An exploration of quasi-proper names based on Japanese data: Insights from cross-linguistic and language-specific perspectives

Yoko Mizuta

doi:10.1515/ip-2025-5008

Article

An exploration of quasi-proper names based on Japanese data: Insights from cross-linguistic and language-specific perspectives

Yoko Mizuta
Yoko Mizuta obtained her PhD. in linguistics from the University of Chicago. She is a senior associate professor of linguistics at International Christian University, Japan. She is particularly interested in incorporating the perspectives and methods of linguistics and other areas into the investigations of philosophical issues.

Published/Copyright: December 16, 2025

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From the journal Intercultural Pragmatics Volume 22 Issue 5

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the semantics and pragmatics of quasi-proper names (QP-names) from cross-linguistic and language-specific perspectives, based on Japanese data. First, a stronger basis is provided for the core part of QP-names from a cross-linguistic perspective. Specifically, supporting evidence is provided for direct reference and rigidity, by examining the reference of a QP-name in a modal context compared with the corresponding definite description. Then, indexicality as a unique property of QP-names is discussed in greater detail, with a clarification of the notion in relation to Kaplan’s theory of indexicals. On this basis, QP-names are characterized as rigid designators that apply to each individual in a relational scheme (such as a family tree) in such a way that they are assigned in a systematic way, with customization, to the individual’s superiors within a certain degree of relationship and are used from the individual’s perspective. Ambiguity and disambiguation are also discussed, using illustrations of phrasal and compound QP-names, which serve as full names and nicknames. Second, deviant cases of QP-names are investigated. Specifically, QP-names with a higher degree of quasi-ness, or quasi-quasi-proper names, are discussed, using illustrations of examples unique to Japanese. These include anata, which is derived from a second person pronoun (‘you’) to be used by a wife when talking to her husband even when he is not there. Furthermore, pseudo-quasi-proper names are discussed. They look like QP-names but have an essential difference. They are regarded as metonymically-created temporary names to be used in the context at issue. Based on the core features and deviant cases of QP-names, together with an observation of atypical proper names, it was proposed that we evaluate the quality of (quasi-)proper names on multiple criteria and consider a complex model of (quasi-)proper names, according to this evaluation.

Keywords: quasi-proper names; proper names; Japanese; perspective; names assigned based on a relational scheme; a complex model of names

Corresponding author: Yoko Mizuta, College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan, E-mail: mizutay@icu.ac.jp

This paper is dedicated to the late Dr. Istvan Kecskes, with a sincere appreciation for his devoted work as editor-in-chief of Intercultural Pragmatics for many years.

About the author

Yoko Mizuta

Yoko Mizuta obtained her PhD. in linguistics from the University of Chicago. She is a senior associate professor of linguistics at International Christian University, Japan. She is particularly interested in incorporating the perspectives and methods of linguistics and other areas into the investigations of philosophical issues.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22K18461. I am grateful to Dr. Alessandro Capone for sharing his pioneering work on quasi-proper names with the participants of the conference Pragmasophia 4 (June 2024, Messina, Italy) and for kindly welcoming me to the exploration of this area. Thanks also go to the reviewers for helpful comments.

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Published Online: 2025-12-16

Published in Print: 2025-11-25

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ip-2025-5008

Keywords for this article

quasi-proper names; proper names; Japanese; perspective; names assigned based on a relational scheme; a complex model of names