Singular Use of -tari in Conversations

How -tari Can Convey Meanings of Possibility or Unexpectedness

Abstract

This paper is a study on new usages of the predicate ending -tari exemplified by its use with a single predicate instead of its conventional parallel usage on two or more predicate in sequence. Specifically, I researched and examined the usage of -taxi to imply possibility, which often appears in conversational sentences such as Kekkonshinai to ittetahitoga, kekkonshitarisuru ‘People who were saying they wouldn't get married may end up getting married themselves'. In this study, I used data from natural conversations of a hundred native Japanese speakers from their 20s to 70s in pairs, and carefully observed the frequency of its usage, along with the patterns and flows of the conversations. As a result, I determined that the singular use patterns of -tari can be divided into three types: a) -tari type, b) -taritoka type, and c) -tari shite type. Further, by showing actual conversation data, I elucidate a new usage, in which by exemplifying one thing, on the other hand, one may imply various other situations or aspects, thus conveying a meaning of possibility as well as unexpectedness (a feeling of being surprised).