Thesis abstract:

This study examines the uses of the Japanese grammatical construction, -(s)ase-te itadak-u, utilizing multiple contemporary corpora. It investigates how the construction develops various grammaticalized meanings in relation to pragmatic factors. This study assumes that the polysemous nature of the construction is characterized by phenomena such as the development of intersubjectivity, a decrease in referentiality, and changes in modal meanings. This study aims to provide implications with regard to social meaning and identity reflected in its various grammaticalized meanings from a synchronic perspective.