The syntactic processing of particles in Japanese spoken language

Particles fullfill several distinct central roles in the Japanese language. They can mark arguments as well as adjuncts, can be functional or have semantic funtions. There is, however, no straightforward matching from particles to functions, as, e.g., GA can mark the subject, the object or an adjunct of a sentence. Particles can cooccur. Verbal arguments that could be identified by particles can be eliminated in the Japanese sentence. And finally, in spoken language particles are often omitted. A proper treatment of particles is thus necessary to make an analysis of Japanese sentences possible. Our treatment is based on an empirical investigation of 800 dialogues. We set up a type hierarchy of particles motivated by their subcategorizational and modificational behaviour. This type hierarchy is part of the Japanese syntax in VERBMOBIL.Comment: 8 page

Integration of Dependency Analysis with Semantic Analysis Referring to the Context

PACLIC 19 / Taipei, taiwan / December 1-3, 200

Headless Relative Clauses in Japanese: An Historical Study.

The present thesis examines the syntax and semantics of headless relative clauses ("B pattern") and a type of headed relative clauses ("A pattern") from which they are likely to have developed. Based on a systematic survey of representative sources of Japanese from the Nara to Muromachi periods, it traces the historical development of the various types of A and B pattern observed. Both simple and stacked patterns are dealt with, while some similar patterns are also discussed. Chapter I provides most of the general framework and objectives of the thesis. It also presents an overview of research into headless relative clauses and some related phenomena published to date in Japanese, English and German. Chapter II examines the A pattern formed by the particle no in the Nara period and thereafter and traces its historical development. Chapter III deals with the A pattern formed by particles other than no (zero etc.) during the same periods. Chapter IV discusses the B pattern formed by the particle no for each period of Japanese language history covered in this thesis, while Chapter V focusses on the B pattern formed by other particles (zero, case particles such as emphatic particles such as wa, and some others). Chapter VI examines the relationship between the A and B patterns and compares the various types of B pattern. Results are discussed and contrasted with earlier research

Universal Numeric Quantifiers in Japanese

This paper examines a subtype of floating quantifiers, in which a universal quantifier along with a numeral appear at a distance from their nominal associate. According to Cirillo (2010), this floating universal numeric quantifier (UNQ) construction is found in some (but not all) Romance and Germanic languages. While Cirillo provides strong evidence for a stranding analysis (cf. Sportiche, 1988; Bošković, 2004) of the floating UNQ rather than an adverbial approach (cf. Bobaljik, 2004; Nakanishi, 2006), his most crucial data could be accommodated under a particular version of the adverbial view, advocated by Doetjes (1997) and Fitzpatrick (2006), which postulates pro inside a base-generated adjunct nominal. Building on Kawashima’s (1994; 1998) observations about Japanese, this paper argues that (i) Japanese also has the adnominal/floating UNQ and (ii) the stranding approach is superior to the pro-based adverbial analysis noted above in handling the floating UNQ. To show this, I will examine in some depth the syntax of adnominal quantification in Japanese (and Chinese) with a special focus on the ways in which numeral classifiers interact with other adnominal elements. Several theoretical consequences of the analysis will be explored, including the nature of quantifier stranding and syntactic locality.Este artículo examina un subtipo de los cuantificadores flotantes, en el que un cuantificador universal junto con un numeral aparece a una cierta distancia de su asociado nominal. De acuerdo con Cirillo (2010), esta construcción de cuantificador numérico universal flotante (CNU) es encontrada en algunas (pero no todas) lenguas románicas y germánicas. Mientras Cirillo facilita evidencia contundente para un análisis de encallamiento (cf. Sportiche, 1988; Bošković, 2004) del CNU flotante en lugar de una aproximación adverbial (cf. Bobaljik, 2004; Nakanishi, 2006), su dato más crucial podría ser acomodado bajo una versión partícular de la visión adverbial, defendida por Doetjes (1997) y Fitzpatrick (2006), quienes postulan que pro se encuentra dentro de un adjunto nominal generado en su posición superficial. Basándome en las observaciones del japonés llevadas a cabo por Kawashima (1994; 1998), este artículo arguye que (i) el japonés también tiene el CNU adnominal/flotante y (ii) la aproximación de encallamiento es superior al análisis adverbial basado-pro observado anteriormente en el manejo del CNU flotante. Con el fin de demostrar esto, examinaré con cierta profundidad la sintaxis de la cuantificación adnominal del japonés (y chino) prestando especial atención a las formas en las que los clasificadores nominales interaccionan con otros elementos adnominales. Varias consecuencias teóricas del análisis serán analizadas, incluida la naturaleza del encallamiento del cuantificador y la localidad sintácticaEste artigo analisa um subtipo de quantificadores flutuantes, em que um quantificador universal e um numeral surgem distantes do nome ao qual estão associados. De acordo com Cirillo (2010), estes 'quantificadores numerais universais' (UNQ) flutuantes surgem em algumas (mas não todas) línguas românicas e germânicas. Apesar de Cirillo apresentar fortes evidências para uma análise de encalhe (e.g., Sportiche 1988, Bošković 2004) para os UNQ flutuantes em vez de uma análise adverbial (Bobaljik 2004, Nakanishi 2006), os dados apresentados devem ser analisados a partir de uma versão da análise adverbial, postulada por Doetjes (1997) e Fitzpatrick (2006), segundo a qual pro está inserido num adjunto adnominal gerado na base. Partindo das observações de Kawashima (1994, 1998) para o Japonês, este artigo defende que: (i) o japonês também tem UNQ adnominais/flutuantes e (ii) a análise de encalhamento é mais adequada do que a análise adverbial, já apresentada, para explicar os UNQ flutuantes. Neste sentido, examinarei a sintaxe dos quantificadores adnominais no japonês (e no chinês) com especial enfoque na forma como os classificadores numerais interagem com outros elementos de natureza adnominal. Diversas consequências teóricas da análise serão exploradas, incluindo a natureza do quantificador encalhado e localidade sintática

