A Cognitive Mechanism Of “Mirative”

• Authors: Katzunobu Izutsu , Narita M. Izutsu
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The present article argues that mirative markers are describable as the speaker’s confirmation of the relevant event conception that lies in or comes into his or her assumption (the immediate scope of predication). Mirativity can consist of at most three elements: (i) ‘the relevant event conception’s coming into the speaker’s assumption from either inside or outside his/her mind’ (UNEXPECTEDNESS), (ii) ‘the recency and quickness of the event conception’s coming into the assumption’ (ABRUPTNESS), and (iii) ‘the remarkable (un)desirability of the conception’ ((UN)HAPPINESS). The speaker’s confirmation is analyzable as the conception’s coming into the confirmed part of the assumption. It is further shown that different degrees of mirativity help to characterize the notional difference between Japanese, Korean, Ainu and Russian connective pairs traditionally treated as near synonyms. The mirative members of each connective pair manifest more elements of mirativity and focus more on the speaker’s assumption (an immediate scope) than their non-mirative or less mirative counterparts.

Keywords

EN

evidentiality; mirativity; aspect; Japanese; Ainu; Korean

• Publisher: Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk
• Journal: Lingua Posnaniensis
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 50
• Pages: 127-142

Contributors

author

Katzunobu Izutsu

• Hokkaido University of Education at Asahikawa 9chome Hokumoncho, Asahikawa city, Hokkaido

author

Narita M. Izutsu