기후위기 시대의 재난과 언어표현 - 일본의 호우특별경보(大雨特別警報)의 발표문의 분석 -

초록

This study investigates the linguistic characteristics and chronological evolution of the “Emergency Heavy Rain Warnings” issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency from the system's inception in 2013 through 2024. Analyzing 24 announcement documents, this research employs a disaster-linguistics perspective to examine how these warnings have evolved over the past 11 years. As the severity of natural disasters intensifies due to the climate crisis, disaster communication has evolved into a performative linguistic strategy designed to prompt immediate evacuation, rather than merely stating meteorological facts. The findings reveal a significant structural and linguistic shift starting in 2019. In the early period (2013–2018), announcements were characterized by statistical indicators like “once in several decades” and abstract directives such as “take appropriate action.” Subsequently, the language transitioned toward psychological appeals and concrete instructions to directly trigger a sense of urgency, using phrases such as “unprecedented heavy rain” and “do your best to protect your life immediately.” Notably, following the integration with the “Warning Level” system in 2019, the information structure was standardized into a hierarchical format, adhering to the “conclusion-first” principle. This evolution also featured a substantial increase in “conditional action” and “immediacy-emphasizing” expressions tailored to specific contexts, such as nighttime or local geographical risks. This linguistic evolution is interpreted as a multifaceted response to several factors. Socially, it reflects lessons learned from major disasters, such as the 2018 Western Japan Floods and the 2020 Kumamoto Floods. On an institutional level, it is influenced by the implementation of the Warning Level system. Additionally, media changes, specifically the shift toward SNS-based information distribution, play a role. This study is significant because it provides empirical evidence of how disaster language has been intentionally crafted to counteract “normalcy bias” and encourage effective evacuation behaviors.

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