2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Research on Endangered Languages of the Ryukyus and Language Transmission
| Project/Area Number |
20F20004
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| Research Institution | Okinawa International University |
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Principal Investigator |
西岡 敏 沖縄国際大学, 地域文化研究科, 教授 (30389613)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
VAN DER LUBBE GIJS 沖縄国際大学, 地域文化研究科, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-24 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Okinawa Ryukyuan / Tense Aspect Mood / Morphology / Polynomic model / Learning materials / Endangered languages |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The goal of this research was grammar description, documentation, and the development of learning materials for Torishima Ryukyuan, providing a detailed description of the phonology, morphology and syntax of Torishima Ryukyuan based on fieldwork with the remaining native speakers Torishima Ryukyuan in the age range of 80-100 years old on Kume island. Fieldwork with native speakers of Torishima is not possible at this moment because of covid-19.
I have attempted to continue my research in a slightly different direction by using the data I obtained before the pandemic. The data I have on Torishima Ryukyuan is limited, so I have decided to expand my focus to include language varieties spoken on Okinawa island as well. The following are the areas of research into which I have expanded. 1)Description of tense, aspect, and tense morphology of South-Central Okinawan resulting in presentation on an international conference and a paper in the subsequent proceedings. 2)Pragmatics of honorific use in South-Central Okinawan resulting in a co-authored paper that is currently under review. 3)Grammatical description of Ginoza Sokei Okinawan, resulting in a peer-reviewed paper in a domestic journal. 4)Grammatical description of Yomitan Sobe Okinawan. 5)Construction of learning materials for Okinawan according to the polynomic model of language, which allows for the learning of different regional varieties of Okinawan within a unified learning method, resulting in a presentation on an international conference and a peer-reviewed paper in the subsequent proceedings, and a book chapter.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
4: Progress in research has been delayed.
Reason
Because the Covid-19 pandemic has rendered fieldwork on outlying islands impossible, it is impossible to obtain data for Torishima Ryukyuan. The remaining speakers of Torishima Ryukyuan live on Kume island. Travel to Kume island by ferry or airplane involves close contact with other people, and a stay on Kume islands involves staying at a minshuku where close contact with other people cannot be avoided. Fieldwork with elderly native speakers would risk exposing them to Covid-19. I have tried to advance my research by expanding the focus beyond Torishima Ryukyuan towards varieties of the Okinawan languages spoken on Okinawa island where fieldwork can be carried out while maintaining social distancing.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Because the Covid-19 pandemic has rendered fieldwork on outlying islands impossible, it is difficult to obtain data for Torishima Ryukyuan. If the vaccination effort goes well, it is conceivable that fieldwork trips to Kume island become possible by the second half of 2021. That would allow me to make a start with documenting the Torishima Ryukyuan language by conducting fieldwork with native speakers.
For the time being, I am exploring possibilities to do fieldwork on Yomitan Sobe Okinawan, an understudied, and highly divergent variety of the Okinawan language. Fieldwork in Sobe would allow me to travel by means of my own car, evading close contact with other as occurs on public transport like ferries and airplanes. Several native speakers of Sobe Okinawan have expressed willingness to cooperate with my research as language consultants. When doing fieldwork, it will be of the utmost importance to ensure that social distancing is maintained. A spacious and well-ventilated space is a condicio sine qua non for fieldwork with native speaker consultants at this moment. The Sobe Kominkan can provide such an environment, and has been found willing to cooperate.
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| Remarks |
"Honorifics after language shift: A contrastive account from Northern Ryukyuan" submitted to Contrastive Pragmatics (Brill).
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Research Products
(7 results)
