Lady Gaga's Bracelet

[charusu]

So I was looking at that releif bracelet that Lady Gaga made, the one that says 日本の為に祈りを, I'm not understanding the grammar. Shouldn't "We pray for Japan" be [私達は]日本の為に祈る。?

Why is 祈る in base 2 form? And why is the direct object particle at the end?

Thanks!

 

[Toritoribe]

祈り is not a conjugation form of 祈る but a noun "prayer" here. The verb at the sentence end (ささげます, ささげましょう, ささげてください or like that) is omitted.

 

[Glenn]

祈り is being used like a noun here. I assume the ommitted verb is 送りましょう. Some verbs can become nouns in the Vmasu stem form like this.

[Edit] So, Toritoribe beat me to it.

 

[charusu]

That's what I was thinking, thanks fellas!!!! So how is this kind of omission viewed among the Japanese? Is it common?

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, it often occurs especially in titles, advertising copies, etc.
e.g.
星に願いを(Japanese title of "When You Wish upon a Star")
もっと光を！(Mehr Licht!)

 

[charusu]

Thanks again friend!