Are kara ‘because’-clauses causal subordinate clauses in present-day Japanese?
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Yuko Higashiizumi
Abstract
This paper reviews subordination in conversation through grammaticalization. Traditionally, the Japanese kara ‘because’-clause has been characterized a causal subordinate clause. This study describes the various uses of kara-clauses in present-day Japanese and the historical background to the variety in clause combination. According to Hopper & Traugott (2003), complex clause constructions are traditionally classified into subordination and coordination. More recent studies, however, have suggested that the dichotomy calls for further investigation. Building on these recent studies, Hopper & Traugott (2003) propose a subordination–hypotaxis–parataxis continuum of complex clause constructions in grammaticalization. I illustrate that a continuum is more relevant than the traditional dichotomy in understanding both the functional diversity of kara-clauses in present-day Japanese and the historical process in kara-clauses.
Abstract
This paper reviews subordination in conversation through grammaticalization. Traditionally, the Japanese kara ‘because’-clause has been characterized a causal subordinate clause. This study describes the various uses of kara-clauses in present-day Japanese and the historical background to the variety in clause combination. According to Hopper & Traugott (2003), complex clause constructions are traditionally classified into subordination and coordination. More recent studies, however, have suggested that the dichotomy calls for further investigation. Building on these recent studies, Hopper & Traugott (2003) propose a subordination–hypotaxis–parataxis continuum of complex clause constructions in grammaticalization. I illustrate that a continuum is more relevant than the traditional dichotomy in understanding both the functional diversity of kara-clauses in present-day Japanese and the historical process in kara-clauses.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
- N be that -constructions in everyday German conversation 11
- Interrogative “complements” and question design in Estonian 37
- Syntactic and actional characteristics of Finnish että -clauses 69
- Clause-combining and the sequencing of actions 103
- A note on the emergence of quotative constructions in Japanese conversation 149
- Clines of subordination – constructions with the German ‘complement-taking predicate’ glauben 165
- Are kara ‘because’-clauses causal subordinate clauses in present-day Japanese? 191
- Teyuuka and I mean as pragmatic parentheticals in Japanese and English 209
- Name index 239
- Subject index 243
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
- N be that -constructions in everyday German conversation 11
- Interrogative “complements” and question design in Estonian 37
- Syntactic and actional characteristics of Finnish että -clauses 69
- Clause-combining and the sequencing of actions 103
- A note on the emergence of quotative constructions in Japanese conversation 149
- Clines of subordination – constructions with the German ‘complement-taking predicate’ glauben 165
- Are kara ‘because’-clauses causal subordinate clauses in present-day Japanese? 191
- Teyuuka and I mean as pragmatic parentheticals in Japanese and English 209
- Name index 239
- Subject index 243
