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1994 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Trial Development of Folktales' Motif Database and Numerical Analysis of the Structure of Narrative

Research Project

Project/Area Number 05801071
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field 文学一般(含文学論・比較文学)・西洋古典
Research InstitutionTokyo University of Foreign Studies

Principal Investigator

ODA Junichi  Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, AA Institute, Associate Professor, アジア・アフリカ言語文化研究所, 助教授 (10177230)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) NISHIO Tetuo  Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, AA Institute, Associate Professor, アジア・アフリカ言語文化研究所, 助教授 (90221473)
Project Period (FY) 1993 – 1994
KeywordsFolktale / Database / Motif / Narrative / Numerical Analysis / List
Research Abstract

1.We extracted basic data from Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature and inputted them on HITAC M-640/35 main-frame computer at Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies). The data will constitute our Folktales' Motif Database.
2.On the model of Martinet's functionalism, the "double articulation of motif" is proposed : at the first articulation, motif (i.e., a proposition composed of subject and predicate) is decomposed into "motif-monemes", that is, etic elements (character, action, and circumstances of the action, narrated in a folktale). At the second articulation, motif-moneme is decomposed into "motif-semes", that is, a bundle of semantic features, and emic element consist in a network of the relations among these features. This method can be applied to synthesis of morphology of folktale, based on emic element and analysis of variation based on etic element.
3.On the model of Tesniere's "actant", 1,100 motif-monemes are abstracted from a basic data : 391 predicates (verbs in general) which signify a "process" and 719 actants (substantives), including accessorial elements.
4.After the determination of logical structure of our database, we start the second articulation (from a motif-moneme to motif-semes). The method of numerical analysis of folktales, by the use of motif's database and another database which contains folktale itself in the form of LIST,is under examination.

  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All Other

All Publications (4 results)

  • [Publications] 西尾 哲夫: "アラビアン・ナイト研究の問題と展望" オリエント. 37-2(印刷中). (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 小田 淳一: "民話研究支援データベースの構築について" アジア・アフリカ言語文化研究. 46・47. 415-435 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Jun'ichi Oda: "Development of a Database for Analysis of Folktales [in Japanese]" Journal of Asian and African Studies. Nos.46-47. 415-435 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Tetuo Nishio: "The Arabian Nights Studies : Current Scene [in Japanese]" Orient. 37-2. 223-226 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 1999-03-09  

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