On Tote Added to the Conclusive Form of a Verb

Abstract

The general understanding of tote function in the Heian period is that of quotation. However, there exists the irregular type of tote ; following the conclusive form of a verb expressing the action of the subject of the main clause.

The conclusive form of a verb expressing the action of the subject of the main clause cannot appear at the end of a quotative clause, such as -to iite, and special tote often follows a honorific verb. These facts indicate that special tote does not have a quotative function. The special tote clause has a simple construction consisting of a verb and one or two constituents, and the content of the special tote clause is completed immediately after the main clause event. Considering that the subject of the sentence is animate and the majority of the examples of verbs in special tote clauses are volitional verbs, it is concluded that special tote clauses roughly express the thing that the subject is going to do, and the main clause expresses what the subject does while he or she is about to do the special tote clause action.