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ELMER PATRICK

在学生の研究内容

ELMER PATRICK

専攻

比較文化学専攻

指導教員

主任指導教員:菊澤律子/副指導教員:吉岡乾

研究題目

The reconstruction of Proto-Ryukyuan based on the comparative method.

研究キーワード

Linguistic homeland, Proto-Japonic, language reconstruction, rice agriculture

研究の概要

Proto-Japonic Origins in the Yangtze Delta: Comparing Rice-related Lexicon of Proto-Japonic with Those in the Language Families of East Asia

This research deals with the language dispersal in East Asia and its implications for the origins of the Japanese languages. For this purpose, the comparison of vocabulary related to the spread of wet rice agriculture from the Yangtze river delta to Japan will be conducted. It is known that the Japanese rice plant originates along the Yangtze river. By examining rice-related vocabulary, it is expected that the transmission of such vocabulary will become clear and associated human movement can be clarified. Based on the possible human migration movements, the developmental paths of the Japanese languages can be traced back to their origins.

As for the comparison of vocabulary, I will use the comparative method, which allows us to determine whether each form is borrowed, inherited, or unrelated through sound correspondences. This research first reconstructs vocabulary related to wet rice agriculture of Proto-Japonic based on mainland Japanese and Ryūkyūan language data. This language stage corresponds to the introduction of wet rice agriculture to Japan around 950 BC (during the Yayoi period). The reconstructed lexical items of Proto-Japonic are then compared to vocabulary from languages of East Asia including reconstructed forms and those in modern languages.

The lexical items compared here will be those related to rice plant and wet rice agriculture. Archaeobotanical research has shown that the Japanese rice plant – the current staple food of Japan – has its origins along the Yangtze river. However, it is not yet clear how rice and wet rice agriculture reached Japan. It has been claimed that languages often spread together with the important agriculture of its speakers. By looking at the spread of rice-related terms, this research will identify remnants of the development of languages in East Asia, which will help understand how these languages are related to the development of Proto-Japonic. This allows for a new assessment of the dating and location of the initial speakers of the Japonic languages.

研究成果レポート