A Research on Phonemic System Changes in the Dialects with Central Vowels

2003年，对夜山方言之一的Hateruma方言进行了实地研究。研究发现，前中下元音和中中下元音之间的音位对比变得模糊。此外，前中低元音和中高元音的音位对比也变得模糊，名词和主格助词的相互同化减少，在调研访谈中很难听清。第二个音节顶部的浊辅音的清音比以前少了。Hateruma方言的声音数据被记录在数字录像带和数字录音带上。2004年，田野调查在竹岛方言进行，也是八山方言之一。高前元音和高中元音之间的区别不是很明显。中央元音不再存在于该方言的音位系统中。清音停顿在由清音辅音和高元音构成的单词的首音节之后，通常是声门化的。这种倾向因举报人的不同而不同。据报道，除了与那古尼方言外，琉原南部方言中没有声门化辅音。但在此次田野调查中，塔克托米方言中的声门化辅音得到了证实。用数码摄像机和数字录音机记录了竹岛方言音位系统的主要特征，并在2005年对羽间方言和竹岛方言的数据进行了精确的对比分析。考虑到这些岛屿的居民数量和地理位置，高富岛的方言面临着比哈特鲁马岛更严重的灭绝危险。因此，决定先将竹叶方言的声音资料制作成CD，并复制300份。

In 2003, filed work research was carried out in Hateruma dialect., one of the Yaeyama dialects. It was observed that phonemic contrast between front- lower-mid vowel and central-lower-mid vowel is becoming ambiguous. And also, phonemic contrast between front-lower-mid vowel and high-central vowel is becoming ambiguous.Mutual assimilation of noun and subjective case particle is decreasing and getting difficult to hear in the research interviews. Devoicing of the voiced consonants at the top of the second syllable tend to be less than before.The sound data of Hateruma dialect was recorded in the digital video tapes and digital audio tapes.In 2004, field work was carried out in Taketomi dialect, also one of the Yaeyama dialects. Distinction between high-front vowel and high-central vowel is not clearly bearable. Central vowel does not exist in the phonemic system of this dialect any longer.Voiceless stops, following the word initial syllable which structure is a voiceless consonant and a high vowel, are often glottalized. This tendency varies depending on the individual informant. It has been reported by researchers that there is no glottalized consonants in South Ryukyuan dialects except for Yonaguni dialect. But in this field work research, glottalized consonants are confirmed in Taketomi dialect. The main features of phonemic system of Taketomi dialect were recorded with digital video cameras and digital audio tape recorders.In 2005, the data of Hateruma dialect and Takedomi dialect were compared and analyzed precisely. Considering the numbers of the inhabitants and geographical positions of these islands, the dialect of Takatomi island is endangered to extinguish more seriously than that of Hateruma island. Therefore it was decided to make CD of the sound data of Taketomi dialect first, and 300 copies were made.