Assertive questions in Máíhĩki

•The study examines the use of questions read as opposite-polarity assertions, or “assertive questions,” in Máíhĩki, an Amazonian language.•Assertive questions in the language are syntactically identical to information-seeking questions, but pragmatically identical to declaratives.•In conversation and narrative, Máíhĩki speakers use assertive question design to mitigate threats to their positive face.•The facework properties of assertive questions arise from their preference structure.

This paper considers the use of assertive questions – utterances which have the form of questions, but are heard as assertions – in conversation and narrative in Máíhĩki (Tukanoan, Peru). Máíhĩki assertive questions are syntactically identical to polar questions, but are pragmatically treated as declaratives of the opposite polarity. Speakers employ assertive questions as the conventional means for several grammatical and interactional ends. I show that the class of actions done by assertive questions in this language is uniquely characterized by the presence of a threat to the speaker's positive face. Crucially, the facework properties of assertive questions arise from their preference structure, not from their syntax.