A study of language variation and change in the corpus of Japanese laws and local ordinances

与以往对语言与法律关系的研究不同，我们将日本法律文本作为语言数据或语料库，并分析其语言变异和变化，以探索法律作为语言数据的可能性和局限性。我们分析了沙恩动词词形变化，这一现象已经引起了许多前人的研究。一些sahen动词表现出sahen-和godan-类型的变化（例如，zokus-inai/zokus-anai表示“不属于”），而另一些则表现出sahen-和kamiichidan-类型的变化（例如，ronz-uru/ronz-iru表示“讨论”）。对14个高频动词的分析表明，高频动词不仅在不同法律之间存在差异，在同一年颁布的法律之间甚至同一法律内部也存在差异。因此，结果最优雅地表明，这种变化远远低于立法者和官僚的意识（即，从低到低的变化）。使用跟踪修订历史的法律数据库，我们还证明了在过去10年里，一些sahen动词显示出明显的变化。对于控制变异的内部因素，我们发现至少sahen型和godan型共轭之间的变化与以往的研究报告一样受到了很好的约束。

Unlike preceding inquiries into the relationship between language and law, we used the text of Japanese law as language data or corpus, and analyzed the linguistic variation and change exhibited to explore the possibilities and limitations of law as language data. We analyzed alternations in the verbal conjugation of sahen verbs, a phenomenon which has already drawn a number of preceding studies. Some sahen verbs show alternation between sahen- and godan-type conjugation (e.g., zokus-inai/zokus-anai `do not belong'), while others show alternation between sahen- and kamiichidan-type conjugation (e.g., ronz-uru/ronz-iru `to discuss'). An analysis of 14 high-frequency verbs showed that, not only does the variation exist among different laws, it also exists between laws promulgated in the same year and even within the very same law. As such, the result most elegantly demonstrates that the variation is well below the consciousness of the lawmakers and bureaucrats (i.e., change from be low). Using a law database that traces revision histories, we also demonstrated that some of the sahen verbs show a clear change over the past 10 years. As for internal factors controlling the variation, it was found that at least the alternation between sahen and godan-type conjugation is constrained nicely in the same way as has been reported in the previous studies.