肯定 and 賛成: acknowledging effort and supporting a proposal
Compare acknowledging another person’s effort, affirming a question, and supporting a plan. Identify what is affirmed and what proposal receives support.
Affirming content or value
肯定 (こうてい) means affirmation or acknowledgment. 「相手の努力を肯定する言葉を伝えた。」 describes conveying words that acknowledge the other person’s effort.
In 「彼は質問にうなずいて肯定した。」, he nodded in affirmation in response to the question. Affirmation need not be verbal; this example supplies a nod.
Supporting a particular proposal
賛成 (さんせい) concerns support for a proposal or view. 「私は公園を残す案に賛成した。」 says the speaker supported preserving the park.
「全員の賛成を得て計画が正式に決まった。」 states that the plan was formally decided with everyone’s agreement. Unlike acknowledging effort, this concerns support for a plan.
Reading the object of the response
Words acknowledging someone’s effort do not establish support for that person’s proposal. The value of the effort and adoption of a proposal are different objects.
Affirmation and support can occur together. Rather than dividing them by speech or gesture, identify the content or value affirmed and the proposal supported.
Does 「相手の努力を肯定する言葉を伝えた。」 state support for the other person’s plan?
Show the answer and why
No. The object acknowledged is the other person’s effort. Support for a plan or proposal is not stated.