open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/34577

The Influence of Honorific and Polite Expressions on the Grammaticality of Complex Sentences Containing Benefactive Auxiliaries in Japanese : Focusing on Expressions of Thanks Using kudasaru or itadaku

日本語

2008-03-21

Graduate School of International Media, Communication, and Tourism Studies, Hokkaido University

The Journal of International Media, Communication, and Tourism Studies

6

69-89

This paper analyses complex sentences consisting of an initial clause including a benefactive auxiliary verb and a second clause including an expression of thanks. The study focuses in particular on sentences using kudasaru or itadaku. Complex sentences of this kind show grammatical constraints as illustrated by oshiete (*moratte/kurete) arigatoo. However, if the verb morau is changed to the object-honorific itadaku, the whole sentence is rendered as oshiete itadaite arigatoo gozaimasu. This kind of expression sounds natural and is in common use, appearing even in Japanese textbooks. Based on the above facts, the paper examines how the usage of honorific and polite expressions affects the grammaticality of sentences containing benefactive auxiliary verbs. First, the paper investigates prior research related to te-form conjunctive sentences expressing appreciation. Second, the paper suggests three possible factors which affect grammaticality, based on analysis of acceptance criteria for the expressions *V-te moratte arigatoo and V-te itadaite arigatoo gozaimasu. Finally, the paper concludes that honorific and polite expressions affect the acceptability of sentences through cancelling the inherent directionality of benefactive expressions.

紀要論文

Version of Record

AA1224631X