Extended Particles: Their Meaning and Use

The objective of this thesis is to explore the morphological, syntactic and particularly semantic features of expressions of the Japanese grammar, called extended particles. This research work is, in practice, carried out both in general, when there is examined the whole grammatical category of the extended particles and specifically, when there is examined a small group of semantically similar extended particles. This group includes the extended particles wo moto ni shite, ni motozuite and ni sotte, meaning they express basis for a particular action. Based on an expert literature and analysis of authentic language materials these extended particles are examined primarily for differences in their meanings. In addition to research and specification of such differences for each individual extended particle there is also determined its primary and secondary use. In the conclusion, there is a summary of the specifics of the grammatical category of the extended particles that is thereto complemented by a contemplation of the relationship of the extended particles with the process of grammaticalization. Keywords: extended particle, fukugōjoshi, particle, Japanese, grammaticalization