A question that is really a claim
A rhetorical question states something while pretending to ask. The listener supplies the answer, and an answer you find yourself convinces more than one you are given. That makes it a tool for persuasion: in a debate, a commentary, a meeting where you want people to agree.
Claim and question
Niemand liest das Kleingedruckte.
Nobody reads the small print.
a claim the listener can dispute
Wer liest schon das Kleingedruckte?
Who actually reads the small print?
the listener thinks niemand and agrees
The particle tells the answer
Without a particle, many German questions are open. Add the right one and the answer is fixed in advance. English gets a similar effect from anyway, even or a tag like isn't it, but German has a particle for each expected answer.
Particle and expected answer
| Expected answer | Example |
|---|---|
| nobody, nothing, nowhere | Wer will das schon? |
| no, with indignation | Ist das etwa fair? |
| yes | Habe ich es nicht gesagt? |
| there was no alternative | Was hätte ich denn tun sollen? |
| the premise is doubtful | Wer hat das überhaupt entschieden? |
In context
Eine Präsentation um 18 Uhr am Freitag? Wer hört da schon zu?
A presentation at 6 p.m. on a Friday? Who's even going to listen?
Sollen die Mieter etwa auch noch die Sanierung bezahlen?
Are the tenants supposed to pay for the renovation as well, then?
Ist es nicht genau das, was wir immer gefordert haben?
Isn't this exactly what we've always asked for?
Was hätten wir denn anders machen sollen?
What else were we supposed to do?
Answering your own question
A second technique asks and answers in one breath. The question sets up a pause; the short answer fills it. Kept to one or two words, the answer hits like a verdict. Typical answers are Nichts., Wohl kaum., Eben., Genau. and Im Gegenteil.
Question, then verdict
Und was hat die Reform gebracht? Nichts.
And what did the reform achieve? Nothing.
War das klug? Wohl kaum.
Was that wise? Hardly.
Hat das jemanden überrascht? Im Gegenteil.
Did that surprise anyone? Quite the opposite.
A Fragekette (question chain) lines up several open questions, each sharper than the last, and only then delivers the answer. Three questions are usually the limit; after that the audience stops counting and starts waiting.
A chain of three
Wer zahlt das? Wer haftet, wenn es schiefgeht? Und wer erklärt es den Kunden? Darauf hat dieser Plan keine Antwort.
[every question falls ↘, a short pause, then the answer]
Who pays for it? Who is liable if it goes wrong? And who explains it to the customers? This plan has no answer to any of that.
