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Dialect Research Room

Brief Overview

The Linguistic Geographic Variation group of the Department of Language Research (former 1st laboratory of Department of Language Change) focus on studying Japanese dialects.

We carry out continuous research on analyses of dialects in various parts of Japan and systematic clarification of dialectic distribution throughout Japan.We now propel our research in two major research areas, to compile a "Grammar atlas of Japanese dialects" and to analyse/interpret dialectic grammar in various parts of Japan.

Grammar atlas of Japanese dialects

The “Grammar atlas of Japanese dialects" aims to give overview of the distribution of the dialect as grammatical phenomena in all the parts of the Japan.The “Grammar atlas of Japanese dialects" provides an opportunity to study the relationship between the distribution of dialects and the history of Japanese language.In addition, the atlas would be useful in the Japanese language and Japanese as second language education.

A group of elder males who were born and lived in the regions concerned for entire life and met the set criteria were selected from 807 locations throughout Japan.These individuals were personally interviewed and asked questions from 267 categories on the grammatical phenomena.The collected responses were then used to construct the atlas.

The Department of Language Change 1st Laboratory has been the driving force behind the project collaborating with 93 dialect researchers in the target areas.The data collection itself spanned for 4 years from year 1979 to 1982.

Each volume contains 50 linguistic maps on average and an accompanying instruction booklet.The instruction booklet contains the data collection and analyses protocols and the list of raw data (Transcript of voice recordings and the explanatory notes).The size of the map is 36.4 cm x 51.6 cm with maximum of 6 colours used in printing.The instruction booklet is printed in the B5 size.Total of 6 volumes of atlases have been completed.Printed by the National Printing Bureau.