A Study Of The Communicational Efficiency Of Predicate Post-positioning In Japanese

Although the word order of Japanese includes both SOV and SVO, SOV is generally believed to be the major word order. As predicate plays the central role in Japanese, predicate post-positioning meets with much criticism for impairing the communicational efficiency and leading to "End Determinacy" semantically. Starting from the previous studies on rich linguistic expression based on predicate, this thesis, by focusing upon the effect of predicate post-positioning on communicational efficiency, examines the communicational efficiency of predicate post-positioning from the perspectives of syntax, text linguistics, and communication.Chapter One illustrates the reasons for the scholastic criticisms on the communicational efficiency of predicate post-positioning. The comparison between SVO of other languages and SOV of Japanese demonstrates the latter connotes specific way of expression or "Diction," apart from the generally function of object or "word." Moreover, the information implied in "diction" comes after "word." Yet linearity of language requires the information of post-positioned "word." This shows that the root cause for the critique on the communicational efficiency of predicate post-positioning is the post-positioned information of "Diction." However, the post-positioning of "diction" information of predicate in sentence pattern does not necessarily mean the lag of communication, as the speaker’s intention is already fixed before the speech act. Therefore, the speaker’s intention must be reflected by both the predicate at the end of the sentence and all the other elements of sentence. In other words, the semantic expression is the coordination of all the elements in a sentence.Chapter Two explores the information of "diction" of predicate and its relationship to other elements from the perspective of syntax. Syntactically, all the elements in a sentence must be coordinated rather than conflicted. The pre-positioned elements must correspond to the post-positioned elements. The Japanese language shows a mature corresponding relationship within its variety of expression manners. By analyzing the relationship between correspondence and manners of expression, this chapter points out that the information of "diction" in predicate can be grasped effectively through the corresponding pre-positioned linguistic elements.In Chapter Three, the corresponding relationship of single sentence in the narrow sense is developed and then the relationship between it in the broad sense and the information of "diction" in predicate is discussed. As a unitary whole in expression, the text requires a consistence in semantic logic of all components. The investigation into the relationship between the information of "diction" in predicate and corresponding components reveals the logical relationship between them, thus helping to foresee the information of "diction" in predicate.Chapter Four studies the expression of information of "diction" in predicate in daily communication. In daily communication in Japanese, the frequent ellipsis of predicate does not seem to jeopardize communication, let alone its post-positioning. To realize understanding without words has its theoretical base on communication or non-verbal communication act. As an instrument for communication, language does not function only as a tool for communicating though and will. Non-verbal communication plays an important role in human communication activities, which are realized through the combination of both verbal and non-verbal communication. More importantly, non-verbal communication often bears no relationship to the information of "word," but rather directly related to that of "diction." Since ancient times, the Japanese people have valued speechless communication. Hence, it seems reasonable to infer that the communication of Japanese people relies more on non-verbal communication act.To sum up, by pointing out that the fundamental reason for previous studies’ critique of the communicational efficiency of predicate post-positioning lies in the post-positioning of "diction" information, this thesis probes into the syntactical correspondence, logical consistence in text, and the relationship between non-verbal communication act that accompanies verbal communication and the information of "diction" in predicate. It argues that there is no lagging of the communication of the information of "diction" and that the communicational efficiency of predicate and so-called "End Determinacy" in Japanese language should be duly appraised.