A pragmatic view of the Japanese complex forms : V-teiru and V-tearu
Date
1986
Authors
Harasawa, Itsuo
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Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University
Abstract
In this paper, the complex forms of V-teiru and V-tearu are
morphologically analized as V-te i-ru and V-te ar-u. These compound
predicates consist of the te form (V-te) and the existential verbs
i-ru and ar-u. The paper further classifies all Japanese verbs into
punctual and durative verbs, depending on their occurrence in the
continuous form of V-teiru. On the basis of this classification, it
is hypothesized that V-te i-ru and V-te ar-u are composed of two
different types of verbs; punctual verbs in the V-te and durative
verbs i-ru and ar-u. When functioning as main verbs, ---
i-ru and ar-u focus on the
existence of the subject entities. The use of i-ru or ar-u is
primarily dependent on a dynamic/static view of the subject entity,
That is to say, if the subject is seen from the dynamic point of
view, i-ru is used, while if it is seen from the static point of
v 1 ew, ar-u 1 s used.
When functioning somewhat like auxiliary verbs, i-ru and ar-u
focus on the duration of the situations identified by punctual
verbs. The choice of V-te i-ru or V-te ar-u depends on how the
speaker views the subject entity within these situations. When the
subject entity is viewed as dynamic, that is when the subject entity
initiates the situation, V-te i-ru is used. When the subject entity
is viewed as static, that is when the subject entity is affected by
the situation, V-te ar-u is used. The paper discusses the under1ying nature of these forms, by exam1n1ng their full semantic
range and the syntactic implication.
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Thesis (Masters sub-thesis)
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