巴拉河苗语疑问代词丰富,根据询问的内容有问人、问事物/动作、问时间、问处所、问方式、问原因/目的、问情状、问数量/程度和问抉择9个类别。疑问代词主要由■前加其他成分组合而成,推测巴拉河苗语疑问虚语素■源于■,疑问虚语素■的构词能力最强,■的构词能力逐渐降低,且语法意义开始发生转变。通过分析巴拉河苗语疑问代词引起的歧义,认为其在不同用法中具有不同的语义功能。在疑问用法中,询问功能和指代功能并存;在非疑问用法中,只保留指代功能,询问功能弱化或消失。

The Balahe Miao dialect possesses a rich inventory of interrogative pronouns that, according to the semantic content queried, are systematically categorized into nine types: person, thing/action, time, place, manner, cause/purpose, state, quantity/degree, and alternative. The interrogative pronouns are mainly composed of ■with other elements added in front of them. It is eculated that the~ interrogative empty morpheme ■originates from ■,and that the interrogative empty morpheme ■ has the strongest morphological productivity, while the morphological productivity of ■gradually decreases, and its grammatical meaning begins to change. Through an analysis of the ambiguities induced by interrogative pronouns in the Balahe Miao dialect, it is proposed that they exhibit distinct semantic functions across different contexts. In their interrogative use, both the inquiry function and the referential function coexist. In non-interrogative use, however, only the referential function is retained, while the inquiry function is weakened or lost.