| Research Abstract |
1.The head investigator developed the first data-processing system for linguistic geography using a personal computer (named SEAL) in 1983. In 1992, the original system was improved to accomodate the progress of the hardware and software, resulting in Version 2. The improvement of the system was continued. In this research project, SEAL was updated resulting in Version 4.3 : for example, a batch file was written, and the data files became readable using editor programs, written in CVS text file format. As a result, a person unfamiliar with BASIC can use the SEAL system and the ready made data can be processed by SEAL.
Using the SEAL system, we can make concise linguistic maps easily and quickly. We can also analyze more than one map by counting the frequency of specific word-forms for each location. Both tasks are easier now whether it is a first time analysis or a re-analysis. First, the list of word-forms for each file and the list of the symbols used in the maps are displayd on the monitor screen when a linguistic map is drawn or word-forms are counted. Second, the specification of word-forms and symbols in a map or of word-forms to count the frequency can be saved in a file. The Users'Manual of SEAL Version 4.3 has been written and printed as the report of this research project : Fukushima et al., 1995.
2.The dialectal data of Tokunoshima, Amami was analyzed using SEAL Version 4.3. Linguistic data were input and maps were made for each linguistic data file. Several maps were also analyzed by counting specific word-forms. Especially, kinship terms were analyzed and a paper was written on the topic : Fukushima, 1995. Other results will be published in the near future.
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