Certainty in Sasuke’s 「また今度な」“Mata kondo na” in Comparison to Itachi’s 「また今度だ」”Mata kondo da”
I happened to find a tumblr blog that pinpoints difference between Sasuke’s and Itachi’s 「また今度」mata kondo dialogues. There, the blogger thinks Sasuke’s dialogue shows more emotion, emphasis, and remarking meaning of sentence. It implies strong desire, even if it is something hard for the speaker to do. I feel like have to exaggerate things because brief explanation is just not enough to fulfill a crazy fan girl’s need.
For the sake of proper writting, let me give reference in advance regarding what dialogues I will talk about:
「また今度だ」”Mata kondo da” refers to some dialogues spoken by Itachi to Sasuke in various occations in their past before the Uchiha Clan Downfall. It is often translated as, “Maybe next time.”
「また今度な」”Mata kondo na” refers to a dialogue spoken by Sasuke to Sakura by the time he departed from Konoha (Naruto, 699:15). It is often translated as, “I’ll see you soon.”
Both of dialogues have similarity in「また今度」 mata kondo part, in which literally 「また」mata means ‘again’ and 「今度」kondo means ‘this time’ or depends on the context it can also be ‘next time’. Mata kondo in general is used to politely decline an offer.
The only difference between two dialogues is that Itachi used 「だ」da, whereas Sasuke used「な」na in the end of sentence. This slight difference, however, makes all the big gap regarding the volume of certainty the speakers indicate in their speeches.
ITACHI’S「また今度だ」MATA KONDO DA
To be honest, I am not quite sure which group da is belong to, as some people say it a copula and some others consider it as a particle. The first group states that da is equivalent to English to-be and working as if it were verbs when it is combined with noun (used to predicate sentences). But it is not fully correct since for sentences in which a copula is required in English, the corresponding sentences in Japanese do not require a copula [Dalrymple, in Kusutani]. Japanese verbs are also not conjungated for person or number although they do change in forms to reflect honorific considerations that have to do with respect, humility, and politeness [Cipris, in Kusutani].
I don’t want to give you headache, so I will just skip all these debates and focus on practical usage of da.
Da plainly completes a sentence. If you add da after a noun, it makes a full sentence. For example, sakana means fish, but sakana da means “(It’s a) fish
Da expresses existence of something or shows certain thing is. When you say, “sakana da,” it may refer something that is indeed a fish, or refer to the availablity of the fish
Da is sometimes used to replace other parts of a sentence when all person involved in conversation are clear with the context. For example: a customer in restaurant say to the waiter, “Watashi wa unagi da.” (lit. I am an eel). Of course, the person does not claim himself as an eel. The more proper meaning will be “I want to order eel.” However, it is not necessary to explain it in full sentence, since both parties have understood the context.
Da always declarative, never interrogative (although, there are some examples that make me unsure about this point)
Da expresses assertion. According to online dictionary, assertion is positive statement or declaration that often without support or reason.
Regarding its differences with desu:
Desu is more formal and polite than da. Thus, many sentences are almost identical in meaning and differ in the speaker’s politeness to the addressee and in nuance of how assured the person of their statement
Both desu and da express assertion, but desu is less assertive than da
Unlike da, desu can be used in interrogative sentence
Da is somewhat manlier than desu
From literature approach that has been explained above, in my opinion, da in Itachi’s dialogue “Mata kondo da” has following usages:
(1) To plainly complete a sentence
(3) To note casualty in the relationship and manly way of speaking
The direct translation of the said dialogue is “(It’s) next time again” and contextually translated as “Maybe next time.”
“Mata kondo” it is a polite statement of rejection by making promise for future chance. However, in the promise, there is tone of assertion. You can say that the speaker is basically uncertain about the promise. It is made without much willing from the speaker, and in certain level, can be considered as an empty promise.
Itachi Uchiha was only four years old when Third Shinobi World War broke out. Traumatized a lot by all the dreadful happenings, the young Itachi loved peace so much that he wanted to keep it no matter what it might cost. He began to learn history and his exceptional intelligence had made his horizon greatly widen; he saw the far future and became very concerned about it. He was even stated to have wisdom that was on par with a Hokage’s at such a young age.
Natural prodigy that passed Chuunin Exams at age 11 and was promoted to Anbu captain by age 13, Itachi was used to take very big decisions that none ever could dream of. Something that even a Hokage was feeling very remorse to know the burden on the young boy’s shoulder.
Before the night of Uchiha Clan Massacre, Itachi was really close to his brother, Sasuke. He loved him so much and paid attention to him in way his father did not. He watched his brother progress whenever he had time to. But, how could he have time if he was already occupied as double agent?
Despite his love for his brother, Itachi was rarely home and not able to keep eyes on Sasuke’s training. In the end, he could only reject his brother plead by saying “Yuruze Sasuke … Mata kondo da” (lit. Forgive me, Sasuke … Maybe next time) while poking Sasuke in forehead.
I’m quite sure the lack of certainty his promise due to the difficult position he was in. Double agent job obviously didn’t let him to have spare time. He was aware that he might not be able to fulfil the promise, yet he couldn’t bring himself to directly refuse Sasuke.
PART 2: SASUKE’S「また今度な」MATA KONDO NA
I have explained about Japanese sentence-final particles (shuujoshi) in my another post, so you can skip this part if you still remember the whole explanation. But in case you forget, the following paragraphs are what sentence-final particles is.
