In:Modality and Diachronic Construction Grammar
Edited by Martin Hilpert, Bert Cappelle and Ilse Depraetere
[Constructional Approaches to Language 32] 2021
► pp. 219–246
Constructionalization of Japanese koto imperatives
Published online: 12 October 2021
https://doi.org/10.1075/cal.32.08yua
https://doi.org/10.1075/cal.32.08yua
Abstract
This paper examines koto imperatives
(e.g., tōku-o mite unten-suru koto! ‘drive looking far
ahead!’) in Japanese. With internal reconstruction, it is shown that
koto imperatives not only underwent a process of
pragmatic strengthening resulting in a new sense of modality, but also
inherited the syntactic schema of the prototypical modal
(raising-to-subject) construction. Given this new meaning associated with
new syntax, it is proposed that koto imperatives are an
instance of constructionalization. Given the similarities between
koto imperatives and suspended clauses (Ohori, 1995), the current analysis
also raises the possibility that constructionalization may take place or may
be taking place with other emerging modality expressions in Japanese.
Keywords: constructionalization, imperative, Japanese, suspended clause
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Japanese koto imperatives
- 2.1Semantic properties of koto imperatives
- 2.2Syntactic properties
- 3.Koto imperatives as an instance of constructionalization
- 4.Suspended clauses
- 5.Concluding remarks
Acknowledgements Notes Abbreviations References
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