語言分布發展的擴散論與類型論

Theories of Diffusion and Classification in Spatial Development of Language

本文站在理論地理語言學觀點，評介施密特提出「波傳論」以後，日本及西方所提的一些語言地理分布發展論，並提出新的理論。本研究提出「洪水論」，以補充「波傳論」之不足；並檢討一個新語由插入舊語分布區發展為包抄的語言空間發展連續過程階段分類的可能性。本文支持四分法，因為它最方便進行演繹法的分類。

This paper takes a theoretical geolinguistics approach. Following a review of major theories regarding the spatial development of language, this study proposes 'flood theory' to solve deficiencies in 'wave theory'. The discussion also examines the possibility of characterizing or classifying a continuum that develops when a new language variety or a new variant spreads across the territory of an earlier language from the initial stages of intrusion to later stages of outflanking. The thesis supports the four dimensional method of classification as it facilitates deductive categorization.