My question is about the translation of the pali paṭipucchā… being rendered to counter-question in the AN 3.67 Kathāvatthusutta
(It has a parallel in AN 4.42 Pañhabyākaraṇasutta).
To give some context: To assess if your interlocutor is fit to hold a discussion one can look at the ways of answering a question. For instace, there are questions that should be answered categorically. If the interloctor acts accordingly and answers either with a categorial „yes“ or a categorial „no“ then he/she/they is said to be fit to hold a discussion. Similarly, questions that need some anaylzing should be analyzed.
Here’s the third type of questions:
or if it (the question) needs a counter-question and they answer without a counter-question
Now, I think that translating paṭipucchā with counter-question doesn’t quite capture the spirit (neither does the French or German translation) In my understanding and what I read from commentary, it is about checking with your interlocutor if you’re on the same page (“When asking this question are you referring to a or b or maybe even c?”)
A counter-question has negative connotations ranging from evading the initial question to trying to mute the interlocutor by intentionally diverting attention away from the topic. Merriam-Webster states:
A counter question is a question asked in response to another question. It is used to avoid a direct “no” at practically any cost, promise an answer at some later date, change the subject and even occasionally leave the room.
The sutta, though, imo speaks about getting to the point of the question to avoid misunderstandings.
If my understanding is correct, I’d opt for rendering the French contre-question paraphrasing it using demander or demande de précision. In German one could easily replace Gegenfrage with Rückfrage or Nachfrage.
I’m not a native English speaker, but I was thinking something along the lines of“ if it needs further enquiry“ if this is idiomatic.
I think the prefix paṭi allows for reading it as back as in getting back to sth to avoid talking past each other.