Lexicalisation Patterns of Complex-Predicate Constructions in Japanese

Abstract

This paper analyses the grammatical elements that render motion/change-of-state constructions in Modern Japanese and looks at what means are used to convey motion and resultative core schema. The finding brings us to the point that constructions rendered by a lexical V-V display two conflation patterns. In cause–effect/means/manner types and the complement relation type, the path segments are conflated in the verbs and may then exhibit verb framing. In the pair relation type, manner and path receive equal semantic and syntactic weights and thus exhibit equipollent-framed behaviour. Constructions with syntactic V-V convey path segments via path/resultative complements rather than verbs. Crucially, the complements appear outside the verb roots. In constructions rendered by a participle complex predicate, the manner verb bears a participial morpheme and appears adjacent to the main verb. The manner and path components in participle complex predicates are morphologically not equipollent. In participle adverbial clauses, the manner component is foregrounded, which suggests that manner is more like an independent lexical item and may then possibly receive equal weight as the path.