LINGUIST List 16.2124
|
Sun Jul 10 2005
Qs: Japanese Word Order; Object Topic Marker
Editor for this issue: Jessica Boynton
<jessica linguistlist.org>
|
We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate. In addition to posting a summary, we'd like to remind people that it is usually a good idea to personally thank those individuals who have taken the trouble to respond to the query. To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.html.
|
Directory
1. Victor
Hidalgo,
Japanese Word Order
2. Irina
Nikolaeva,
Object Topic Marker
Message 1: Japanese Word Order
|
Date: 10-Jul-2005
From: Victor Hidalgo <bittorhidalgoeuskalnet.net>
Subject: Japanese Word Order
It is everywhere rigidly claimed that Japanese is (always) a rigid verb
final language. But has always been so? I have no reference about Japanese
historical and dialectal word order development and variation, and I would
thank any.
My concern would be to know if Japanese has always and everywhere been so a
rigid-verb-final language? Or on the contrary, as it is the case of other
characteristics (cf. Gottlieb, 2005), verb rigid finality is also a claime,
more or less born or rigidly developed at the last century, with the
general standardization process of Japanese? Beside, I would definitely
want to know if even current Japanese spontaneous (oral) word order is so
rigidly verb final as claimed? Because between some other, at least P.M.
Clancy (1982) or Matsumoto (2003) claim that Japanese spoken word order is
not so rigid (as Matsumoto says, 4: Japanese spoken discourse consists not
only of basic canonical SOV word order constructions involving
pre-predicate elements, but also of marked word order constructions
involving post-predicate elements). And Shibamoto (1985, ap. Gottlieb 2005,
14) «found that women often reverse the normal word order, putting the
subject after the predicate», where predicate seems to include the verb).
Then, what is Japanese rigid verb final condition, a description or a
desideratum? And if Japanese is so a rigid verb final language how can the
current Japanese hearer or listener manage to easily understand verb final
long (very long) sentences, as those with verbs of thinking or saying?
Maybe, it is necessary for them to start reading (not listening, of couse,
they can not) by the end to understand sentences, as it is usually
recommended for foreigners («Sometimes it is good to start from the end of
the sentence and work your way to the beginning. In that way you will learn
the most important info first (the verb) and move to what is made to happen
and who does it.»). Because cognitive processement constrictions seem to be
more or less similar for humankind, ... And by the same way, how does
children language work? Is it also so rigid verb final always?
Linguistic Field(s):
Historical Linguistics
Psycholinguistics
Syntax
Message 2: Object Topic Marker
|
Date: 10-Jul-2005
From: Irina Nikolaeva <irina_a_nikolaevayahoo.com>
Subject: Object Topic Marker
Dear Linguists,
If anyone knows of a language that has a topic marker (particle, case
affix, clitic ...) used exclusively on direct objects, please let me know.
Many thanks in advance.
Irina Nikolaeva
irina_a_nikolaevayahoo.com
Linguistic Field(s):
Syntax
Typology
Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue
|
|
Please report any bad links or misclassified data
LINGUIST Homepage | Read
LINGUIST | Contact us
While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed
on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.
|
|
