I don't understand the use of とする in this sentence

V

Vahl

後輩

28 Oct 2010

2

0

• 28 Oct 2010

• #1

"4つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」があらゆ るものの根元とする科学それを錬金術という"

I know it says something like (this translated very literally):
"The four Elemental: Earth, Water, Fire and Wind; The Origin of everything _________(something with science) that, is called Alchemy."

But what exactly the "あらゆるものの根元とする科学" means, i don't know.
If someone could explain to me the use of "とする" as it is employed in this sentence, i would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance.

 

K

kazuau

後輩

8 Jul 2010

9

1

• 28 Oct 2010

• #2

「とする」 is a combination of the quotation particle 「と」 and the verb 「する」.
So, the preceding part of 「と」 is a quotation.
「する」, which is somewhat universal verb but in this case, means "to define".

The sentence can be translated like this:
"The science, which says that the four elemental: Earth, Water, Fire and Wind; is the origin of everything, is called Alchemy."

 

Elizabeth

先輩

22 Apr 2003

9,839

135

• 28 Oct 2010

• #3

「とする」is a phrase indicating that someone assumes something or regards/defines/thinks of it in a certain way.

 

Last edited: 29 Oct 2010

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 29 Oct 2010

• #4

Vahl said:

"4つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」があらゆ るものの根元とする科学それを錬金術という"

I know it says something like (this translated very literally):
"The four Elemental: Earth, Water, Fire and Wind; The Origin of everything _________(something with science) that, is called Alchemy."

But what exactly the "あらゆるものの根元とする科学" means, i don't know.
If someone could explain to me the use of "とする" as it is employed in this sentence, i would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Are there any typos, for instance as below?

４つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」があらゆ るものの根元だとする科学それを錬金術という
４つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」をあらゆるものの根元とする科学それを錬金術という

 

V

Vahl

後輩

28 Oct 2010

2

0

• 29 Oct 2010

• Thread starter
• #5

Toritoribe said:

Are there any typos, for instance as below?

４つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」があらゆ るものの根元だとする科学それを錬金術という
４つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」をあらゆるものの根元とする科学それを錬金術という

Click to expand...

Here,this is where i got it from:


Thanks for the replies

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

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• 29 Oct 2010

• #6

I see. So the writer/scripter used ４つのエレメンタル「地」「水」「火」「風」があらゆ るものの根元 as a clause or 根元だ/である, as in in my previous post.

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 29 Oct 2010

• #7

Copula omission, it seems, similar to 変と思います, I guess. Hmm... different though, as 根元 is a 名詞 and 変（だ） is a 形容動詞.

 

K

kazuau

後輩

8 Jul 2010

9

1

• 29 Oct 2010

• #8

湖を源泉とするその川=>その川は湖を源泉とする
湖が源泉であるその川=>その川は湖が源泉である
Nothing omitted here.
Obviously the Topic is その川 in either patterns,
but technically the Subjects differ.

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 29 Oct 2010

• #9

But above it's ～が～とする, which is a combination of ～を～とする and ～が～である, and Toritoribe said it should be ～が～だとする to be grammatical (I believe). That's why I said "copula omission".

 

K

kazuau

後輩

8 Jul 2010

9

1

• 29 Oct 2010

• #10

Ah, ic.
i missed the point.

Isn't it a variation of 体言止め? Like this:
「その川は湖が源泉」とする意見がある。

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 29 Oct 2010

• #11

That seems to be the same phenomenon with a different name to me. So I guess whether it's 名詞 or 形容動詞 doesn't matter, in that case. 形容動詞も体言の範囲に入りますね？

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

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• 30 Oct 2010

• #12

が could be misinterpreted as the subject marker of とする when the copula is omitted. Probably that brought me a feeling of strangeness, when I first read the example sentence. It might be acceptable, but I don't recommend learners to use it.