What is the function of か in this sentence. [Grammar]

[turvy]

In the following sentence I took from JGram:
彼をどう思っているか話してみたい気がする。
I feel like telling him what I think of him.
What's the function of か? Just pointing out the grammar pattern / reference would be really helpful.

 

[Half-n-Half]

It serves as the question word, in this case, the "what".

 

[turvy]

Mmm. It would be more clear if I could see other examples where か behaves similarly. Do you have any? I can't find this grammar function of か anywhere (probably because I am not searching correctly).

 

[Toritoribe]

か shows that the clause is an indirect quotation of a question.

誰が犯人か知らない。
I don't know who the perpetrator is.

彼女がいつ来るか教えて。
Tell me when she will come.

彼がなぜそこにいるかわからない。
I don't know why he is there.

 

[turvy]

Thanks, the sentences are really helpful.

I don't know what an indirect quotation of a question means though. I tried googling to no avail.

 

[Toritoribe]

Sorry, the term "indirect quotation" is not appropriate in those examples. Those are all "indirect question".

an example of indirect quotation
どこに行けばいいか彼女は尋ねた。
She asked where she should go.

 

[turvy]

I think I get it, for example, the indirect question in "I don't know who the perpetrator is." is who is the perpetrator? and so forth.

As for an indirect quotation, I guess is like a quotation without using quotes or in Japanese と言う or 「」. Does that make sense?.

 

[Toritoribe]

That's right.

direct question
誰が犯人ですか
Who is the perpetrator?

indirect question clause
誰が犯人か
who the perpetrator is

direct quotation
「何をすればいいですか」と彼は尋ねた。
"What should I do?" he asked.

indirect quotation
何をすればいいか彼は尋ねた。
He asked what he should do.

 

[turvy]

I see. Thank you for your help Toritoribe and Half-n-Half.

 

[Ahlnold]

an example of indirect quotation
どこに行けばいいか彼女は尋ねた。
She asked where she should go.

Hello, I found this interesting and subsequently I have decided to make my first post here!
Question 1:
Is the usage of indirect quotation less polite?
In the case of the indirect question sentence I have hard time hearing that in a polite setting; seeing how it
doesn't have a copula (です). Is this correct?
Question 2:
This is slightly unrelated. I haven't come across the verb たずねる before, is it that the verb is less common,
or is it just that it's something that they might not teach you at a university?
Thank you on beforehand!

 

[Toritoribe]

1)
Non-polite forms are ALWAYS used in indirect quotations or questions. Thus, the listner/writer can't know whether the original question is polite or casual in the indirect quotation.

彼は「彼女は学生ですか」と聞いた。 --> 彼は彼女が学生（なの）かどうか聞いた。
彼は「彼女は学生なの？」と聞いた。 --> 彼は彼女が学生（なの）かどうか聞いた。

The politeness of the indirect question is provided by the honorific verb, if it's needed.

先生がいついらっしゃるか教えてください。
その人が何を話されたかはわかりません。

2)
尋ねる is also common. 聞く is more colloquial.

 

[Ahlnold]

Thanks for the reply (a quick one at that!).

I still have some trouble wrapping my head around the concept; I appreciate your patience.

as for the first sentence: "彼は彼女が学生（なの）かどうか聞いた"
What function does the "
どうか" have?
It would also be of some assistance if you would be so kind as to translate that sentence. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you

 

[staren]

Thanks for the reply (a quick one at that!).

I still have some trouble wrapping my head around the concept; I appreciate your patience.

as for the first sentence: "彼は彼女が学生（なの）かどうか聞いた"
What function does the "
どうか" have?
It would also be of some assistance if you would be so kind as to translate that sentence. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you

I believe どうか can be used when you are expecting a yes or no answer.

 

[Rei Yahya]

Thanks for the reply (a quick one at that!).

I still have some trouble wrapping my head around the concept; I appreciate your patience.

as for the first sentence: "彼は彼女が学生（なの）かどうか聞いた"
What function does the "
どうか" have?
It would also be of some assistance if you would be so kind as to translate that sentence. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you

I understand that 'ka dou ka' means whether or not. "He asked whether or not she is a student."

 

[turvy]

renshuu.org - grammar page for かどうか°

 

[Ahlnold]

Thanksfor all the help!

I thank you also for the great site recommendation.