田野调查与语言研究——兼谈语言田野调查的理据与注意事项

A Discussion on Fieldwork and Language Research

田野调查是语言调查研究的一个重要的方法。本文根据笔者60多年做语言田野调查的体会,以藏缅语族语言松紧元音的实地记录、景颇族支系语言属性的实地调查、新发现语言喀卓语的田野调查、濒危语言仙仁土家语田野调查这四个实例论述了语言田野调查的必要性,认为只有通过田野调查才能够获得最佳语料,才能全面系统地认识语言的特点,才能够较快发现语言结构和功能中的新问题,才能真正完成新语言和特殊语言的描写。在语言田野调查中,应该注意下沉到语言生活第一线,对调查对象有感情,在调查中勤于思考,在当地整理好调查材料。

Fieldwork is an important method of language research.Based on the author’s experience in language field investigation for more than 60 years,this paper discusses the advantages and importance of field investigation with four examples.The main points are as follows:the best corpus can only be obtained through field investigation;the characteristics of language can only be understood comprehensively and systematically in field investigation;the new problems in language structure and language function can be quickly found in field investigations;and the description of new language and special language can only be completed on site.Some problems that must be paid attention to in the field investigation are also discussed,including sinking to the front line of language communication,having feelings for the subjects,and sorting out the data locally.