Research on the Historical Development of Japanese Accent and Historical Linguistics

Abstract

The study of the historical development of Japanese accent has evolved within a unique context supported by rich philological evidence and diverse regional variations. However, it has largely developed in isolation from general historical linguistic studies, exhibiting a “Galápagos syndrome.” This study acknowledges the advantages and disadvantages of independent evolution. It seeks to place the history of the Japanese accent within the broader framework of tonal languages by characterizing Japanese as a restricted tone language. The discussion will focus on key issues that arise when tracing historical changes in the Kyoto Japanese accent system from the Heian period to the present. Furthermore, it will explore how addressing these issues can contribute to cross-linguistic research on the history of tone systems.