The Nominative/Genitive Alternation and Subordination in the Japanese Language

The focus of this paper is the nominative/genitive case alternation phenomenon, often called ga/no conversion, which occurs in the Japanese language. In some kinds of subordinate clauses, the nominative case marker ga can be replaced with the genitive no to mark the subject of a sentence, without causing any particular difference in meaning. A survey concerning said phenomenon has been carried out. The results are examined to find out in which kinds of subordinate clauses the alternation is possible and to analyse semantic differences and frequency of use. The results are also compared to previous research regarding this phenomenon

Classification of Noun-Concluding Sentences from a Syntactic Analysis Perspective

This paper discusses the problem of ‘noun-concluding sentences’ (NCS) in modern Japanese and aims to systematize classification based on syntactic analysis. An NCS refers to a noun predicate sentence in which the noun of the predicate requires a modification part and does not have an equivalent relation with the subject. The NCS is a special construction both from a linguistic typology perspective and from a Japanese syntax perspective. NCS cover a wide range of semantic fields, and several classification systems have been attempted. However, because these classifications in the existing research depend on the lexical meanings of nouns of predicates, the individual categories are considered in parallel to each other, making it difficult to perceive a clear picture of relationships between them. This paper, therefore, focuses on a syntactic view of NCS, and on that basis, proposes the establishment of an NCS classification system. This paper will attempt to show that NCS can be classified into two main groups: those which can take cognitive subjects as their themes (Type I), and those which cannot take cognitive subjects as their themes (Type II). Type I constructions can be further divided into two patterns based on whether the cognitive subject has a person restriction (Type I-1, I-2). Type II constructions also can be further divided into two patterns, those which take cognitive objects as their themes (Type II-1), and those which do not take any themes (Type II-2). Bringing a syntactic perspective to the classification of NCS constructions has therefore made it possible to see the systemicity between the classes. 要旨この論文は、現代日本語における「文末名詞文」を取り上げ、構文論的分析に基づく分類の体系化を行うことを目的とする。文末名詞文は、述部の名詞が連体修飾部を必須とし、かつ主題と同値関係を持たない名詞述語文を指し、類型論的に見ても日本語の構文論的に見ても、特殊な構文である。 「文末名詞文」の意味領域は多岐にわたり、従来いくつかの分類が試みられてきた。しかしこれまでの研究の分類は述部の名詞の語彙的意味に依存した分類になっているために、分類項目が並列的で、文類間の関係性が把握しにくいのが現状である。そこで本論文では、「文末名詞文」の構文論的な観点に注目し、「文末名詞文」の分類を立てることを提案する。 本論文では、「文末名詞文」を、認知主体を主題にとることができるもの（I類）と、認知主体を主題にとることができないもの（II類）の大きく２つに分けられることを主張する。さらにI類は、その認知主体に人称制限があるかどうかで２つに分けられ（I-1型、I-2型）、II類は、認知対象を主題に取るもの（II-1型）と、どのような主題も取らないもの（II-2型）にわけられる。このように構文の分類に統語的な観点を持ち込むことにより、分類間の体系性を示すことができる

