function isDelimiter(c) {
  return " ,;.:!?()-".indexOf(c) >= 0;
}

function validateInquiry(text) {
  var len = text.length;
  var j = 0;
  while (j < len) { // find a significant character
    while ((j < len) && isDelimiter(text.charAt(j))) { j++; }
    // question with non-empty string?
    if (j < len)
      return true;
  }
  alert('Please type a short question.');
  return false;
}