# questions (linguistic)

a request for information that is a difference between a current state of knowledge and a different state

- Computed level: L9 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: language  ·  Arena: emergencelexicon

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [request](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-request.social), [difference](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-difference.relation), [information](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-information.knowledge), [current](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-current.fluid), [knowledge](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-knowledge.cognitive), [state](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-state.condition)

**Through:** When a request for information produces a difference between what is known and another possible state, a question emerges.

**Novel properties:**
- inquisitive intent
- knowledge gap
- interrogative structure

## Examples
- The Hubble Space Telescope transmitted anomalous data in 1990, prompting engineers to diagnose a 2.2-micron spherical aberration in its primary mirror. *(engineering)*
- In 2015, Brazilian authorities investigating Petrobras uncovered systemic overbilling through a series of financial audits and whistleblower testimonies. *(institutions)*
- A 2023 Python script failed to parse JSON, leading developers to query why Unicode characters caused a 400-millisecond delay in API responses. *(computing)*

## Used by
- [answer](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-answer.solution) (L10)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-questions.linguistic*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-questions.linguistic.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*