24858
My question is about the differences when using という in a question compared to
without.

Take for example the 4 questions below

> 何があったというのだ？  
>  何があったのだ？  
>  何かが始まるというの？  
>  何かが始まるの？

The two questions with という were said by characters to themselves and were said
because they thought that something is/is about to happen due to their
birthmarks shining. Does the usage of という have any relevance to the way the
information has been obtained before they ask the question or is it purely for
emphasis or some other usage?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-07T11:50:28.560
24856
2020-01-13T12:25:30.120
2015-06-07T13:21:18.003
1628
10273
question
meaning questions quotes
The usage of という in questions
「～～というのだ」、「～～というの」、「～～というのか」, etc. added at the end of a question generally
functions to **_emphasize_** the question itself.

By adding one of those phrases, you are expressing the fact that you
**really** want to know the answer because whatever happened that caused you
to ask the question perplexes, surprises, shocks you, etc.

Thus, you will not attach one of those phrases just to ask someone what he had
for lunch or where he got his new haircut. You probably will attach one,
however, if you see a friend coming out of a restaurant looking very sick or
bump into him with the weirdest haircut.

> Does the usage of という have any relevance to the way the information has been
> obtained before they ask the question or is it purely for emphasis or some
> other usage?

I find this to be a very insightful question. In real life, the way the
information has been obtained would generally have very little to do with the
use of 「という」. It is the content of the event/situation that matters such as
how puzzling it is.

In this particular case, however, it is fiction where those questions are
uttered. "Birthmarks shining" is a highly peculiar event: therefore, one could
say that the way the information has been obtained would have much to do with
the use of 「という」 here.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-06-07T12:28:40.353
24858
2020-01-13T12:25:30.120
2020-01-13T12:25:30.120
24856
answer