Recent research on the functions of the modality has been reconsidered with various grammatical concepts, such as the tense or the aspect. For instance, some studies apply the deictic function of the tense into the function of modality, using the scale of “remoteness”. The past tense sometimes expresses a polite attitude towards the hearer, such as “Would you help me?” That is, the temporal remoteness from the present time in the past tense is mapped onto the modality; the degree of probability of the prepositions. At the same time, politeness has been studied in sociolinguistics. Therefore, in this paper, I will explain how the politeness of the past tense is in the scale of “politeness” in sociolinguistics. I will first survey the modal meaning of the past tense. Then, I will compare the polite interpretation of the past tense with the concept of politeness in sociolinguistics to find out whether the two are related. In conclusion, through this study, I will explore the function of the past tense from the viewpoint of its function in interaction.
雑誌名
長崎外大論叢
雑誌名(英)
The Journal of Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies
ポライトネスから見た過去形が表わす丁寧さについて
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