Sentence-final particles (shuujoshi) are group of Japanese particles located in the end of sentence. The basic function of sentence-final particles is to express the speaker’s feeling or to seek confirmation from the addressee. Sentence-final particles are essential in spoken Japanese. These determine or greatly alter the function of the sentence. The speaker also must intertwine his/her emotion into the speech to make it seem relevant. By dropping the sentence-final particles, your speech will get less impression. Adachi [2002:261] stated that not using final particle at all gives the impression that the speaker isn’t really interested in what is said.
Basically sentence-final particles give volume to the speech, or in certain point, are the heart of the speech as it carries the speaker’s tone as well as impression. In addition, sentece-final particles also indicate territory of information, which means it determines to whom the information (aka the speech) belongs. Territory of information is divided into four: (1) the speaker’s but not the addressee’s; (2) not the speaker’s but the addressee’s; (3) both the speaker’s and the addressee’s; (4) or belonging to neither the speaker nor the addressee.
Japanese is very subtle as they often drop the subject and sometimes the object of the sentence. Understanding of sentence-final particles may let you know about how the speaker truly feels when he/she delivers the speech, whether the speech is direct or indirect, and whether or not the speaker needs a feedback from the addressee.
Sentence final-particle na (from now on is particle na) is basically used to give confirmation or agreement in the sentence, to express the speaker’s feeling, emphasizes expressiveness, and stating hope or desire.
Particle na according to Moriyama [1998:174, in source] has contexts as following: (1) to express impression and awe; (2) to state desire; (3) to indicate decision and politely asking; (4) to ask agreement, get answer; (5) when it is following a command, it will make the command more polite.
Tomita [1991:171, in source] states that particle na has following functions: (1) to prevent; (2) to give command; (3) to express the speaker’s emotion or feeling; (4) to emphasize the topic or statement to the addressee; (5) to make the addressee agree or have same opinion with the speaker; (6) to emphasize personal opinion; (7) to make sure to the speaker him/herself about what is he/she thinking or doing.
Particle na has special property to convey a tone of ‘camaraderie’ [Naomi Ogi, 2014].
From the explanation above, particle na in Sasuke’s dialogue “Mata kondo na” has following usages:
(1) To express the speaker’s emotion or feeling
(2) To state strong desire
(3) To emphasize the statement
(4) To make the addressee agree or have same opinion with the speaker;
(5) To make sure to the speaker him/herself about what is he/she thinking or doing.
Like Itachi’s dialogue, Sasuke’s dialogue is also a polite statement of rejection by making promise for future chance. However, there is big difference regarding the speaker’s will of what is being said.
This dialogue has indeed implied that the speaker does really mean what he says. He puts his emotion and feeling into the speech and indicates a strong desire to fulfill the promise. There is big amount of certainty in what is being said.
Particle na in this is dialogue is meant to both the speaker and the addressee. So, it’s important to him to make the addresse agree with his opinion, while he basically makes the promise to himself.
Sasuke was seventeen years old when he stated that he would do a revolution. In order to accomplish his goal, he needed to cut his bound to everyone from the past, especially from someone who had filled his lonely existence. Someone who was precious to him in golden old days and whom he had tried to kill more than once. He was prepared to take all the hate with him and walk in the darkness alone.
But Sasuke got his senses knocked back to him and realized that he was wrong. He then brought himself to ask forgiveness from someone whom he needed to apologize the most: Sakura. He apologized and she forgave him. She was kind and loving as ever. In parting days, Sakura even went as far as asking to join his journey. He refused her. She was not part of his sins, so she could not join him.
She didn’t seem to understand as she looked so depressed. It might be because of it, Sasuke wanted to make everything clear with her by saying, “Mata kondo na … Arigatou.” (lit. I’ll see you soon … Thank you.)
Sasuke was never a man with words. However, regarding Sakura, he always conveyed his heart directly. This time, Sasuke made the promise and the way he said it indicated that really meant it. He puts his emotion and feeling into the speech and indicates a strong desire to fulfill the promise. It’s important to him to make Sakura agree with his opinion by emphasizing it, while he basically makes the promise to himself.
And with that, this long rambling has come into conclusion. I am too lazy to sum it up with neat sentences, so forgive me for this improper ending after all the ruckus I have already started.
Basically “Mata kondo” is polite statement of rejection by making promise for future chance. Both of Itachi’s and Sasuke’s dialogue carry the same promise. However, there is different amount of certainty indicated in those dialogues.
In Itachi’s dialogue, there is tone of assertion. Itachi was basically uncertain whether he was able to fulfil the promise, or aware that he might not be able to fulfill the promise, yet he couldn’t bring himself to directly refuse Sasuke’s plead.
In Sasuke’s dialogue, there is strong desire from him to fulfill the promise. The dialogue is meant to both Sakura and Sasuke. So, Sasuke has promised not only to Sakura, but also to himself. And it is important for him to emphasizes this to Sakura, as well as make her agree with his opinion.
I’m neither native in Japanese nor majoring Japanese linguistic, so there might be inaccuracy in my rambling and I am really, really sorry for that. My literatures come from online journals and articles and I want to add them if I have time. I hope this post is not as bad as I suspect it to be. If you find any mistake within the explanation, please kindly tell me so I can edit it out.
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