第372課: The Nominalizing Affix /-aku/: ク語法
A very small subset of words exhibit an archaic means of nominalization involving a synonymous expression to こと in Modern Japanese. This affix is /-aku/, but because the initial vowel is always fused with the preceding mora, as was a phonological rule in Old Japanese, the resulting ～く is how it has been recognized over the millennia.
Conjugating with /-aku/
As should be expected of a nominalizing dummy noun, /-aku/ follows the 連体形 of various parts of speech: verbs, adjectives, and auxiliary verbs. In the conjugation table below, forms are shown as they are to be understood in the context of Old Japanese. This is because the grammar pattern itself had already been limited to fossilized by the start of the Heian Period, requiring us to turn back the clock. As such, all words are written in historical kana orthography. Romanization also reflexes this stage of the language.
| Part of Speech | Verb | 連体形 | + /-aku/ | Etymology |
| 四段 Verb | 言ふ (to say) | 言ふ | 曰く | /ipu/ + /-aku/ = /ipaku/ |
| 上二段 Verb | 老ゆ (to age) | 老ゆる | 老ゆらく | /oyu/ + /-aku/ = /oyuraku/ |
| 下二段 Verb | 恐る (to fear) | 恐るる | 恐るらく | /osoruru/ + /-aku/ = /osoruraku/ |
| サ変 Verb | す (to do) | する | すらく | /suru/ + /-aku/ = /suraku/ |
| 形容詞 | 安し (to be at ease) | 安き | 安けく | /yasuki/ + /-aku/ = /yasukeku/ |
| 助動詞 | ～ず (negation marker) | ～ぬ | ～なく | /nu/ + /-aku/ = /naku/ |
| 助動詞 | ～き (recollection marker) | ～し | ～しく | /sï/ + /-aku/ = /sïku/ Ex. 申ししく |
In Old Japanese, ク語法 was still very productive as a means of nominalizing. However, it did not have the same range as の・こと do in Modern Japanese. Resultant nominalized expressions made with it were most often the subject of an adjectival predicate. Although it was still possible for it to be the object of a verbal predicate, it favored describing situations most importantly.
み吉野の玉松が枝は愛しきかも君がみ言を持ちて通はく
How lovely the branches of the pines of Yoshino are! How they have brought your words (to me)!
From Poem 113 of the 万葉集.
Resultant nominalized expressions made with it were most often the subject of an adjectival predicate. Although it was still possible for it to be the object of a verbal predicate, it favored describing situations most importantly. It was heavily used with the auxiliary verbs ～ず and ～む as well as with adjectives like 無し and 多し, but it is of course not exclusive to things and could be seen with a range of stative verbs and adjectival expressions.
In Middle Japanese, the stage of Japanese that comprises the majority of text viewed as being ‘Classical Japanese,’ many writers mistakenly understood /-aku/ to be ～らく, which is thought to have come about due to the high frequency of 恐るらく in 漢文訓読 (Japanese iterations of Classical Chinese text). This resulted in the following common misuses (誤用). Note that the particle は is present as it accompanied many iterations of /-aku/ in practical use.
| Verb | Misuse （誤用） | Correct Use (正用) |
| 惜しむ (to regret) | 惜しむらくは | 惜しまくは |
| 望む (to hope) | 望むらくは | 望まくは |
| 疑ふ (to doubt) | 疑はらくは | 疑はくは |
Modern Usage
The usage of /-aku/ in Modern Japanese, as is to be expected, is limited to fossilized expressions. Most examples that had survived into the Heian Period managed to survive into Modern Japanese, some experiencing minor changes but all retaining their meanings. Notice how several of them have taken on adverbial nuances.
| Phrase | Meaning | Phrase | Meaning | Phrase | Meaning |
| 曰く | 1. Pretext (n.) 2. According to (adv.) | 老いらく | Old age | 願わくは | I pray/wish that |
| 体たらく | Predicament/mess | 須らく | By all means | 思惑 | 1. Expectation 2. Ulterior motive |
| 恐らく | 1. Probably 2. I suspect that… |
Etymology Notes:
1. 須（すべか）らく is the combination of す (to do), the 連体形 of the auxiliary verb ～べし （～べかる）, and /-aku/.
