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The Sound-Symbolic System of Japanese cover

The Sound-Symbolic System of Japanese

Shoko Hamano

This book is the first theoretical study of sound-symbolic expressions in Japanese commonly known as mimetic words. It identifies stringent linguistic constraints on these expressions and demonstrates that they form an intricate linguistic system rather than a collection of ad hoc expressions. It then carefully identifies the sound-symbolic meanings of sound units so as to make the elusive meaning of each sound-symbolic expression fully comprehensible. In addition, this book describes a number of interesting facts about the history of the Japanese language which mimetic words reveal.

Yoko Hamano is Assistant Professor of Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at The George Washington University.

Contents

  • Preface
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Statement of the Problem
    • 1.2 Overview of the Study of Sound Symbolism
    • 1.3 Delineation of the Corpus
    • 1.4 Linguistic Varieties in Japanese/li>
    • 1.5 Terminology, Transcription, and Data Sources
  • 2. An Overview of the Sound-Symbolic System
    • 2.1 Introduction
    • 2.2 Syntactic Characteristics of Mimetic Words
    • 2.3 Prosodic Properties of Mimetic Adverbs
    • 2.4 Melodic Properties of Mimetic Roots
    • 2.5 Phonological Properties of Mimetic Nominal Adjectives
    • 2.6 The Periphery of the Sound-Symbolic System
  • 3. Sound Symbolism of Mimetic Adverbs Based on CV Roots
    • 3.1 Introduction
    • 3.2 Repetition
    • 3.2 Final Elements /N, Q/ and Ø
    • 3.4 Vowel Length
    • 3.5 Diphthongs
    • 3.6 Vowels
    • 3.7 Palatization
    • 3.8 Voicing of Initial Obstruents
    • 3.9 Initial Consonants
    • 3.10 Summary
  • 4. Sound Symbolism of Mimetic Adverbs Based on CVCV Roots
    • 4.1 Introduction
    • 4.2 Repetition
    • 4.3 Final Elements /N, Q, -ri/
    • 4.4 Intensifier {C}
    • 4.5 Vowel Length
    • 4.6 Vowels
    • 4.7 Voicing Contrast of Obstruents
    • 4.8 Consonants
    • 4.9 Summary
  • 5. Historical Considerations of Mimetic Words
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 Palatalization in Mimetic Words
    • 5.3 Weakening of Labials and Its Consequences
    • 5.4 Implications of the Mimetic Vocalic System to the Reconstruction of Pre-Old Japanese
  • 6. Conclusion
    • 6.1 Iconicity and Linguistic Structure: Summary
    • 6.2 Concluding Remarks
  • Appendices
    • A. CV-based Mimetic Adverbs
    • B. CVCV-based Reduplicative Mimetic Adverbs
    • C. CV(C)CVri Mimetic Adverbs
    • d. CVCV-Based Mimetic Adverbs with Palatalization
  • References
  • Index

9/1/98

ISBN (Paperback): 1575861445 (9781575861449)

Subject: Linguistics; Japanese Language; Onomatopoeic Words

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