2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Descriptive Study on Swahili Varieties in East Africa
Project/Area Number |
23320086
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Linguistics
|
Research Institution | Osaka University |
Principal Investigator |
TAKEMURA Keiko 大阪大学, 言語文化研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20252736)
|
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KOMORI Junko 大阪大学, 言語文化研究科, 准教授 (10376824)
YONEDA Nobuko 大阪大学, 言語文化研究科, 教授 (90352955)
|
Project Period (FY) |
2011-04-01 – 2014-03-31
|
Keywords | スワヒリ語諸変種 / 基礎語彙 / 文法記述 / 民俗語彙 / オーラルヒストリー / 口承文芸 |
Research Abstract |
In this project, we conducted descriptive-linguistic field work in East Africa especially in Tanzania and Kenya, in order to clarify the varieties of Swahili. We have collected "600 basic vocabularies" and described "basic grammar" in some villages. Also we have collected "vocabulary related to marine life" in Swahili Coast Area to confirm the presence or absence of differences in vocabulary by varieties. We have collected some "oral histories" and "oral literature" too as primary references for linguistic study. In previous studies on Swahili Varieties it was said that there are about 24 varieties in Swahili, but from the results of our research, it can be said that we have to reconsider the map of the distribution of Swahili varieties because it has been revealed that in just neighboring villages in the Northern part of Zanzibar Island there are some differences in vocabulary and grammar of their Swahili varieties.
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