevmaydi?» (“Who does not love spring?”) – everybody does. A rhetorical question in positive form often means denial: «Uni kim ham tanirdi?» – nobody would have recognised him. In a rhetorical question the thought is given with strong feeling, emphatically and impressively, so in its power of effect it ranks among the leading stylistic means. It is widely used mainly in the colloquial, artistic and publicistic styles and also in oratory. If we turn a rhetorical question into an ordinary declarative sentence, the content is kept but the stylistic effect weakens.
Worked examples
Affirmation: «Odamni bunday mehnat charchatmaydimi?!» (“Doesn’t such work tire a person?!”) → «Odamni bunday mehnat charchatadi.» (“Such work tires a person.”)
Denial: «Bu yolg‘onga kim ishonardi?!» (“Who would believe this lie?!”) → «Bu yolg‘onga hech kim ishonmasdi.» (“Nobody would believe this lie.”) Ordinary question (an answer is needed): «Bu yolg‘onni kim aytdi?» (“Who told this lie?”)
Class activity
“Question – not a question”: the teacher reads questions; pupils raise hands to show which is genuine and which is rhetorical.
Practice
1
How does a rhetorical question differ from an ordinary question?
It does not demand an answer; it gives a hidden thought (affirmation or denial) with strong feeling.
2
Turn «Bu haqiqatni kim inkor etadi?!» into an ordinary declarative sentence.
«Bu haqiqatni hech kim inkor etmaydi.» (“Nobody denies this truth.”)
3
Is «Dars soat nechada boshlanadi?» a rhetorical question? Why?
No: an answer (the time) is expected and there is no hidden thought.
4
Why do orators use rhetorical questions a lot?
It prompts listeners to think, strengthens the idea and makes it impressive.