否定の構文 : 生格と関連して

Abstract

The author has argued about the meaning of the negation from the cognitive point of view in another paper. This article aims at supplementing my own argument in relation to some explanatory devices brought forth by the Academy Grammar published in 1980 (1980 Academy Grammar). 1980 Academy Grammar asserts, classifying the use of genetivus negationis into two categories: the obligatory and the facultative ones, that this distinction depends on the factors whether the object in view is definite or not, really existing one or not, and known or unknown to the speaker or the hearer. [Table omitted] But such assertion is made, as is often observed, without clear definitions of these criteria and the results obtained are rather obscure and remain 'indefinite'. The author examines the use of genetivus negationis in some details and concludes, that the basic function of genetivus negationis consists in that it denotes the non-existence of the object mentioned.