Chapter 67Fourth-Person Forms and Their Uses

67.1 A series of forms with several uses

The label fourth person identifies a series of person forms whose interpretation depends on context. In the Saru/Chitose reference paradigm, it comprises intransitive S =an, transitive A a=, and object i=. Other dialects also use A an= Nakagawa (2024: 168–170, 174–175).

These are Nakagawa's five broad uses, with dialect-specific distributions Nakagawa (2024: 175–180). Bugaeva uses indefinite as a cover term and logophoric for reference to the represented speaker Bugaeva (2012: 474–476). Tamura's more detailed semantic classification distinguishes eleven person categories; it does not posit eleven unrelated affix sets Tamura (1972: 18–23, 35, 39) ‹contested›.

67.2 The regional distribution of a= and an=

Nakagawa describes a= as the usual A form in western Hidaka and Chitose. In Tokachi, an= occurs before a vowel-initial stem without initial accent, with a= elsewhere. Shizunai uses both forms without that same conditioning distinction. Other eastern and northern descriptions show further variation, while verse formulae preserve an= in Saru, Chitose and Horobetsu too Nakagawa (2024: 168–169, examples 117–121).

The prefix and suffix are selected by argument role: A uses a prefix, S a suffix. They can therefore alternate across verbs describing the same participant. Combined A–O forms require the interaction paradigm; see Chapter 62 (Person Marking and Argument Roles) and Chapter 65 (Eci and Person Interactions).

67.3 Inclusive and indefinite reference

Inclusive reference includes the addressee, as in an invitation to go together. An independent pronoun can make that reference explicit. In the indefinite-agent use, the corresponding pronoun is excluded in the descriptions under discussion: the construction leaves the agent unidentified Nakagawa (2024: 175, 177); Satō (2008: 203–204); Takahashi (2015: 208).

An indefinite subject also occurs in clauses translated with an English passive. Satō and Nakagawa analyze the affected participant as retaining object status Satō (2008: 203–206); Nakagawa (2024: 177). An explicit agent may nevertheless be expressed through or(o) wa, and that agent need not be human.

The passive analysis and its syntactic diagnostics are examined in Chapter 87 (Middle ci- and the Passive Analysis). Inclusive and indefinite readings can also approach one another in context; Satō notes cases where their interpretation is intermediate Satō (2008: 204).

67.4 Honorific address

Honorific fourth person occurs especially in women's address to adult men and in prayers. Nakagawa describes these as usage tendencies. His examples include ordinary second-person address to deities alongside fourth-person address Nakagawa (2024: 176). Refsing's Shizunai account also records respectful address through status nouns Refsing (1986: 218).

Respectful reference can select a plural verb for one person. Verbal number therefore needs to be interpreted alongside person use; see Chapter 58 (Verbal Number and Stem Alternation).

67.5 The narrator and verbal number

A story told from a character's perspective can use fourth-person forms for that narrator. Western Hidaka, Chitose and Horobetsu can pair them with a singular verb when one narrator is involved. Shizunai, Kushiro and Tokachi examples use plural verbs even for a single narrator Nakagawa (2024: 178–179); Takahashi (2015: 209 n. 6).

Pronoun shape adds another distinction. Horobetsu has a plural-shaped fourth-person pronoun with singular narrative verbs. Shizunai has singular and plural pronoun forms while using plural narrative verbs Nakagawa (2024: 179). Pronoun form, person series, verbal number and the number of people referred to must therefore be considered separately.

67.6 Reference inside quotation

In Saru reported speech, the quoted speaker can be represented by fourth-person forms where the original utterance would use first person. Nakagawa illustrates this with Haca's words as quoted by another speaker Nakagawa (2024: 179, example 153).

Nakagawa considers this use well established in Saru and cautiously identifies related Chitose examples Nakagawa (2024: 179–180). Takahashi's Tokachi account instead retains ordinary first-person forms in such everyday quotations. Switching person series inside literary quotations is a separate pattern in his description Takahashi (2015: 207, 210–211).

67.7 Semantic divisions and historical explanations

Shared forms leave room for different semantic classifications. Nakagawa suggests that the inclusive, honorific and indefinite uses might be separated from narrator and quoted-speaker reference as different persons in Saru and Chitose, citing their differences in reference and number behavior Nakagawa (2024: 180) ‹speculative›. His formal grouping therefore coexists with a possible finer analysis.

Historical explanations also differ. Refsing proposes a connection between indefinite person and existential an Refsing (1986: 218–219). Takahashi explains the Tokachi functions through extensions of inclusive reference while leaving a possible indefinite origin for further investigation Takahashi (2015: 211–212) ‹speculative›. Neither proposal makes every occurrence synonymous with “we.”