KJCKorea
Journal Central

In this study, we analyze the Japanese imperative ‘Mate' which functions as a positive command but can also act as a negative command in modern Japanese. The analysis is based on the conditions for completion of imperative sentences, such as [1] volitional verbs, [2] the non-realization of command content, [3] the second person subject, and [4] the self-control of the subject. We assume that imperative sentences have characteristics such as <the speaker's demand>, <the realization of the target action>, and <the listener's intention to perform>. We further distinguish between ‘command content’ in the conditions for completion and ‘target action’ in the characteristics, to investigate the semantic function of the ‘Mate’ command. That is, we comprehensively consider the conditions for completion, characteristics of Imperative sentences, and the consistency between the target action and contents of the Imperative sentences. Through the method proposed in this study, we confirmed that the ‘Mate' command requires execution, but it can also be used to prevent, sustain, or suppress various anticipated actions. Depending on the usage of the ‘Mate' command, the consistency between ‘target action’ and ‘contents of the Imperative sentences’ varies. For ‘execution commands' and ‘continuation commands,' they match, but for ‘preventive commands' and ‘suppressive commands,' they do not. As a result of this study, the importance of the analytical filters of ‘target action’ and ‘contents of the Imperative sentences’ became clear through the ‘Mate' command, which takes the form of a positive command but is interpreted as a prohibition.

Imperative sentences, Conditions for completion, Characteristics of imperative sentences, Target action, Contents of the imperative sentences