Noun Gradability in Japanese : Differences between gradable and non-gradable nouns

Ciolca Raluca Maria

doi:10.18910/91364

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The present paper analyses gradability in the nominal domain in Japanese, employing examples produced by native speakers to highlight the differences between gradable and non-gradable nouns. Drawing on previous research, the paper proposes two tests to differentiate between the two types of nouns, with baka (‘idiot’) representing the former, and nijonjin (‘Japanese person’) representing the latter. The tests are based on the functions of sugoi (‘amazing’)/ hidoi (‘terrible’) and the konna-type (‘such’) determiners, which express degree when co-occurring with gradable nouns and distinguish or identify the object when co-occurring with non-gradable nouns. Further differences between the two types are demonstrated by focusing on contexts in which the nouns have a gradable interpretation. While gradable nouns such as baka (‘idiot’) involve the same scale irrespective of the context, in the case of non-gradable nouns such as nihonjin (‘Japanese person’), gradable interpretations are allowed if the speaker focuses on a particular feature which is associated with the noun and involves a scale, with that feature changing depending on the context. The analysis in this paper also sheds light on two interesting phenomena associated with gradable interpretations of nouns in Japanese. Although in the literature gradability is generally seen as fixed, the mechanism behind gradable interpretations of non-gradable nouns allows for different types of scales to be realized at the same time. Moreover, this mechanism points to similarities between non-gradable nouns and non-gradable adjectives, proving that gradability is relevant when it comes to the parts of speech continuity as well.

Noun Gradability in Japanese : Differences between gradable and non-gradable nouns

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