Development of nominalizers in some East Asian languages.

Shin Mi-kyong.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-94).Abstracts in English and Chinese.Contents --- p.3List of Figures --- p.4List of Tables --- p.5Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.6Chapter 1.1 --- Nominalizers in some East Asian languages --- p.7Chapter 1.2 --- Forms and functions of four East Asian nominalizers --- p.8Chapter 1.2.1 --- Linker --- p.8Chapter 1.2.2 --- Pronominalization --- p.12Chapter 1.3 --- Grammaticalization of East Asian nominalizers --- p.14Chapter 1.4 --- Research questions and organization of the thesis --- p.15Chapter 1.5 --- Abbreviation --- p.16Chapter 2 --- Development of Korean nominalizing system --- p.17Chapter 2.1 --- Two distinct properties of Korean nominalizers --- p.17Chapter 2.1.1 --- "Korean Linking morphemes -n, -neun, -l" --- p.18Chapter 2.1.2 --- """Bound noun"" geot" --- p.19Chapter 2.2 --- Degrees of nominalization --- p.21Chapter 2.2.1 --- Linker to Pronominal --- p.21Chapter 2.2.2 --- Pronominal to Nominalizer --- p.24Chapter 2.2.3 --- Nominalizer to Stance marker --- p.26Chapter 2.3 --- Competition from other nominalizers --- p.28Chapter 2.3.1 --- Nominalizer -(o/u)m --- p.28Chapter 2.3.2 --- Competition with Middle Korean *-n/do/ --- p.30Chapter 2.3.3 --- Korean Linkers -eui and -n --- p.31Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.33Chapter 3 --- Development of Japanese no --- p.35Chapter 3.1 --- Syntactic behavior of no --- p.36Chapter 3.2 --- Diachronic perspectives on no --- p.40Chapter 3.3 --- Summary --- p.44Chapter 4 --- Mandarin de and Cantonese ge --- p.45Chapter 4.1 --- Synchronic descriptions --- p.46Chapter 4.1.1 --- Dual properties of Mandarin de and Cantonese ge --- p.46Chapter 4.1.2 --- Zhu's classification of Mandarin de --- p.47Chapter 4.1.3 --- [Demonstrative + Classifier] structure in Cantonese --- p.49Chapter 4.1.4 --- ge insertion after Classifier in Cantonese --- p.50Chapter 4.1.5 --- Nominalization and further development in Mandarin de --- p.50Chapter 4.2 --- Diachronic perspectives --- p.53Chapter 4.2.1 --- Competition between Classifier and Demonstrative pronoun --- p.54Chapter 4.2.2 --- From Classifier to nominalizer: Cantonese go --- p.55Chapter 4.3 --- Summary --- p.56Chapter 5 --- Some solutions on their incompatibilities --- p.58Chapter 5.1 --- Definiteness in Nominalizers --- p.59Chapter 5.1.1 --- Type I Determiners: Linking morphemes --- p.59Chapter 5.1.2 --- Type II Determiners: Pronominals --- p.64Chapter 5.2 --- Nominalized complementation in Japanese and Korean --- p.68Chapter 5.3 --- Further extension to Cleft and Stance --- p.74Chapter 5.3.1 --- Unidirectional pathway view --- p.74Chapter 5.3.2 --- Sentential pronominal to Cleft construction --- p.76Chapter 5.3.3 --- Cleft to stance --- p.78Chapter 5.4 --- Tense/Aspect reflected on Adnominal systems --- p.80Chapter 5.4.1 --- Spell-outs of time in Korean linking morphemes --- p.80Chapter 5.4.2 --- Infinitival RC --- p.82Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.83Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.85References --- p.8