<Articles>A Study of Floating Numeral Quantifier in Japanese: A Perspective from Semantic Macroroles

WANG Dan

doi:10.14989/287600

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

<研究論文>日本語数量詞遊離現象についての考察 --意味役割を中心に--
日本語数量詞遊離現象についての考察 : 意味役割を中心に
ニホンゴスウリョウシユウリゲンショウニツイテノコウサツ : イミヤクワリオチュウシンニ

Search this article

Abstract

This paper aims to clarify the proper conditions of floating numeral quantifier (FNQ) in Japanese in terms of ‘semantic macroroles’， and explain what reason caused those conditions. It hypothesizes that both patient and agent are compatible with FNQ according to the correspondence between the four levels of grammar: syntax, case, information structure, and semantic role. Then the hypothesis is verified by investigating that if FNQ can occur with (internal/external) argument and adjunct. Further evidence also comes from the noun phrase of direct and indirect passive sentences. As a result, both patient and agent are associated with FNQ, but both require some conditions. In this paper the reasons caused the conditions are explained by an approach of ‘semantic macroroles’， and the argues are in the following. In the case of ‘undergoer-patient’, the FNQ can be licensed if its antecedent is an undergoer-patient with the property of ‘+Affectedness’, for the reason that FNQ is a gradational phenomenon. And in the case of actor-agent, FNQ is licensed in at least four conditions and foregrounding plays a crucial role in explaining these conditions. Furthermore, it was also confirmed that FNQ can be licensed when the antecedent is under a semantic role of actor-source.

Journal

京都大学言語学研究

京都大学言語学研究 42 25-58, 2023-12-31

Department of Linguistics, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Export