An investigation on the state of neo-dialect (inter-dialect) in the Amami Islands

2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 15520288
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese linguistics
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: SANADA Shinji Osaka University, Graduate School of Letters, Professor, 大学院・文学研究科, 教授 (00099912)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): INOUE Fumiko The National Institute for Japanese Language, Department of Language Information and Resources, First Division, Chief Researcher, 情報資料部門第一領域, 主任研究員 (90263186)
• Project Period (FY): 2003 – 2005
• Keywords: neo-dialect / inter-dialect / Amami dialect / regional standard language / dialect revival movement

Research Abstract

The following is a summary of the research findings described in the report ("Amami").
1.Report on dialect talk : From the results of an investigation where speakers were recorded in conversation with the researchers, we recorded the linguistic features of talk in the Amami dialect and analyzed the state of the regional standard language. For reference,"transcribed discourse data" is attached.
2.The state of honorific expressions in Amami : From the results of interviews, we described generational differences in Amami's "kinship terms", "second person pronouns", "first person pronouns", "politeness behaviour" and so on, analysing the changes in these linguistic behaviours.
3.Report on preservation activities surrounding Amami's linguistic culture : From reported data, we summarised Amami's history of suppression of dialect, and the state of the dialect revival movement and dialect preservation activities.