ProjectsLinguistics

Linguistics

Describing and Documenting Language Dynamics in Asia and Africa: Toward a Deeper Understanding of the Languages and Cultures of People Living in Asia and Africa (abbreviated as DDDLing)

Term: 2022.4 –2027.3　
Leader: Daisuke Shinagawa
Members: Mayumi Adachi, Shintaro Arakawa, Naoki Ueta, Keita Kurabe, Tokusu Kurebito, Norikazu Kogura, Hideo Sawada, Asako Shiohara, Yona Takahashi, Toshihide Nakayama, Izumi Hoshi, Yasuhiro Yamakoshi, Honoré Watanabe

Overview

Societies in Asia and Africa are currently undergoing rapid changes, and more complex forms of multilingualism are being observed. In order to accurately grasp this situation, it is necessary to describe and record linguistic situations that have been difficult to capture within the framework of descriptive linguistics, such as the relationship between different language communities, diachronic changes in language, and the underlying social structure, culture, and history of the local society. For this purpose, we have been working on the following To this end, we will attempt to analyze the narratives of speakers, which until now have been treated merely as linguistic data, as “messages conveying experience and knowledge,” in collaboration with adjacent fields (sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology) and other disciplines (anthropology, history, and area studies). Through this attempt, it will be possible to understand the diverse values that exist in the world, along with their backgrounds. This will provide us with a foothold to consider how we, as citizens, should deal with the “divisions” that are currently emerging in various parts of the world, including Japan. In addition, we will also explore ways to improve mutual understanding in multilingual mixed situations that already exist in Japan and are likely to become more complex in the future.

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