文の事態内容に対する話し手の認識的判断と「疑い」* -「かね」「かな」「かしら」形式を中心に-

Abstract

In this paper, comparing the three dubitative expressions, “-kane”, “-kana” and “-kashira”, I have examined how these expressions are used in context and relate to speakers’ understanding. The results are as follows:(1) These three expressions show gradual differences between “toikake(inquiring)” and “nobetate(stating)” in speakers’ perception of their own situations. (2) “-kane” is mainly used as an inquiring expression, and totally different from “-kana” and “-kashira”, both of which mean ‘pondering’. (3) “-kane” is primarily a literary expression of inquiring, used when the elderly ask the younger, and secondarily, of stating speakers’ opinions. (4) As opposed to “-kane”, the primary meaning of “-kana” is ‘stating’ and its secondary meaning ‘inquiring’. (5) “-kashira” is a literary expression used mostly by women, and used in inquiring more often than “-kana”. The research results of this paper show that “-kashira” is primarily used as stating and secondarily as inquiring, but the difference between the two meanings is not very significant.