Characteristics of Meaning in Japanese Relative Clauses

Abstract

This research focuses on the type of clause known as a relative clause, which is reviewed from a semantic perspective. This research is included in qualitative research. The collected data were then analyzed using qualitative data analysis methods based on the theory of Creswell (2013). The theory used in this study refers to the theory of meaning approach according to Comrie (1981). Generally, linguists divide the functional types of relative clauses into (a) restrictive relative clauses (RRC) and (b) non-restrictive relative clauses (NRRC). In Japanese Relative Clauses, the meaning of relative clauses is also found to be ambiguous. A restrictive relative clause refers to a relative clause that provides essential information to identify or limit the subject or object being discussed. A non-restrictive relative clause provides additional information about the noun that serves as an antecedent, but does not restrict or identify it specifically. Ambiguity in Japanese relative clauses occurs because they have two or more different interpretations depending on the context of the sentence or the structure in which they are used. Ambiguity in relative clauses is often found in Japanese due to the more flexible sentence structure.