2. 思惑 is an Ateji spelling of 思わく, which more clearly indicates how it is the combination of 思う (to think) and /-aku/.
3. 願わくは is very frequently seen as 願わくば.
4. 体たらく is the combination of 体 (appearance) and the 連体形 of the copula verb ～たり（～たる）, and /-aku/.
1. 古人曰く勝って兜の緒を締めよ。
The ancients say defeat (the enemy) then fasten the chords of your armor (for the next battle).
2. 法はすべからく守るべし。
The law always ought to be protected.
3. 老いらくの恋
An old man’s love
4. 世間の思惑通りには生きてはいけない。
One mustn’t live as the world expects.
5. なんという体たらくだ！
What a mess you’ve gotten yourself into!
6. 願わくは京都に居を構えたい。
I desire to set up residence in Kyoto.
7. 願わくは御名を尊まれんことを。
I pray that your name be honored.
8. 明日は恐らく雨だろう。
It will probably rain tomorrow.
Resultant nominalized expressions made with it were most often the subject of an adjectival predicate. Although it was still possible for it to be the object of a verbal predicate, it favored describing situations most importantly. It was heavily used with the auxiliary verbs ～ず and ～む as well as with adjectives like 無し and 多し, but it is of course not exclusive to things and could be seen with a range of stative verbs and adjectival expressions.
In Middle Japanese, the stage of Japanese that comprises the majority of text viewed as being ‘Classical Japanese,’ many writers mistakenly understood /-aku/ to be ～らく, which is thought to have come about due to the high frequency of 恐るらく in 漢文訓読 (Japanese iterations of Classical Chinese text). This resulted in the following common misuses (誤用). Note that the particle は is present as it accompanied many iterations of /-aku/ in practical use.
| Verb | Misuse （誤用） | Correct Use (正用) |
| 惜しむ (to regret) | 惜しむらくは | 惜しまくは |
| 望む (to hope) | 望むらくは | 望まくは |
| 疑ふ (to doubt) | 疑はらくは | 疑はくは |
Modern Usage
The usage of /-aku/ in Modern Japanese, as is to be expected, is limited to fossilized expressions. Most examples that had survived into the Heian Period managed to survive into Modern Japanese, some experiencing minor changes but all retaining their meanings. Notice how several of them have taken on adverbial nuances.
| Phrase | Meaning | Phrase | Meaning | Phrase | Meaning |
| 曰く | 1. Pretext (n.) 2. According to (adv.) | 老いらく | Old age | 願わくは | I pray/wish that |
| 体たらく | Predicament/mess | 須らく | By all means | 思惑 | 1. Expectation 2. Ulterior motive |
| 恐らく | 1. Probably 2. I suspect that… |
Etymology Notes:
1. 須（すべか）らく is the combination of す (to do), the 連体形 of the auxiliary verb ～べし （～べかる）, and /-aku/.
2. 思惑 is an Ateji spelling of 思わく, which more clearly indicates how it is the combination of 思う (to think) and /-aku/.
3. 願わくは is very frequently seen as 願わくば.
4. 体たらく is the combination of 体 (appearance) and the 連体形 of the copula verb ～たり（～たる）, and /-aku/.
1. 古人曰く勝って兜の緒を締めよ。
The ancients say defeat (the enemy) then fasten the chords of your armor (for the next battle).
2. 法はすべからく守るべし。
The law always ought to be protected.
3. 老いらくの恋
An old man’s love
4. 世間の思惑通りには生きてはいけない。
One mustn’t live as the world expects.
5. なんという体たらくだ！
What a mess you’ve gotten yourself into!
6. 願わくは京都に居を構えたい。
I desire to set up residence in Kyoto.
7. 願わくは御名を尊まれんことを。
I pray that your name be honored.
8. 明日は恐らく雨だろう。
It will probably rain tomorrow.