Investigating the Phenomenon of the Absence of First-Person Perspective in Ryukyuan Languages and the Preservation of Endangered Southern Ryukyuan Languages

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00547
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02060:Linguistics-related
• Research Institution: Fukuoka University of Education
• Principal Investigator: OGINO Chisako 福岡教育大学, 教育学部, 教授 (40331897)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 謙譲語α / 敬語 / 授受動詞の補助動詞 / 敬語の使役形 / 自敬 / 南琉球語 / 親族名称

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been clarified that the "humble verb α" in Southern Ryukyuan, which not only elevates the complement but also slightly elevates the subject, is found not only in the Yaeyama Miyara dialect but also in the Taketomi Town Kuroshima dialect and the Northern Ryukyuan Kikai Island dialect. Phenomena of self-respect using humble verb α were also observed. Regarding the system of giving and receiving verbs, it was elucidated, with a focus on the Kikai Island dialect, that the verb "kureru" signifies giving from a superior to an inferior, and the auxiliary verb "te" functions as "～te torasu." Additionally, a new theory was presented on the development of "～te morau" in Early Modern Japanese to reassess the evolution of giving and receiving verbs in Standard Japanese. In terms of vocabulary, the systems of sibling terms in the Kuroshima and Miyara dialects were clarified. Furthermore, a descriptive grammar of the endangered Miyara dialect of Southern Ryukyuan was compiled.

Free Research Field

日本語学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

琉球語の謙譲語αを確実に証明することで、古代語の謙譲語を解明することにつながる。古代語の謙譲語は二方面敬語を許容したり、自敬を許容したりでき、現代共通語と異なる機能がある。琉球語の謙譲語αは、同様のことを許容するため、古代語の謙譲語との比較研究が可能となる。また、古代語から近世語へ授受動詞体系は変化しており、琉球語の補助動詞「～てとらす」や「～てもらう」に、変化の過程が残存している可能性がある。その点で学術的意義が大きい。さらに、琉球語は消滅の危機に瀕する言語であり、録画や録音などデータを保存することは、社会的文化を守るために価値が高い。