In this paper, I examine adverbs used in the form “X wa,” collecting actual examples and analyzing their formal characteristics with particular attention to their semantic functions. From the perspective of the independent use of “X,” the occurrences of “X wa” can be broadly classified into three types: <X / X wa>, <X’ ni / X’ wa>, and <X’ wa>. The grammatical features of each type are then discussed in detail. The findings can be summarized as follows: In the case of <X / X wa>, two major functions can be distinguished: the expression of a viewpoint and the expression of disclosure. The former includes adverbs such as ‘gutaitekini wa’ (“specifically”) and ‘tadashiku wa’ (“correctly”), which originally denote aspects or perspectives but, when used in the form “X wa,” regulate the content of the sentence while simultaneously influencing its mode of expression. The latter is exemplified by ‘hontō wa’ (“in fact”), which derives from adverbs indicating an extreme degree and functions as a declarative adverb revealing the speaker’s true intention. The adverb ‘jitsu wa’ (“actually”) takes the form <X’ wa> and conveys the meaning of disclosure, but with the distinctive feature of expressing the speaker’s subjective attitude in revealing something unexpected. Meanwhile, adverbs such as ‘arui wa’ (“or”) and ‘moshiku wa’ (“alternatively”), which denote indeterminacy, as well as ‘yō wa’ (“in short”), which denotes summarization, derive their semantic functions directly from the inherent lexical meanings of “X’.”
한국일본언어문화학회 [Japanese Language & Culture Association of Korea]
설립연도
2001
분야
인문학>일본어와문학
소개
본 학회는 일본어학 및 일본문학은 물론, 일본의 정치, 경제, 문화, 사회 등의 일본학 전반에 걸친 연구 및 일본의 언어, 문화를 매체로 한 한국과의 비교 연구를 대상으로 하고 있다. 본 학회는 회원들에게 연구 발표 및 정보 교환의 기회를 부여하고 나아가 한국에서의 바람직한 일본 연구 자세를 확립하는 것을 주된 목표로 하고 있다.