Japanese Grammar of Mind and Language (44) Multifunctionality of Expressions: One Expression Having Multiple Functions (1)

(Continued from above)

A very important point in the relationship between linguistic expressions and linguistic functions is that a single expression can possess multiple functions.

In other words,

it means that a certain expression does not hold only one of the three functions: propositional, objective modality, or interpersonal modality.

Let's look at an example.

It is the famous opening sentence of a famous novel by Natsume Soseki: "Wagahai wa neko de aru" (I am a cat).

"Wagahai wa neko de aru" (I am a cat).

If we analyze this expression from the three perspectives of propositional, objective modality, and interpersonal modality, the results are as follows.

Proposition (cognition/thought): "That I am a cat"
Objective modality (judgment/attitude): "-wa", "-de aru"
Interpersonal modality (communication): "Wagahai", "-de aru"

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Proposition (cognition/thought)

The proposition (cognition/thought) here is "that I am a cat."

Symbolically expressed, it is "I = cat."

It could also be functionally expressed as "be(I, cat)" [1].

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Objective modality (judgment/attitude)

The first objective modality here is the judgment/attitude of making "I" the topic (subject) using "-wa" is here.

If the judgment had been made to make "cat" the topic (subject) instead of "I," the expression would have been "Neko wa wagahai de aru" (The cat is I) instead of "Wagahai wa neko de aru."

The second objective modality is the judgment of making an assertion using "-de aru." is here.

The Japanese "de aru" contains a judgment/attitude of strong assertion.

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Interpersonal Modality (Communication)

In this sentence, the expressions "wagahai" (I) and "-de aru" (is/am/are) play the role of interpersonal modality (communication).

"Wagahai" is an expression used to communicate the speaker/writer's social position (in this case, male, elderly, etc.) to the listener/reader.

If you change this to "watashi," "watakushi," "boku," "ore," or "atai," you will be communicating a different social position to the listener/reader.

" -de aru" is an expression that, along with the strong assertive judgment and attitude mentioned in the section on propositional modality above, communicates to the listener/reader that the speaker is not expressing any particular politeness toward them.

Therefore, it is generally not neutral and carries a slightly arrogant image. Consequently, it is almost impossible to use in spoken language.

(Continued below)

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