Impact of social-cultural and political changes on the Japanese language after the Meiji era: A quantitative analysis of differences in expression

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24617015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 文化学
• Research Institution: Tokyo International University
• Principal Investigator: KINJO Fumiko 東京国際大学, 経済学部, 教授 (50275799)
• Research Collaborator: Matsuda Yoshiro 一橋大学, 名誉教授 ; Hayakawa Yoshio ; Ishino Takako
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 早川三代治 / 有島武郎 / 分野による表現差 / 計量言語分析 / 北海道の開拓村 / 格差問題 / 思想言語統制 / 札幌農学校

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research compared writings in literature and social sciences by Miyoji Hayakawa (economist and author) and his mentor Takeo Arishima (author) to analyze the impact of social-cultural and political changes on the Japanese language after the Meiji era. This included qualitative analysis of Otaru University of Commerce's Hayakawa collection and quantitative analysis of both men's writings.
Both types of writings showed Western influence, but this was more strongly observed in their literary works. Such influence was seen through their frequent use of inanimate subjects, personification, passive voice, pronouns, and attributive adjectives.

Free Research Field

言語変容