Question Classical Japanese

[nedkelly]

I have been studying Classical Japanese. Sometimes I have questions about grammatical usage. Does Japan Reference have a section for such discussions? Otherwise can you recommend a discussion group elsewhere?

 

[mdchachi]

We have one or two members who might be able to help. Try posting questions here.

 

[nedkelly]

Thank you. Here is one. Wixted in his Handbook to Classical Japanese, p.82 states that the verb suffix -ri follows the Meirekei form of the verb. Komai and Rohlich in Introduction to Classical Japanese,p.64 state that -ri follows the Izenkei of Yodan verbs and the Mizenkei of Sahen verbs. Which is correct? Or have I misunderstood something?

 

[mdchachi]

Thank you. Here is one. Wixted in his Handbook to Classical Japanese, p.82 states that the verb suffix -ri follows the Meirekei form of the verb. Komai and Rohlich in Introduction to Classical Japanese,p.64 state that -ri follows the Izenkei of Yodan verbs and the Mizenkei of Sahen verbs. Which is correct? Or have I misunderstood something?

wikipedia would seem to support both depending on the context. But let's see if we can get a more definitive answer.

り - Wiktionary

en.wiktionary.org

 

[nedkelly]

I have consulted my 古語辞典 by Kadokawa which I should have done before. It says -ri follows the mizenkei of sahen verbs and the meireikei of yodan verbs. The difference with what Rohlich states is superficial because the izenkei and meirekei of yodan verbs are the same form. I think that sorts out the problem but I welcome any comment on this.

 

[Toritoribe]

Goo辞書 (大辞泉) has a more detailed explanation.

り の解説
［助動］［ら｜り｜り｜る｜れ｜れ］《四段・サ変動詞の連用形に「あり」の付いた語、例えば「行きあり」「しあり」の音変化形「行けり」「せり」の「り」から》四段動詞の已然形、サ変動詞の未然形に付く。ただし、上代では四段動詞には命令形に付く。

[補説]上代から用いられたが、しだいに衰えて「たり」に代わるようになった。「り」の接続については、平安時代を中心に、四段動詞の已然形とサ変動詞の未然形に付くと説かれる。それに対して、奈良時代では活用語尾に甲・乙2類のかなの区別のある四段動詞の場合、已然形は乙類のかな、命令形は甲類のかなであって、「り」は甲類のかなに接続していたので命令形に付くとされる。しかし、これは、「り」の前にある甲類のかなは「書きあり（kaki＋ari→kakeri）」「しあり（si＋ari→seri）」などのようにもともと連用形活用語尾のイ段の音と「あり」の「あ」との音変化によって生じたのであって上接動詞の活用形は便宜的に扱っているにすぎない。また、平安時代以降は甲類・乙類の区別がなくなり、四段動詞も已然・命令の両形が同一の形となったため、助詞などを下接しうる已然形に接続するものと説かれたのである。なお、上代には上一段やカ変の動詞に接続した例もある。

goo

NTTドコモが運営するポータルサイト「goo」。今話題のニュースやドコモのキャンペーン、サービス紹介などお役立ちコンテンツを展開しています。

dictionary.goo.ne.jp

Wixted in his Handbook to Classical Japanese, p.82 states that the verb suffix -ri follows the Meirekei form of the verb. Komai and Rohlich in Introduction to Classical Japanese,p.64 state that -ri follows the Izenkei of Yodan verbs and the Mizenkei of Sahen verbs. Which is correct?

Thus, both are correct. While the former explanation is for Nara period , the latter is for after Heian period .

Note that "attached to 命令形/已然形" is just for convenience sake. It's actually a result of euphonic change, for example 書き(=連用形) + あり --> 書けり, but it's treated as "書け(=命令形) + り" in Nara period, and "書け(=已然形) + り" after Heian period. It's like the past form 書いた is actually an euphonic change of "書き(=連用形) + た（り）", but 書い is treated as 連用形 for convenience sake in modern 学校文法.

the izenkei and meirekei of yodan verbs are the same form.

As in the explanation I quoted above, it's for after Heian period.

 

[nedkelly]

Thank you for this precise answer, particularly the difference between Nara and Heian periods.