複数形の用法をめぐる考察 - Jespersenの“normal plural”と“plural of approximation”の分類から -

Abstract

The traditional grammarian Jespersen (1914, 1924) states that there are several plural forms: one plural form represents a group of homogeneous individuals belonging to the same category, while another plural form represents multiple objects or people possessing the same form, though not belonging to the same category. Jespersen called the former the “normal plural”, and the latter the “plural of approximation”. With this distinction in mind, this paper examines the use of “tachi” that is used to represent the plural form in Japanese. An examination of the environments in which “tachi” occurs in Japanese literary works reveals that “tachi” is not limited to common nouns; it also appears with proper nouns and kinship terms. Ikegami (2000) underscores that, based on this fact, “tachi” is mainly used in a similar manner as the “plural of approximation”. Strictly speaking, however, this is not really the case. Thus, this paper clarifies the usage of “tachi” through a detailed comparison between Japanese literary works in which “tachi” appears and Korean translations of these works, as well as by soliciting the opinions of native Japanese speakers. This paper also briefly explains the usage of “men” in Chinese in relation to the “plural of approximation”.