抄録
This paper presents results of a quantitative diachronic analysis of how abbreviations are used in modern written Japanese. “Asahi Newspaper Corpus” texts (23 years) were used to observe quantitative relations between abbreviations and original long words. As a result, 4 types of relations (tendencies) were found
.
1. Abbreviations are now used as main variants in priority to long words (“risutora”
/ “risutorakutyaringu”).
2. Abbreviations replace their full variants gradually (“kombini” / “kombiniensu sutoa”).
3. Abbreviations are used more frequently, than before, but still do not replace the long word (“keitai” / “keitai denwa”).
4. Abbreviation appearance frequency increases and decreases irregularly. (“supakon” / “su:pa: kompyu:ta:”, “to:shin” / “to:shi shintaku”).
The above examples demonstrate peculiarities of abbreviation use in newspaper register. In some cases abbreviations like “risutora” show similar tendencies as in colloquial usage, while low usage ratio of “keitai” reflects tendencies usually seen in written language. At the same time, “kombini” reveals peculiarities of language use in different sections of newspaper (“Opinion” etc). Changes in usage frequency of “supakon” and “to:shin” are relevant to topicality degree of their referents.
We managed to examine only 4 types of relations. This research requires more abbreviations to be analyzed in order for the abbreviation use typology to be approved.
https://ror.org/035t8zc32 
