<研究論文>スケール性と到達点から見た範囲表現「～に至るまで」

Abstract

表現「～に至るまで」の基本的特徴はある物事の到達点を示すことにより、そこに行き着くまでの広い範囲を表現することである。その表現される範囲にはスケール性を有するものと有さないものが含まれる。本稿で述べるスケール性とは、対象となる事態の最も想定しやすい要素から最も想定しにくい要素への、想定しやすさの度合いにおける段階的移行のことである。スケール性を有する範囲に含まれるのは、段階的スケール、数量的スケール及び極限的スケールの三タイプである。段階的スケールでは想定可能性の度合いを示す語彙の現れにより、スケール性が生じる。数量的スケールでは、到達点を示す「1」という最小数値の現れにより、当該の数量の全範囲が含意され、その範囲における想定可能性のスケール性が生じる。更に、極限的スケールでは、物事の極限を表す語彙の現れにより範囲の終点が示され、且つその範囲内のスケール性が表される。一方、スケール性を有さない範囲として時間的範囲及び空間的範囲が挙げられる。また、両者の特徴を含んだものとして、想定できる要素を並列的に並べた範囲表現も見られる。

This paper reveals the properties of ranges and scales implied by the Japanese expression ~ni itaru made, meaning 'extends to ~'. By denoting the boundary point of a certain range, ~ni itaru made expresses the limits of its reachability, and thereby emphasizes the wide range of the applicability of the predicative expression. The element indicating the boundary reached syntactically precedes ~ni itaru made and must explicitly appear in the sentence. Since this element stands for the limits that are reachable, it serves as the least conceivable member of a set, implying the existence of more conceivable members belonging to the same set. The most easily conceivable member on the other hand, may or may not appear in the sentence explicitly. When it does appear, it follows the particle ~kara, which denotes the starting point of the range, consequently expressing the complete range explicitly. Scales implied by ~ni itaru made can be categorized into 1)extremity scales, 2)numerical scales and 3)gradually decreasing scales. The lexical meaning of the phrase preceding ~ni itaru made, denoting the least conceivable member of the set, characterizes the first two categories. In the first category this phrase indicates a pointed tip or the partner of an antonym pair, which functions as a semantic 'threshold'. In the second category, the numeral 1 followed by a counter, implying a minimal amount, serves as this phrase. And in the last category, the parataxis group of words, each expressing different degrees of the predicative state, are arranged in decreasing order to form the scale. However, the ranges expressed by ~ni itaru made, do not always possess scalar properties. Temporal ranges as well as spatial ranges emphasize temporal or spatial expanse without indicating different degrees of applicability. Parataxis ranges on the other hand could be of either type. When the elements compose different phases of a single procedure, which are temporally arranged, the expressed range is free of scalar implications. The elements moreover could simply be members of a set with no temporal or decremental relationship, thereby forming a scale-less range. In the latter case, these elements allow mutual substitution.