A Typology of Benefactive Verb Constructions in Japanese: A Cross-Linguistic Perspective

Abstract

Generally, Japanese benefactive verb main verb patterns (Type A) and auxiliary verb patterns (Type B) are considered to express the giving and receiving of objects (things) and situations, respectively. This paper shows that Japanese benefactive auxiliary verb constructions (-te kureru/-te yaru constructions), which are said to express the giving and receiving of situations, can be classified into four types of constructions (Types B1α, B1β, B2, and B3). On the basis of this classification, it compares and contrasts benefactive verb constructions [“V + benefactive verb” constructions] in Japanese and three other Asian languages (Korean, Marathi, and Chinese). Finally, as an implication drawn from a contrastive study of these and other languages, it argues that a cross-linguistic implicational hierarchy (Type A < Type B1α < Type B1β < Type B2 < Type B3) can be proposed for the range of construction patterns of benefactive verbs.