Gender - Holmes Tag Questions

Tag questions

Short questions added to the end of a statement to seek confirmation or engage the listener.

Speaker Orientated (SO)

Refers to the function of tag questions that focus on the speaker's uncertainty or assertiveness in a conversation.

Epistemic Modal tags

Tag questions that request information or confirmation when the speaker is uncertain about a statement.

Challenging tags

Tag questions that are confrontational and aim to boost the force of an utterance or prompt a response from the listener.

Addressee Orientated

Refers to the function of tag questions that show concern for the listener and aim to facilitate conversation.

Affective tags

Tag questions that indicate concern for the addressee and are further divided into softeners and facilitative tags.

Softeners

Tag questions that mitigate impolite demands and aim to soften the tone of a request.

Facilitative tags

Tag questions that invite conversation turn and encourage the listener to engage in the speaker's assertion.