Comparative Semantics of Yaeyaman Verbal Morphology

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K12374
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: クリストファー デイビス 琉球大学, 国際地域創造学部, 准教授 (80647339)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Yaeyaman / fieldwork / semantics / pragmatics / documentation

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Due to the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus, I was unable to conduct sufficient fieldwork in Yaeyama as I had planned to do. For this reason, I have requested an extension of funding into the next year.

I was able to conduct one fieldwork trip to Hatoma island after the residents there had received their vaccines. During this trip I recorded natural speech and transcribed recordings made during previous fieldwork trips. As I was unable to conduct sufficient new fieldwork, I focused this year on organizing and transcribing field recordings from previous fieldwork trips. I have transcribed a number of dialogs and monologs, on the basis of which I am able to find naturalistic examples of numerous verbal forms.

I also established a connection with two other Yaeyaman researchers with whom I plan to archive the recordings made during the course of this project. We also plan to collaborate on a grammatical description of the Kohama dialect.

Current Status of Research Progress

4: Progress in research has been delayed.

Reason

Due to the novel coronavirus, I was unable to conduct fieldwork in Yaeyama as planned. I have submitted an application to extend funding into the next year, so that I can conduct the fieldwork that was delayed.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

I plan to conduct fieldwork in Hatoma and Kohama. The purpose of this fieldwork is to fill in gaps in the transcription of existing recordings, as well as to elicit additional grammatical patterns that are not yet clear from the existing data.

On the basis of this and previous fieldwork, I plan to produce a basic description of both varieties, with a focus on their verbal morphology. I also hope to produce a comparative cross-dialectal description of the verbal system of Yaeyaman as a whole.

Finally, I plan to archive and make available a portion of the recordings I have made in this project online.

Causes of Carryover

Due to the novel coronavirus, I did not use all of the money allotted for this year. I have submitted a request to have all of these monies extended into the next year, when I plan to use them for both conference and fieldwork travel.