A systematic study of modern Japanese grammar

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K02779
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese linguistics
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: AOKI Hirofumi 九州大学, 人文科学研究院, 教授 (90315929)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 近代語 / 文法化 / 歴史語用論 / 歴史統語論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on the modern Japanese language (Muromachi to Edo period) in the history of Japanese and clarified the aspects of the establishment of modern language grammar. Specifically, I took up important grammatical phenomena that lead to modern language, such as the quasi-form particle "no", possible verbs, te-form auxiliary verbs, and polite language. In the analysis, empirical research based on examples was carried out based on the theoretical research developed in modern language research. We gave a convincing explanation of when, why, and what kind of change occurred.

Free Research Field

日本語史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，文献学的研究をふまえた実証的な日本語史研究であるが，理論的研究の成果を参照することで，一般言語学への貢献につながるものとなっている。特に，「文法化」や「歴史語用論」など，他言語のデータに基づいて構築された手法を視座に収めることで，新たな歴史叙述を可能にした。日本語は，世界でも指折りの豊富な歴史文献資料を有しており，文法変化をダイナミックに描いた本研究は，世界の言語学に多大なインパクトを与えるものと言える。