Can 何か be a question word?


The following sentences are from the JP children's book よだかの星:  
  
「ね、まあ、あのくちのおおきいことさ。きっと、かえるの親類か何かなんだよ。」  
  
The 2nd sentence feels like an implied question e.g. "Surely, [he] is kin of a
frog _or something_." (implying that the speaker suspects the nighthawk
_isn't_ the kin of a frog, but something else entirely")

But (as far as I know) a sentence that ends in **だよ** is always
**declarative** unless a "question word" is included. e.g. "Surely, [he] is
kin of a frog or something." (The speaker has no suspicions. It's simply a
matter of fact that the nighthawk _is_ the kin of either "a frog" or
"something").

Now since the expression 何か uses the 何 kanji (which is also used in other
interrogative words, like "what") I wondered if 何か in this context could
function as a "question word" and carry a questioning tone. e.g. "I am going
to do _something_?"

* * *

**Another example of the 1st tone:** "My dog is a hound... or _something_...."  
(this sentence isn't technically a question, but it's still **implying** a
question of authenticity and a suspicion that the dog isn't _really_ a hound)

* * *

**Another example of the 2nd tone:** "My dog is a hound, or something."  
(there are no implications in this sentence. It's just a simple matter of fact
the dog is either a hound or something else.)

* * *

**So, I guess my question has three parts:**

  1. Can 何か be an interrogative word or indicate a question tone?
  2. Does Japanese even _have_ implied questions like this?
  3. What's the best translation of that 2nd sentence?




>   1. Can 何か be a question word?
>

何か here is not a question word. (「何 + か」 _can_ be a question word in different
structures.)  
[何]{なに}か here means "something".  
「～か何か」 = "~~ or something similar" "~~ or something like that"  
(The か in 親類 **か** is a parallel marker / 並立助詞.)

> implying that the speaker suspects the nighthawk isn't the kin of a frog,
> but something else entirely

The sentence means that the speaker suspects the nighthawk _is_ the kin of a
frog or something (like a frog / similar to a frog).

>   2. Does Japanese even have implied questions (and doubt) like English
> does?
>

After reading your comment below ("I'm sure he's a frog's cousin _or
something_." could indicate doubt or a question of authenticity. i.e. You
don't _really_ think he's a frog's cousin, you think he's something else.), I
can't think of a way to _directly_ translate/convey the sentence/meaning into
Japanese (without sounding really _translated_ , at least.)

>   3. What's the best translation of that 2nd sentence?
>

きっと、かえるの親類か何かなんだよ。  
"I'm sure it/he's a frog/toad's cousin or something (similar / like that / of
that kind)."  
"It/He must be a frog/toad's relative or something (similar / like that / of
that kind)."

(I don't know if this is the _best_ translation, but it's what it means.
Please modify it to what sounds natural in your language.)




>   1. Can 何か be a question word?
>

何か here is not a question word. (「何 + か」 _can_ be a question word in different
structures.)  
[何]{なに}か here means "something".  
「～か何か」 = "~~ or something similar" "~~ or something like that"  
(The か in 親類 **か** is a parallel marker / 並立助詞.)

> implying that the speaker suspects the nighthawk isn't the kin of a frog,
> but something else entirely

The sentence means that the speaker suspects the nighthawk _is_ the kin of a
frog or something (like a frog / similar to a frog).

>   2. Does Japanese even have implied questions (and doubt) like English
> does?
>

After reading your comment below ("I'm sure he's a frog's cousin _or
something_." could indicate doubt or a question of authenticity. i.e. You
don't _really_ think he's a frog's cousin, you think he's something else.), I
can't think of a way to _directly_ translate/convey the sentence/meaning into
Japanese (without sounding really _translated_ , at least.)

>   3. What's the best translation of that 2nd sentence?
>

きっと、かえるの親類か何かなんだよ。  
"I'm sure it/he's a frog/toad's cousin or something (similar / like that / of
that kind)."  
"It/He must be a frog/toad's relative or something (similar / like that / of
that kind)."

(I don't know if this is the _best_ translation, but it's what it means.
Please modify it to what sounds natural in your language.)

