1887
Volume 23, Issue 1
  • ISSN 1018-2101
  • E-ISSN: 2406-4238

Abstract

This paper looks at the phenomenon of extensive clause combining in written Japanese discourse. Extensive clause combining, in which multiple clauses are combined to make an extremely long sentence, is usually associated with spoken discourse. However, some contemporary writers use it in their writing along with other features of spoken language. By examining novels targeting young adult readers, I observe that writers are using sentences with extensively combined clauses to describe a lengthy process in which each step is closely connected to another. Interconnectedness is expressed iconically with chained clauses. Writers may also use sentences with extensively combined clauses to convey heightened emotion. Successive chaining of clauses is appropriate for presenting continuous thoughts/emotions appearing in an unorganized manner.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/prag.23.1.07suz
2013-01-01
2025-02-16
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Berman, Ruth I. , Dan I. Slobin , Sven Strömqvist , and Ludo T. Verhoeven
    (eds.) (1994) Relating events in narrative. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Chafe, Wallace L
    (1980) The Pear stories: Cognitive, cultural, and linguistic aspects of narrative production. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. (1988) Linking intonation units in spoken English. In John Haiman , and Sandra A. Thompson (eds.), Clause combining in grammar and discourse. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 1-27. doi: 10.1075/tsl.18.03cha
    https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.18.03cha [Google Scholar]
  4. Clancy, Patricia M
    (1982) Written and spoken style in Japanese narratives. In Deborah Tannen (ed.), Spoken and written language: Exploring orality and literacy. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex, pp. 55-76.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Haiman, John
    (1985) Natural syntax: Iconicity and erosion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1075/tsl.6
    https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.6 [Google Scholar]
  6. (1988) Inconsequential clauses in Hua and the typology of clauses. In John Haiman , and Sandra A. Thompson (eds.), Clause combining in grammar and discourse. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 49-69. doi: 10.1075/tsl.18
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/tsl.18 [Google Scholar]
  7. Heinrich, Patrick
    (2005) Things you have to leave behind: The demise of “elegant writing” and the rise of genbun itchi style in Meiji-period Japan. Journal of Historical Pragmatics6: 113-132. doi: 10.1075/jhp.6.1.06hei
    https://doi.org/10.1075/jhp.6.1.06hei [Google Scholar]
  8. Hokkaido Shoten Shogyo Kumiai
    (ed.) (2006) Chuugakusei wa kore o yome [Read this: A book guide for junior high school students]. Sapporo: Hokkaido Shinbun-sha.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Honda, Katsuichi
    (1982) Nihongo no sakubun gijutsu [Writing skills in Japanese]. Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Inoue, Miyako
    (2006) Vicarious language: Gender and linguistic modernity in Japan. Berkeley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Iwasaki, Shoichi , and Tsuyoshi Ono
    (2001) “Sentence” in spontaneous spoken Japanese discourse. In Joan Bybee , and Michael Noonan (eds.), Complex sentences in grammar and discourse: Essays in honor of Sandra A. Thompson. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 175-202. doi: 10.1075/z.110.10iwa
    https://doi.org/10.1075/z.110.10iwa [Google Scholar]
  12. (2007) Sokuji-bun hi-sokujji-bun: Gengogaku no hoohooron to kisei gainen [Immediate and non-immediate sentences: Linguistic methodologies and established concepts]. In Shuya Kushida , Toshiyuki Sadanobu , and Yasuharu Den (eds.), Jikan no naka no bun to hatsuwa[Sentences and utterances in time]. Tokyo: Hitsuji Shobo, pp. 135-157.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Kanehara, Mizuhito
    (ed.) (2009) Toretate! Besuto Korekushon: Juuni-sai kara no dokusho annai [Fresh! Best collection: A book guide for twelve year-olds and older]. Tokyo: Subaru-sha.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Kataoka, Kuniyoshi
    (2003) Form and function of emotive pictorial signs in casual writing by young Japanese women. Written Language and Literacy6: 1-29. doi: 10.1075/wll.6.1.02kat
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/wll.6.1.02kat [Google Scholar]
  15. Koiso, Hanae
    (2008) Onsei danwa ni okeru hatsuwa no shuuryoosei o sonaeta ichitan’i ni kansuru ichi-koosatsu [An examination of units that correspond to complete utterances in spoken discourse]. In Shuya Kushida , Toshiyuki Sadanobu , and Yasuharu Den (eds.), “Tan’i” toshite no bun to hatsuwa[Sentences and utterances as “units”]. Tokyo: Hitsuji Shobo, pp. 95-131.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Komori, Yoichi
    (1992) Buntai to aidentitii [Writing style and identity]. Gekkan GengoOctober: 48-55.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Kuno, Susumu
    (1973) The structure of the Japanese language. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. (1978) Japanese: A characteristic OV language. In W.P. Lehmann (ed.), Syntactic typology: Studies in the phenomenology of language. Austin: University of Texas Press, pp. 57-138.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Lee, Kiri
    (2002) Nominative case-marker deletion in spoken Japanese: An analysis from the perspective of information structure. Journal of Pragmatics34 : 683-709. doi: 10.1016/S0378‑2166(02)00048‑6
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-2166(02)00048-6 [Google Scholar]
  20. Linell, Per
    (2005) The written language bias in linguistics: Its nature, origins and transformations. London and New York: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203342763
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203342763 [Google Scholar]
  21. Martin, Dorothy
    (1992) A text-based study of clause chaining in Japanese. Unpublished M.A. thesis. University of Texas at Arlington.
