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Event Structure and the Japanese Indirect Passive

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Advances in Generative Lexicon Theory

Part of the book series: Text, Speech and Language Technology ((TLTB,volume 46))

Abstract

This chapter presents a description and analysis of indirect passives in Japanese in terms of event structure and qualia structure proposed in the framework of the generative lexicon. On the assumption that the event structure of the indirect passive construction is based on the default causative paradigm, the present analysis accounts for the adversative interpretation of indirect passive sentences, the selection restriction on verbs, and the obligatory presence of the adjunct phrase.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Verbs that allow the indirect passive are unergative verbs implying a volitional instigator of action, such as hasir (run), sawag (romp), utau (sing). Unaccusative verbs such as tir (fall), otir (drop), suber (slip), okor (happen) do not turn up in the indirect passive construction. However, it should be noted that the unergative/unaccusative distinction is not always clear-cut: sin (die), for example, is assumed to be a typical unaccusative verb in the literature but it can occur in the indirect passive. I argue below that the simple classification of verbs does not explain what is called “the unaccusative restriction” on the indirect passive formation.

  2. 2.

    The causal chain in (39) represents a typical scenario of the “breaking” event, which involves a volitional instigator (Vol) who uses an instrument (Grasp) which contacts an object (Contact). The object in turn undergoes a change (Change) and results in a certain state (Result). See Talmy (1985: 78–85) and Croft (1991: 176–182) for details.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

    Naoyuki Ono

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  1. Naoyuki Ono
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Correspondence to Naoyuki Ono .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department Of Computer Science, Volen Center for Comples Systems, Brandeis University, South Street 415, Waltham, 02454, Massachusetts, USA

    James Pustejovsky

  2. , Faculté de Traduction, Université de Genève, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland

    Pierrette Bouillon

  3. , Information and Media Center, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tenpakucho, Toyohashi, 441-8580, Japan

    Hitoshi Isahara

  4. , Dept. of Ling Theory & Structure, Nat. Inst. f. Japanese Lang. and Ling., 10-2 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tachikawa, 190-8561, Japan

    Kyoko Kanzaki

  5. Dept. Linguistics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Chungmin Lee

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Ono, N. (2013). Event Structure and the Japanese Indirect Passive. In: Pustejovsky, J., Bouillon, P., Isahara, H., Kanzaki, K., Lee, C. (eds) Advances in Generative Lexicon Theory. Text, Speech and Language Technology, vol 46. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5189-7_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5189-7_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5188-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5189-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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