Motion Verbs Determining the Functions of Particles' “Start Point” or “Route” in Classical Japanese: Yori and wo in Konjaku Monogatarishū

Abstract

This paper investigates two Japanese case-marking particles —yori and wo— that follow motion verbs in Konjaku Monogatarishū, an anthology of Japanese folk tales. Specifically, it focuses on whether the particles signify a start point or route of the motion. Motion verbs were categorized into four groups (A to D) according to the particles followed and their semantic significations. For verbs in Group A, yori signifies both the start point and the route, whereas wo represents only the former. Particles in all other groups signify only the start point, whereas the verbs in Group B connect with yori, those in Group C with wo, and those in Group D with both particles. Interestingly, the verb izu in Group D exhibits a tendency to take the particle yori when it means appearance, whereas the verb connects with the particle wo when signifying departure. Furthermore, the meanings of appearance and departure correspond with the semantic features of the verbs in Group B and C, respectively. Consequently, this paper proposes that the functions of the particles are determined according to the semantic features of motion verbs.