When rhetorical questions receive answers: On different types of answers to rhetorical questions in US presidential debatesEE. UU.

Abstract

The paper examines different types of answers to rhetorical questions and their communicative functions in two sets of US presidential debates: those held in 2016 and 2020 –which, due to the blunt and unconventional language of Donald Trump were much more heated and aggressive than the previous ones– and those held from 1996 to 2012. The results indicate that around one third of rhetorical questions in the examined corpora do receive answers, with addressors’ answers –those that explicitly confirm the implied answer, those that answer rhetorical questions as if they were not rhetorical, and, a less frequent type, sarcastic/ironic answers– being much more common than those provided by addressees –those that reject, and those that acknowledge the implied answer–. The results indicate that the main communicative functions of answers to rhetorical questions in US presidential debates are related to blaming, criticizing, or ridiculing the opponent or their actions, as well as making assertions or expressing disagreement. Statistically significant differences between the findings from the two corpora have been noted in regard to different types of answers to rhetorical questions, as well as their communicative functions.