副詞「せめて」の意味用法について ーモダリティの観点からー

Abstract

日語副詞「semete」在副詞分類中被分類在「敘法副詞」，因此我們可以知道「semete」和modality具有密不可分的關係。但是先行研究並沒有「semete」和modality的具體分析；另外，各個字典和論文對於「semete」的語意記述大多是「話者最低限的希望」，且舉出的例子觀察其構文特徵，也大多是和希望表現的modality共現的句子居多。但根據本研究的調查，發現了上述研究沒有列舉出的構文特徵。因此，本研究的目的是從「modality」的觀點來重新分類和檢討「semete」的語意用法。本研究的分析結果，確認了「semete」的四個語意用法，以下簡單闡述。 首先，調查結果發現，「semete」和判斷系的modality共現的時候，因為表示話者對於事態的判斷和認識，因此「semete」表示「最低限的判斷」；另一方面，「semete」和情意系的modality共現時，則因為表示話者對於事態實現的渴望，所以「semete」會表示「話者最低限的希望」；另外，判斷系的評價類的modality和情意系的希望表現，因為同樣表示話者對於事態實現的渴望，因此「semete」也同樣表示「話者最低限的希望」。 再者，本研究也採用「事態的實現性」這樣的觀點來解釋「semete」的語意用法，根據此用法的分析結果，我們得到「semete」和表示反事實的modality共現時，因為帶有話者表示不滿、遺憾的心情，因此「semete」會表示「連最低限的事態都未能實現之不滿、遺憾」這樣帶有負面情緒的語意用法；相反地，「semete」和「nakuteyokatta」這樣的評價類的modality共現時，會和前者的語意用法相反，變成「避免了最壞情況之萬幸」這樣帶有肯定情緒的語意用法。

The Japanese adverb “semete” is categorized as the modality adverb, therefore there is a close relationship between “semete” and modality. However, there are no previous studies about the analysis between “semete” and modality. Besides, all previous studies using “the speaker’ hope” to explain the meaning of “semete”. By observing the features of sentences from previous studies, we could know that “semete” always occur with the modality about “the hope”. However, by researching the sentence of “semete”, we found there were several features of the sentence that the previous study did not mention. Therefore, this thesis analyzes the meaning and use of “semete” by observing the features of modality. I argue that by analyzing the features of sentences, we can divide the meaning and use of “semete” into four categories. First, when “semete” occurs with the modality about the judgment, it shows someone’s judgment or understanding, so it means that “the minimum of the judgment”. On the other hand, when “semete” occurs with the modality about someone’s hope, it means “the minimum of speaker’s hope”. Besides, the thesis also uses the observation of “The feasibility of doing something” to analyze the meaning of “semete”. By using this method, we find that when “semete” appears with the modality and is the opposite of reality, it will show someone’s complaints or regrets. So “semete” means “the complaints or regrets of not achieving the minimum requirements”, which means that it is negative feeling. In contrast with the previous meaning, when “semete” occurs with the modality with respect to the evaluation of “nakuteyokatta”, it means “something really bad did not happen and it is fortunate”, which is therefore positive feeling.