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The linguistics text I’m reading has a sentence with this fragment:
「動詞の表す動作・作用が[…]」。 Consulting dictionaries just made me more confused; what’s
the contrast between the two in this context? “Action” vs. “effect”?
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2011-09-25T17:55:57.097
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2012-03-07T07:25:39.053
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question
vocabulary linguistics
動作 as opposed to 作用
動詞 in Japanese can represent 3 different things, 動作、作用 and 存在. An example will
be easier to understand.

```

    動作：
    道を歩く
    
```

歩く is categorized as 動作をあらわす動詞, because when you walk, you move your legs, in
other words "movement" or "action".

```

    作用：
    壁に絵をかける
    
```

かける is categorized as 作用を表す動詞, here 壁にかける is having an "effect" on the wall.

```

    存在：
    机に本がある
    
```

ある is categorized as 存在を表す動詞, here ある indicates "existence".

So back to your question, "動作" doesn't directly place any influence on other
"things" whereas "作用" directly "effects" other things.
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2012-03-07T07:25:39.053
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2012-03-07T07:25:39.053
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answer