從感謝表現看思維的變化

Transition of Ideas in the Expressions of Gratitude

日文中的感謝表現並不是一開始就以感謝表現為前提成立，而是由某詞語與某種帶有否定意味的語素互相結合而成的合成語，抑或是轉用其語形所變化而來。以歷史角度來看其思維的變化歷程，可以查知以下的變化：〈自我感情的表現〉（カタジヶナイ）→〈評價對方行為〉（アリガタシ•リョガイナ）→〈體諒對方的表現〉（ミョウガナイ•モツタイナイ）。本來用於謝罪表現的「スミマセン」現在多用於感謝表現的情形，可以與〈體諒對方的表現〉的思維來做連結思考。

Expressions of gratitude in Japanese haven't originally appeared as literal expressions of gratitude. They have been formed as compounds of morphemes of negative meanings. The meaning of gratitude is a diversion from the original meaning of each compounds. Historically, the idea of the diversion appeared to have followed the transition: Utterance of one's feeling, e.g. katajikenai 〉 Appreciation to the addressee's action, e.g. arigatashi, ryogaina 〉 Consideration to the addressee, e.g. myohganai, mottainai. The fact that sumimasen, one of the expressions for apology, is often used to express gratitude has a connection with the idea of expressing consideration to the addressee.