  22. Maynard, Senko K
    (1989) Japanese conversation: Self-contextualization through structure and interactional management. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. (1998) Principles of Japanese discourse: A handbook. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511620973
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511620973 [Google Scholar]
  24. (2007) Linguistic creativity in Japanese discourse. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. doi: 10.1075/pbns.159
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/pbns.159 [Google Scholar]
  25. Miller, Laura
    (2004) Those naughty teenage girls: Japanese kogals, slang, and media assessments. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology14: 225-247. doi: 10.1525/jlin.2004.14.2.225
    https://doi.org/10.1525/jlin.2004.14.2.225 [Google Scholar]
  26. (2011) Subversive script and novel graphs in Japanese girls’ culture. Language & Communication31: 16-26. doi: 10.1016/j.langcom.2010.11.003
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2010.11.003 [Google Scholar]
  27. Myhill, John , and Junko Hibiya
    (1988) The discourse function of clause-chaining. In John Haiman , and Sandra A. Thompson (eds.), Clause combining in grammar and discourse. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 361-398. doi: 10.1075/tsl.18.14myh
    https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.18.14myh [Google Scholar]
  28. Ono, Tsuyoshi
    (2006) An emotively motivated post-predicate constituent order in a ‘strict predicate final’ language: Emotion and grammar meet in Japanese everyday talk. In Satoko Suzuki (ed.), Emotive communication in Japanese. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 139-153. doi: 10.1075/pbns.151.07ono
    https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.151.07ono [Google Scholar]
  29. Ono, Tsuyoshi , and Ryoko Suzuki
    (1992) Word order variability in Japanese conversation: Motivations and grammaticization. Text12: 429-455.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Ono, Tsuyoshi , and Sandra A. Thompson
    (2003) Japanese (w)atashi/ore/boku ‘I’: They’re not just pronouns. Cognitive Linguistics14: 321-347.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Pawley, Andrew , and Frances H. Syder
    (1983) Natural selection in syntax: Notes on adaptive variation and change in vernacular and literary grammar. Journal of Pragmatics7: 551-579. doi: 10.1016/0378‑2166(83)90081‑4
    https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-2166(83)90081-4 [Google Scholar]
  32. Saito, Minako
    (2002) Bunshoo tokukon san e[Dear how-to-write books]. Chikuma-shoboo: Tokyo.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Sakakura, Atsuyoshi
    (1964) Hanasuyoo ni kaku to iu koto: Genbun itchi to Shoyo, Shimei [Writing as you speak: Unification of writing with speech and Shoyo and Shimei]. Kokugo Kokubun33: 25-31.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. (1970) “Hiraita hyoogen” kara “tojita hyoogen” e” Kokugoshi no arikata shiron [From “open expressions” to “closed expressions”: An essay on the state of national language history]. Kokugo to KokubungakuOctober: 22-35.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Satake, Hideo
    (1995) Wakamono kotoba to retorikku [Youth language and rhetoric]. Nihongo-gaku14: 53-60.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Shibatani, Masayoshi
    (1990) The languages of Japan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Suzuki, Satoko
    (2009) Vernacular style writing: Strategic blurring of the boundary between spoken and written discourse in Japanese. Pragmatics19: 583-608.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Tannen, Deborah
    (ed.) (1982) Spoken and written language: Exploring orality and literacy. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. (ed.) (1984) Coherence in spoken and written discourse. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Toyama, Shigehiko
    (1983) Nihon no shuujigaku[Japanese rhetoric]. Tokyo: Misuzu Shobo.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Twine, Nanette
    (1991) Language and the modern state: The reform of written Japanese. London and New York: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Ueno, Chizuko
    (2000) Ueno Chizuko ga bungaku o shakaigaku suru[Chizuko Ueno analyzes literature from a sociologist’s perspective]. Tokyo: Asahishinbun-sha.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Wetzel, Patricia J
    (2004) Keigo in modern Japan: Polite language from Meiji to the present. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/prag.23.1.07suz
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): Clause combining; Japanese; Speech and writing; Style; Written language; Youth language
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error