WH-Questions

By Gerald P. Berent, Ph.D.
Department of Research
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Rochester Institute of Technology

MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS

1. Wh-questions play a central role in English discourse for requesting content information relating to persons, things, events, time, place, reason, manner, etc.

2. Knowledge of English wh-questions is critical for learning, exchanging information, and seeking clarification in personal, educational, and work environments.

3. Many deaf students have difficulty with the production and comprehension of English wh-questions.

4. There are different types of wh-questions with different properties.

5. Wh-words and phrases are used not only in wh-questions but also in embedded question structures and in relative clause formation.

6. Most wh-questions contain "gaps," where it looks like a sentence element is missing.

7. Deaf students have a better command of some wh-question types than other types.

8. Wh-questions can be simplified to make English texts, tests, and interactions more accessible to deaf students.

9. Course materials can be structured to enhance students’ knowledge of English wh-questions.