再読『マライ・ポリネシア諸語』 : 内容的類型学の立場から

Abstract

This article aims to reread the late Prof. Izui's book dealing with the comparative study of Malayo-Polynesian languages and their genealogical classification from the viewpoint of contensive typology. This viewpoint has been developed through a long tradition of Russian language studies, G. A. Klimov being one of the tradition's most eminent representatives. Professor Izui's description of these languages demonstrates his keen insight into language phenomena while also revealing his limitations, limitations that were quite natural given the theoretical resources of his day. The chief good of this rereading, perhaps, consists in the discovery of these very limitations. A new theory always requires revision of existing materials, and this is true of language descriptions. The rereading offered here points out clearly what must be supplemented in Professor Izui's work in order that Malayo-Polynesian languages may be more adequately described.