What's the difference between 静けさ and 静かさ?


Much to my disbelief (no, I'm kidding, it happens all the time), I found out
that my handbook was wrong to tell me _we must use 静けさ, because 静かさ doesn't
exist_.

Wiki(tionary) says "For degree, corresponding to the English quietness, both
静かさ (shizukasa) and 静けさ (shizukesa) can be used, but 静けさ (shizukesa) may be
more common." On the other hand someone on chiebukuro says:

> 「静かさ」といった場合「静かである程度」を 意味し、「静けさ」といった場合「静かであること（様子）」を意味しているように 思います。

meaning shizukasa is for degree, shizukesa is for appearance.

But I can't help feeling unconvinced. I've looked on weblio. In the ruigo
jisho I've found 3 meaning for
[静かさ](http://thesaurus.weblio.jp/content/%E9%9D%99%E3%81%8B%E3%81%95) (for
reference
[静けさ](http://thesaurus.weblio.jp/content/%E9%9D%99%E3%81%91%E3%81%95)):

  1. 音がないこと サイレンス ・ 物静かさ ・ 静寂さ
  2. 静かな状況（例えば、話し声がしない状況） サイレンス ・ 音無 ・ 森閑 ・ 沈黙 ・ 無音 ・ だんまり ・ 黙 ・ 音無し ・ 黙り ・ 静寂 ・ 無言 ・ しじま ・ 無声 ・ **静けさ** ・ 静寂さ
  3. 穏やかな静寂 静寂 ・ しじま ・ **静けさ**

So the first meaning, apparently, is the real difference with shizukesa,
right?  
But then again, if 1 is 音がないこと why 音無, 無音 and 音無し aren't also in the first
group? And why 静けさ can be in the second group with these one, but not in the
first group?  
Side question: why 静寂さ for 1st and 2nd group, but just 静寂 in the 3rd?

For reference, instead of the 1st meaning of 静かさ, with 静けさ we have another
group:  
風のない穏やかさ 黙 ・ 沈静 ・ 無風 ・ 静寂 ・ 平静 ・ 静止 Isn't it overly specific? Can't this
definition easily overlap with another group's definition (same of 2 and 3 for
静かさ).




Here is how I (and many other native speakers) would use the two words in real
life. I am answering without looking at anything.

「静 **か** さ」 describes the bare **physical** degree of how "not loud" a thing
is. A high degree of quietness, while it may be desired, is not a prerequisite
here.

Examples: 「静かさ」 is used to talk about how quiet a car, airconditioner, street,
the way a person speaks, etc. is. Point is that those all make some noise if
not a lot.

「静 **け** さ」 means " **tranquility** ". A high degree of quietness is an
absolute prerequisite. One wants a certain quality in the quietness that is
pleasing and satisfying to one.

Examples: 「静けさ」 is used to refer to the tranquility of a forest, mountain,
lake, large park, etc. One can use the word to describe any natural scene the
tranquility of which one appreciates.

I am not saying that everyone, myself included, uses these words correctly all
the time, but this would be the general guideline that many would share deep
inside.




Here is how I (and many other native speakers) would use the two words in real
life. I am answering without looking at anything.

「静 **か** さ」 describes the bare **physical** degree of how "not loud" a thing
is. A high degree of quietness, while it may be desired, is not a prerequisite
here.

Examples: 「静かさ」 is used to talk about how quiet a car, airconditioner, street,
the way a person speaks, etc. is. Point is that those all make some noise if
not a lot.

「静 **け** さ」 means " **tranquility** ". A high degree of quietness is an
absolute prerequisite. One wants a certain quality in the quietness that is
pleasing and satisfying to one.

Examples: 「静けさ」 is used to refer to the tranquility of a forest, mountain,
lake, large park, etc. One can use the word to describe any natural scene the
tranquility of which one appreciates.

I am not saying that everyone, myself included, uses these words correctly all
the time, but this would be the general guideline that many would share deep
inside.

