A semiotactic approach to modern Japanese

Verkoren, H.C. (2008)

Doctoral Thesis

The aim of this research was to establish if the semiotactic theory of C.L. Ebeling could be applied to Modern Japanese and mathematical descriptions of Japanese sentences could be made that are consistent, clear and easy to understand. For this purpose example sentences from various sources, containing the most frequently used structures and expressions of Modern Japanese, were analyzed and described. In doing so, new light has been shed on various aspects of the Japanese language. Firstly, the general assumption that particles, also called postpositions, are similar in meaning and function to the prepositions in English proved to be true only for a number of the particles. Furthermore it was found that the traditional definitions for transitivity do not apply for Japanese, and the commonly assumed classification of noun phrases marked by the particle ga as direct objects has been rejected, in favor of the view that all noun phrases marked by nominative ga are subjects. That this method yields a better insight into the structure of the Japanese language is also demonstrated by the fact that, contrary to the classification commonly assumed until now, it was concluded that there are no indirect objects in Japanese.

• Causative
• Nominalization
• Particles
• Passive
• Semantics
• Semiotactic
• Syntax
• Transitivity
• Valences

• All authors: Verkoren, H.C.
• Supervisor: Kortlandt, F.H.H.
• Committee: Adelaar, W.F.H.; Boot, W.J.; Lubotsky, A.M.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: LUCL, Faculty of Arts, Leiden University
• Date: 2008-05-27
• Court: LEI Universiteit Leiden