Doshisha University's Faculty of Cultural and Information Studies aims to create "comprehensive knowledge" through an integrated liberal arts and sciences learning style that involves the impartial and cross-disciplinary study of a variety of humanities and science subjects.

This time, we spoke in detail with Associate Professor Hoshi Hidehito of the Theoretical Linguistics Laboratory, who is in charge of the courses "Science of Language," "Syntax," and "Language and Neuroscience."

The world of "theoretical linguistics" that studies "language" that exists in our daily lives from various angles

In our daily lives, the "language" we speak is so commonplace that we don't usually pay it much attention. So what on earth happens in our minds when a string of symbols made up of individual words is made into a sentence, and we speak and understand it? The study of this mechanism is what Associate Professor Hoshi is researching, known as "theoretical linguistics."

"For example, 'Taro is(I.e.When a native speaker of Japanese hears the sentence, "Taro repaired the car. Jiro also repaired the car," they can interpret it by mentally filling in the gaps and saying that what Jiro repaired was a "car," even if it is not said, "Jiro also repaired the car." Next,My carWhat about the sentence, "Jiro also repaired his car." In this case, what Jiro repaired can be interpreted in two ways: "Taro's car" and "Jiro's car." However, "Taro repaired his car."My carWhen the sentence is spoken with the abbreviation "Jiro repaired his car. Jiro also repaired his car," the only interpretation possible is that what Jiro repaired was "Jiro's car." This is a very strange phenomenon. When the abbreviation is used and you fill it in in your head, there are two interpretations, but when it is spoken without the abbreviation, only one interpretation is possible. This is something that native speakers of Japanese can easily determine without being taught by anyone, but if asked why this is the case, many people would be at a loss for an answer. Clarifying why this is the case is what "theoretical linguistics" is all about.

In fact, some languages ​​are similar to each other despite being completely different, and conversely, some languages ​​have unique characteristics that are only found in that one language. For example, Turkish and Hungarian are considered to be languages ​​with relatively free word order, just like Japanese. Japanese also shares a commonality with Spanish and Italian in that they both have the characteristic of being able to omit the subject. On the other hand, it has also been pointed out that Japanese has unique passive sentences that are not found in other languages. In "theoretical linguistics," we also conduct research to clarify the general characteristics of languages ​​by comparing them with various languages ​​in this way.

Acquire through the study of linguistics
Fine observation and logical thinking

"In linguistics, I teach three classes: 'The Science of Language' for first-year students, 'Syntax' for second-year students, and 'Language and Neuroscience' for third-year students. Because the subject of research is language, something that is so familiar to us and so natural, it requires meticulous observation skills and the ability to ask fundamental questions about why things are the way they are. It is also essential to have the ability to consider and discuss various hypotheses. I am convinced that the observation skills and logical thinking cultivated through this language research training will be of great help in the real world, too, in identifying problems that need to be solved, providing new ideas, and solving problems through logical processes."