II Summary of Publications
II-1 Regional and Social Varieties of Japanese
We have conducted research on the regional and social
varieties of Japanese related to the following three main topics.
1. The actual condition of the use of the common language in
regional societies.
2. The actual condition of the use of honorific and polite
language in regional societies.
3. Changes in the language of regional societies and factors
related to these changes.
For the third topic, we have carried out analyses of the
factors related to apparent time generational differences and at
present have conducted longitudinal surveys over real time in
three locations after periods of 20 and 30 years.
In addition, recently we have conducted sociolinguistic
survey research in the large cities of Tokyo, Osaka, etc. and
contrastive research of Japanese and German linguistic behaviour.
As part of our research on dialectology we have carried out
surveys in the field in 2,400 locations around the country,
primarily giving a systematic description of the dialect of each
area, and have created the 300-page Linguistic Atlas of Japan,
which contains maps of phonetic and word form varieties. Creation
of the Grammar Atlas of Japanese Dialects, which focuses primarily
on gramatical categories, is presently underway.
II-2 Structure and System of Modern Japanese
Research on the structure and system of modern Japanese at
the Institute has concentrated primarily on lexicology and
semantics and has also included research on vowels, grammar and
figurative expression. In addition, at a relatively early stage
in the history of the Institute, we conducted research on the
actual condition of and sentence patterns in the Japanese
language. The above consisted of empirical research based on
quality data of a substantial quantity.
II-3 Statistical Studies on Vocabulary and Writing
We have conducted quantitative survey research based on a
large quantity of data for the purpose of obtaining basic data on
vocabulary and writing forms in modern Japanese. Data for this
survey research was obtained from magazines, newspapers, and
junior and senior high school textbooks, in that order. The
introduction of the computer, starting with the vocabulary survey
of newspapers, has played a leading role in computational
linguistics in Japan.
II-4 Language Development and Language Education
The Institute has conducted survey research related to
language development since its establishment. From 1953 to 1961,
we carried out sequential surveys and analyzed the language
development during the six years of elementary school. Since
then, we have conducted research on language education based on
survey research of the language development not only of elementary
school children but also of pre-school children and students in
junior and senior high school.
II-5 Teaching of Japanese as a Foreign Language
The Centre for Teaching of Japanese as a Foreign Language was
established in 1976 to replace the former Department of Teaching
of Japanese as a Foreign Language which was created in 1974. Due
to the recent establishment of the Centre, the history of research
on teaching of Japanese as a foreign language at the Institute is
short and results are few in comparison with other research
areas.
The main research results consist of research reports and
sources related to fundamental vocabulary, and film materials and
supplementary publications for teaching of Japanese as a foreign
language. In addition, we have published a series of reference
guides for teachers involved in teaching of Japanese as a foreign
language and the Institute has played an active role in the
training teachers in teaching of Japanese as a foreign language.
II-6 Papers, Year-books, Annual Reports, and Other Publications
We present publications which were not included in the
research fields outlined above: occasional papers written by the
Institute staff based on survey research, a bibliography for
research on the Japanese language, research information such as
the Institute's Year-book, and the Annual Report, the Institute's
official report which is published annually.