Japanese Exception Phrases

by Fumito MIZUNO

In this paper, we will examine the semantics of exception phrases, igaino and igaini. My claim is that their interpretations are determined by their structural relations. First, igai phrases are, both igaino and igaini, additional in that sentences are acceptable without igai phrases. Thus, igai phrases add some meanings to them. How igai phrases add meanings are determined by structural relations. Since igaino phrases modify NPs, exclusion operations are applied between igaino phrases and NPs. In the case of igaini phrases, they modify VPs, and exclusion operations are applied between igaini phrases and VPs. Other implications igai phrases may convey are results of pragmatic inferences.