現代日本語における「かぎり」の意味と機能

Abstract

This paper profoundly examines the special meanings and the functions of "kagiri" in modern Japanese languages by analyzing actual example sentences. In the previous research, “kagiri” was traditionally considered to be a word connected to nouns or verbs which represents the maximum limit or range. However, none of the previous research describes the corelations of the three cases : ①noun usage, ②postposition, and ③conjunctive particle. In this paper the meanings and the functions of the above three cases of “kagiri” are mainly focused and investigated, and then the results of the studies can be summarized as follows. First, when used as a noun usage, "kagiri" connects front nouns and also indicates the maximum limit. In this case, N+kagiri can take relatively different cases, and “kagiri” accordingly has the functions as a noun usage. Second, when used as a postposition, "kagiri" represents the meaning of the range which front nouns indicate. Here, N can be classified into the following categories: a noun indicating cognition, a noun indicating continuity, and other nouns. It is morphologically limited to the one form called N+kagiri. The “kagiri” functions as a postposition in this case. Third, when used as a conjunctive particle, "kagiri" infer the range indicated by the front verb. Here, V can be classified into a verb indicating cognition, a verb indicating continuity, and other verbs. It is morphologically limited to the one form called V+kagiri, and the “kagiri” functions as a conjunctive particle in this case. From the above results, “kagiri” in modern Japanese was found to have the meanings and the functions of postposition or conjunctive particle in addition to the basic meaning of the maximum limit as a noun usage. The forms and meanings are significantly changed whenever "kagiri" of the noun usage are used as a postposition or a conjunctive particle.