2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The origins of 'yes' and 'no'
| Project/Area Number |
19K00698
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| Research Institution | Fukuoka University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | yes / no / particle / vocalisation / gesture |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
I have analysed my research data gathered in fieldwork in New England in 2019. I have produced maps of jess and dow in Northeast America, which show new data previously unpublished. I am now in the process of writing up my research findings, with the aim of publishing them in 2021.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
4: Progress in research has been delayed.
Reason
The second phase of my research has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. I have been unable to travel to research institutes overseas or conduct new fieldwork on forms of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in other languages. I plan to begin these as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. I also plan to appear on BBC radio in England, if possible, to talk about my research findings.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
As I mentioned in last year’s report, jess and dow are obsolescent in Northeast America, meaning that they are probably relatively rare in western USA. Therefore, when coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted, I plan to move on to examine yes and no more universally in human language. This encompasses the origins of yes and no in language, vocalization and gesture.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I plan to conduct research internationally on the development of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in human language. I therefore plan to undertake a number of research visits overseas for fieldwork on languages that offer interesting data on ‘yes’ and ‘no’. I also plan to visit research institutes internationally that are conducting research on universals or ‘yes’ and ‘no’.
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