Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2010 -2012
Author : KUROSAWA Hirokazu
In Old High German language, the subjunctive appears more frequently than in New High German. This is particularly conspicuous in subordinate clauses. The question is why the subjunctive was so frequently used in subordinate clauses. Earlier scholars tended to regard the subjunctive as the tying moodbetween main and subordinate clauses. It is often noticed that in OHG the finite verb stands in subordinate clauses because of influences from the main clause, although it should actually stand in the indicative. It is not clear why the subjunctive is used instead of the indicative; also, the influencing factors in main clause are far from being completely understood. In my research, I aimed to explain the subjunctive in OHG in subordinate clauses from the point of view of modalities. In OHG, the subjunctive appears not because of influences from the main clause, but owing to the mood (modus) appropriate to the modalified context.