A basic survey on the near-merger phenomena of the consonant phonemes among various dialects of Japanese.

为了掌握日本各种方言中辅音音位近合并现象的历史条件，2001-2002年的调查从以下几个方面进行。1)对主研员已编制的数据库进行历时性调查，通过实地调研和系统分析，完成完善的数据库。2)提出并修正了关于辅音音素之间近合并现象的假设，并将该假设扩展到元音音素之间的问题。1)在已建立的数据库基础上，对鹿儿岛县间美大陆北部的菊海岛5个方言（Wan、Onotsu、Shumichi、Aden、Kamikatetsu）和间美大陆南部的濑户内4个方言（Katetsu、Doren、Ukeamuro、Yoro）进行了系统的音系研究，并利用DAT进行了高水平的数字记录。2)“天美方言中中心元音的历史分类”发表于《Kokugogaku Kenkyu （Tohoku university）》第40期，“天美方言中以冠音节辅音为前的中心元音音节的历史变化”由研究者在第307届日本语音学会年会上发表。

To grasp the historical conditions on the near-merger phenomena of the consonant phonemes in various Japanese dialects, the investigation in 2001-2002 has been excuted through the following points of view.1) diachronical survey on the data-base that the head investigator had been conpiled and completion of the sound data-base by field reseach and systematic analysis of them.2) formulation and correction of the hypothesis on the near-merger phenomena among consonant phonemes, and the expantion of the hypothesis onto the problem among vowel phonemes.As for 1), in addition to the data-base the investigator had been conpiled, a systematic phonological reseach and high-level digital recording using DAT was excuted on the 5 dialects (Wan, Onotsu, Shumichi, Aden and Kamikatetsu) in Kikai island located in north of Amami mainland in Kagoshima Pref., and 4 dialects (Katetsu, Doren, Ukeamuro and Yoro) in Setouchi districts located in south of Amami mainland.As for 2), 'The Historical Classification of the Central Vowels in Amami dialects' was published in "Kokugogaku Kenkyu (Tohoku Univ.) 40", and 'The Historical Variety of the Central-Vowel Syllables Preceded by Coronal-Siblants Consonants in Amami Dialects' was addressed by the investigator at the 307th annual conference of THE PHONETIC SOCIETY OF JAPAN.