「新しいミ形」についての研究 ―X(旧Twitter)における使用実態から―

Abstract

本研究旨在透過分析X（舊Twitter）的使用實態，釐清在網路上使用日益廣泛的「新ミ形」之形態、句法及語意功能上的特徵。傳統上僅接續於特定形容詞的後綴詞素「ミ」，現今已擴展至以往不接續的形容詞、名詞等多種語素，此現象作為「新ミ形」備受注目。本研究闡明了先行研究中尚未釐清的「新ミ形」在形態、句法及語意功能上的特徵。 在形態特徵方面，相較於傳統後綴詞素「ミ」僅接續於特定形容詞，「新ミ形」最常接續於名詞之後，整體而言，易於接續在具有名詞用法的詞根詞素之後。此外，本研究亦闡明該語基可在名詞、形容詞等詞語之前，與連體修飾句/節結合以延伸其結構。 在句法特徵方面，本研究發現以名詞為前接詞根詞素的「新ミ形」派生詞，其後幾乎均伴隨著述語使用；而以形容詞為前接詞根詞素的「新ミ形」派生詞，其後則可能伴隨述語，也可能以斷定形式使用。 在語意功能特徵方面，先行研究曾指出其功能在於表達「主體方的感覺程度」，而本研究則闡明此功能會依句法結構而有所不同。在採用斷定形式的句子中，主要發揮「表達主體感覺」的功能；而在伴隨述語的句子中，則不僅發揮「表達主體感覺」的功能，同時也發揮「說明程度」的功能。 此外，本研究亦釐清了「新ミ形」中相當具有特色的用法的「Xサミ形」，並論述了其形態、句法及語意功能上的特徵。 首先，在形態特徵上，闡明「Xサミ形」的使用，多數情況是為了避免後綴詞素「ミ」的前接的詞根詞素為單音節而將其轉為サ形名詞，或是為了保持「［修飾句/節＋名詞］ミ」的形式而將前接詞根轉為サ形名詞。 在句法特徵上，闡明了具有同類X的「Xミ」與「「Xサ」ミ」相比，「Xミ」較多使用斷定形式，而「「Xサ」ミ」則較多伴隨述語使用。 在語意功能特徵上，闡明了「「Xサ」ミ」此一表現，由於具有客觀性的詞根詞素「Xサ」，使得整體與「Xミ」相比，後綴詞素「ミ」的主觀性有所緩和。更進一步闡明，在「新ミ形」中，後綴詞素「ミ」表達程度的功能已背景化，而表達「主體感覺」的功能則前景化。此外，也闡明了在「Xサミ」中，後綴詞素「ミ」具有將「客觀事物」主觀化的功能，並且包攝了後綴詞素「サ」。 同時，針對作為年輕人用語的「新ミ形」，闡明了其使用擴大的背景，在於能夠「大幅減少字數」以及「能夠表達感情與感覺」。此外，也闡明了「新ミ形」作為年輕人用語的功能：以斷定形式使用的「新ミ形」詞語，主要發揮「淨化功能」與「緩衝功能」；而伴隨述語表現的「新ミ形」詞語，則具備「意象傳達功能」。並且，闡明了「新ミ形」詞語整體具備「娛樂功能」與「連帶功能」。

This study aims to clarify the morphological, syntactic, and semantic-functional characteristics of the “new -mi forms,” whose usage has been expanding on the internet, by examining their actual use on X (formerly Twitter). Traditionally, the suffix -mi attached only to a limited set of adjectives; however, it has come to attach to a wide variety of stems, including adjectives and nouns to which it did not previously attach, resulting in stem expansion. These usages have been studied under the label “new -mi forms.” This study elucidates the morphological, syntactic, and semantic-functional characteristics of the new -mi forms that had not been clarified in previous research. With regard to morphological characteristics, whereas the traditional suffix -mi attached only to specific adjectives, the new -mi forms most frequently take nouns as their stems, revealing an overall tendency to attach more easily to stems with nominal usage. In addition, it is shown that these stems can be extended by combining with attributive modifying phrases or clauses that precede nouns or adjectives. In terms of syntactic characteristics, it is shown that new -mi forms with nominal stems are almost always used with a following predicate, whereas new -mi forms with adjectival stems are used both with following predicates and in sentence-final, assertive forms. Regarding semantic-functional characteristics, previous studies have pointed out that the suffix -mi expresses “the degree of sensation on the side of the subject.” This study clarifies that this function varies depending on the syntactic construction. In sentences used in assertive form, the function of expressing “the subject’s sensation” primarily operates, whereas in sentences used with a predicate, the function of explaining not only “the subject’s sensation” but also “degree” operates. Furthermore, this study also clarifies the morphological, syntactic, and semantic-functional characteristics of the “X-sami” forms, which constitute a distinctive usage found within the new -mi forms. First, with respect to morphological characteristics, it is shown that when used as an X-sami form, the stem is often nominalized into a -sa noun either to avoid monosyllabic stems or to preserve the form [[attributive modifying phrase/clause + noun] + mi]. Next, in terms of syntactic characteristics, it is clarified that between [X-mi] and [X-sa]-mi forms that share the same type of X, [X-mi] is more frequently used in assertive expressions, whereas [X-sa]-mi is more frequently used with a following predicate. Furthermore, regarding semantic-functional characteristics, it is shown that the expression [X-sa]-mi, due to the objectivity of the stem [X-sa], results in an overall weakening of the subjectivity of the suffix -mi compared to [X-mi]. In addition, it is clarified that in the new -mi forms, the function of the suffix -mi expressing “degree” is backgrounded, while the function of expressing “the subject’s sensation” is foregrounded. Moreover, in X-sami forms, it is shown that the suffix -mi has the function of subjectivizing “objective matters” and of encompassing the suffix -sa. Finally, regarding the new -mi forms as youth language, this study clarifies that the expansion of their usage is attributable to their ability to “significantly reduce character count” and to “express emotions and sensations.” It is also shown that, as a function of youth language, assertive new -mi forms primarily exhibit “purification functions” and “buffering functions,” while new -mi forms used with predicates possess an “image-transmission function.” Across new -mi forms as a whole, it is clarified that they have “entertainment functions” and “attributive functions.”