open access

https://doi.org/10.14943/2115.99347

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/99347

Building Composite Data on Lexical Forms and Regularities : Extracting Maximum Information from the Basic Vocabulary of Ainu Dialects

日本語

基礎語彙統計学再考

2026-03-20

日本北方言語学会

Northern Language Studies

16

151-173

This study aims to appropriately quantify the basic vocabulary of Ainu dialects using linguistic and statistical methods. Previous statistical studies of basic vocabulary have relied on manual cognacy judgments conducted by linguistic or statistical researchers, who applied their own criteria to the lexical forms within each vocabulary item. Thus, the statistical results depend on their judgments based on grammatical, lexical, morphological, or phonological differences. Representative studies, such as those by Hattori & Chiri (1960) and Asai (1974), concluded with different results of grouping of Ainu dialects (Ono & Fukazawa 2024). In this study, data preparation for statistical research proceeded as follows: Multiple judgments and criteria were set within a single vocabulary item, enabling the construction of two datasets: one of lexical forms (item data) and one of phonological rules (regularity data). This approach was proposed and developed by Fukazawa & Ono (2025) and Ono & Fukazawa (2025). Furthermore, subtracting the phonological regularity data from the lexical item data avoided the duplication of linguistic information. This study attempts to maximize the available information on basic vocabulary by reorganizing dialect data into two feature sets, and generating new data. Lexical information was treated as composite data consisting of lexical forms and phonological regularities and was examined through statistical analysis. This approach may also open new avenues, such as how the interaction between lexical forms and phonological rules imforms both the historical development and description accounts of dialects. Ono & Fukazawa (2026) presented the results of applying statistical analysis to the data produced in this study.

紀要論文

Version of Record

2185-7121

AA12516968