Semantics of Japanese Benefactive Constructions: A Corpus-based Research

Abstract

As benefactives in other languages of the world, Japanese benefactive constructions can be used in various meanings apart from the core benefactive meaning. In previous research their semantics is normally described separately for each of the auxiliary verbs, and the research itself is based either on introspection or working with sporadic texts and native-speakers. In this article we present a qualitative and quantitative analysis of corpora dataset with three groups of Japanese benefactive auxiliaries: yaru and ageru, kureru and kudasaru, morau and itadaku. For this purpose we propose a set of three semantic features: speaker’s attitude, volitivity of a logical subgect and presence of a sentient beneficiary. Combinations of these features underlie the definitions of six main meanings we mark out: core benefactive, etiquettical, positive emotivity, monstrative, intensification and malefactive. In constructions with yaru auxiliary all of the above mentioned meanings are possible except for the positive emotivity. With ageru we encounter core benefactive and monstrative and intensification meanings. With kureru auxiliary core benefactive, malefactive and positive emotivity meanings turn out to be possible. With kudasaru we encounter only core benefactive usage. For morau and itadaku auxiliaries we register core benefactive and etiquettical usage. Proposed features, meanings and analysed data are applicable for comparative studies of benefactives in other languages as well as for further development of semantic description of Japanese benefactives.