Discontinuity in Potential Sentences in Japanese

Abstract

Japanese potential sentences have long been receiving considerable attention, especially with respect to the case alternation phenomena of object noun phrases. We suggest that the fundamental claims that have been assumed in Japanese linguistics are wrong or insufficient both from empirical and theoretical points of view. The points we argue in this paper are: (1) the Japanese linguists have paid too much attention on the case alternation with the object arguments of base verbs in potential sentences, trying to explain potential sentences in comparison with passive sentences formed with the same suffix -rare. In this paper, we will see some important counterexamples, and suggest that the two uses of the suffix must be distinguished syntactically and semantically at least in the present-day Japanese. (2) Then, we will present an array of new data and propose a completely new analysis, adopting a version of categorial/type-logical grammar framework to deal with discontinuity frequently found in potential sentences. Finally, we will see some consequences of our analysis, focusing on the relationship between case alternations and scope alternations between quantified NPs and the suffix rare. We wrap up this paper with considering some solution to remaining problems of our analysis.

My work on this paper has benefited tremendously from our lively discussions over the past several years with Kei Yoshimoto and Yoshiki Mori. I am grateful to the participants in LENLS 14, who have responded critically and fruitfully to my original ideas, in particular, Daisuke Bekki, Chungmin Lee, Alastair Butler and Koji Mineshima. Remaining errors are my sole responsibility.