A Study of Chinese loanword verbs which can operate as both intransitive and transitive verbs -With a focus on the type being close to intransitive verbs-

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find the conditions that a intransitive Chinese loanword verb “VNする(suru)” is also used as a transitive Chinese loanword verb “VNする(suru)” in place of “VNさせる(saseru)”. The condition is “when X(agent) and Y(object) become one”＝“Transitivity from X to Y become weak”. In order to consider in detail, I classified the condition under following three conditions.

a. When Y is a part of the body of the X b. When X moves with Y c. When X is the owner of Y

(Fig.1) is a figure putted a intransitive verb “VNする(suru)” on the right side, and putted a prototypical transitive verb “VNさせる(saseru)” on the left side. In terms of “closeness of X and Y”, the closeness become weaker as move from “a” to “c”. And in terms of “transitivity from X to Y”, the transitivity become stronger as move from “a” to “c”. With the weakening of transitivity, prototypical transitive verb “VNさせる(saseru)” begins toward the side of intransitive verb “VNする(suru)”. As a result, “VNさせる(saseru)” and “VNする(suru)” will be exchangeable.

(Fig.1)