General noun-modifying clause constructions in Japanese
-
Yoshiko Matsumoto
Abstract
Instances of Japanese clausal modification of a noun illustrate that Japanese exhibits a single construction, the general noun-modifying clause construction (GNMCC), in which a clause in the finite form precedes the head noun. The GNMCC expresses extensive grammatical and semantic relations between the head noun and the modifying clause with apparently fewer restrictions than in most other languages. This extensiveness is a likely reflection of such properties as the low referential density and the lack of explicit marking in Japanese of the relation between the main constituents, which, in turn, make the construal of the construction rely upon an aggregate of structural, semantic and pragmatic factors. The ubiquity of GNMCC instances may reflect the lack of available alternative constructions.
Abstract
Instances of Japanese clausal modification of a noun illustrate that Japanese exhibits a single construction, the general noun-modifying clause construction (GNMCC), in which a clause in the finite form precedes the head noun. The GNMCC expresses extensive grammatical and semantic relations between the head noun and the modifying clause with apparently fewer restrictions than in most other languages. This extensiveness is a likely reflection of such properties as the low referential density and the lack of explicit marking in Japanese of the relation between the main constituents, which, in turn, make the construal of the construction rely upon an aggregate of structural, semantic and pragmatic factors. The ubiquity of GNMCC instances may reflect the lack of available alternative constructions.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in languages of Eurasia 3
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Japanese 23
- The attributive versus final distinction and the manifestation of “main clause phenomena” in Japanese and Korean noun modifying clause constructions 45
- Noun-modifying constructions in Korean 59
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Sino-Tibetan languages 91
- Noun-modifying clauses in Cantonese 105
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Hinuq and Bezhta, with a note on other Daghestanian languages 121
- The general noun-modifying clause construction in Tundra Nenets and its possible origin 147
- Noun-modifying constructions and relativization in the central and western Caucasus 179
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Ainu 203
- Turkish and Turkic complex noun phrase constructions 251
- Noun-modifying constructions in Marathi 293
- Conclusion 331
- Examples to explore in noun-modifying constructions 339
- Relative clauses and noun-modifying clauses in Chantyal 355
- Language index 371
- Name index 373
- Subject index 377
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in languages of Eurasia 3
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Japanese 23
- The attributive versus final distinction and the manifestation of “main clause phenomena” in Japanese and Korean noun modifying clause constructions 45
- Noun-modifying constructions in Korean 59
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Sino-Tibetan languages 91
- Noun-modifying clauses in Cantonese 105
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Hinuq and Bezhta, with a note on other Daghestanian languages 121
- The general noun-modifying clause construction in Tundra Nenets and its possible origin 147
- Noun-modifying constructions and relativization in the central and western Caucasus 179
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Ainu 203
- Turkish and Turkic complex noun phrase constructions 251
- Noun-modifying constructions in Marathi 293
- Conclusion 331
- Examples to explore in noun-modifying constructions 339
- Relative clauses and noun-modifying clauses in Chantyal 355
- Language index 371
- Name index 373
- Subject index 377
