omitting conjunction で for emphasis?


In an essay I'm reading called 料理, the author says the following (note: the
full sentence is very long, so I've omitted a few of the clauses while keeping
enough to get the general point across):

> 料理中の男に、このように特殊な事情はまったく無関係、かたわらで私が青白い顔をしていようが、とにかく、時間をかける。

The explanation in the back of the book says:

> Kakuta could have used で after 無関係, but that would have weakened the
> statement. The clause sounds strong precisely because で is not there.

I have a few questions about this.

  * In what way does omitting で make it stronger? I.e. can anyone explain the nuance exactly?

  * Would omitting で always be understood to strengthen the statement? Or does it depend on the situation and context?

  * Does this apply to any other conjunctions or particles as well? Or is this something unique to で?




First, let us get the part of speech straight as it is of utmost importance
here.

> The 「で」 that is "omitted" in the phrase 「[無関係]{むかんけい}で」 is an auxiliary
> verb. Specifically, it is the [連用形]{れんようけい} of the affirmation auxiliary
> verb 「だ」. Because it is the 連用形, the sentence can continue following it
> while maintaining its natural flow. In meaning, 「で」＝「であり」or「であって」.

It could not be the particle 「で」 not only because that would not fit the
context but also because particle 「で」 basically never gets omitted.

It is not the conjunction 「で」, either, even though that is a much better (and
more logical) guess than thinking of it being a particle. Conjunction 「で」 is
too informal to fit in this particular context. More importantly, the 連用形「で」,
while being an auxiliary verb, already functions as something of a conjunction
by linking one clause to another.

> "In what way does omitting で make it stronger?"

It just looks and sounds stronger to end a clause with a noun (when possible)
without a short word or two following it that does not affect the meaning of
the clause. It makes the clause that much more concise with no "frills".
Please read the thread below if you have not. This is a classic technique in
Japanese.

[what exactly is
"体言止{たいげんど}め"?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/14524/what-
exactly-
is-%e4%bd%93%e8%a8%80%e6%ad%a2%e3%81%9f%e3%81%84%e3%81%92%e3%82%93%e3%81%a9%e3%82%81)

> "Would omitting で always be understood to strengthen the statement? Or does
> it depend on the situation and context?"

It would depend on the context and situation. Strengthening your statement is
not always welcomed. Doing so with shorter phrases and sentences could make
you sound curt when you do not want to. Overuse of [体言止]{たいげんど}め is never
recommended.

> "Does this apply to any other conjunctions or particles as well?"

The 「で」 in question was neither a conjunction nor particle as I stated. It is
mostly the verb 「する」 in all of its conjugated forms and affirmative auxiliary
verbs that can be omitted for the "strenghthening" effects.

Conjunctions are rarely, if ever, omitted for any reasons in the first place.
When particles are omitted, that is only for informal/colloquial shortening.
It is not done in formal writing.




First, let us get the part of speech straight as it is of utmost importance
here.

> The 「で」 that is "omitted" in the phrase 「[無関係]{むかんけい}で」 is an auxiliary
> verb. Specifically, it is the [連用形]{れんようけい} of the affirmation auxiliary
> verb 「だ」. Because it is the 連用形, the sentence can continue following it
> while maintaining its natural flow. In meaning, 「で」＝「であり」or「であって」.

It could not be the particle 「で」 not only because that would not fit the
context but also because particle 「で」 basically never gets omitted.

It is not the conjunction 「で」, either, even though that is a much better (and
more logical) guess than thinking of it being a particle. Conjunction 「で」 is
too informal to fit in this particular context. More importantly, the 連用形「で」,
while being an auxiliary verb, already functions as something of a conjunction
by linking one clause to another.

> "In what way does omitting で make it stronger?"

It just looks and sounds stronger to end a clause with a noun (when possible)
without a short word or two following it that does not affect the meaning of
the clause. It makes the clause that much more concise with no "frills".
Please read the thread below if you have not. This is a classic technique in
Japanese.

[what exactly is
"体言止{たいげんど}め"?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/14524/what-
exactly-
is-%e4%bd%93%e8%a8%80%e6%ad%a2%e3%81%9f%e3%81%84%e3%81%92%e3%82%93%e3%81%a9%e3%82%81)

> "Would omitting で always be understood to strengthen the statement? Or does
> it depend on the situation and context?"

It would depend on the context and situation. Strengthening your statement is
not always welcomed. Doing so with shorter phrases and sentences could make
you sound curt when you do not want to. Overuse of [体言止]{たいげんど}め is never
recommended.

> "Does this apply to any other conjunctions or particles as well?"

The 「で」 in question was neither a conjunction nor particle as I stated. It is
mostly the verb 「する」 in all of its conjugated forms and affirmative auxiliary
verbs that can be omitted for the "strenghthening" effects.

Conjunctions are rarely, if ever, omitted for any reasons in the first place.
When particles are omitted, that is only for informal/colloquial shortening.
It is not done in formal writing.

