Syntax and semantics of degree modification in English and Japanese

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02591
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: English linguistics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Akira 東京大学, 大学院人文社会系研究科(文学部), 教授 (70265487)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 生成文法 / 程度の全称量化 / 指示詞と量的意味 / 量的関係節 / サイズ修飾 / 比例量化子 / 計量単位語 / 自然数

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project has shown that Japanese has an expression for universal degree quantification, the properties of which have not been investigated in detail in any language before. Furthermore, the project has brought to light the structure involving demonstratives that is used to express quantity, as well as the integrative role played by size predicates in various aspects of degree modification. Overall, the results obtained indicate the significance of approaching relevant individual lexical items from the perspective of Universal Grammar, presenting a new direction for future research.

Free Research Field

人文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

あらたな研究対象が日英語の程度修飾表現をめぐって豊富に存在することを示すことで、この分野の研究を刺激し、また、これまでに研究が集中していることだけに関心を持つのではなく、全くあたらしいトピックを創出していくことの重要性にも注意を向けさせることができた。