How to interpret macro-ranged linguistic maps

The author was not familiar with how to interpret macro-ranged linguistic maps such as Linguistic Atlas of Asia, compared with dialect maps. The comments on ‘sun’ in Asia (Fukushima 2021) did not include maps illustrating semantic extensions and differentiation. The interpretation of ‘sibling systems’ in Asia and Africa (Fukushima 2024b) has been successful since they represent ‘linguistic patterns’ defined by Matras and Sakel (2007). The sibling systems are mapped using symbols, and the geographical distribution is utilized to interpret the order in which the system changes occurred. When working on variations of animal and plant names in Asia and Africa (Endo et al. 2024), representative forms are printed on the map without using symbols, while relevant lexical/morphological features are added using colors and/or symbols. The Atlas Linguarum Europae (Alinei et al. 1983) is consulted, and the importance of the semasiological approach and motivations is suggested. Finally, the semantic variation of ‘sun’ in Asia is reported based on Fukushima 2025. The motivational map of ‘sun’ in Asia includes basic meanings, etymological motivations, and different categorical systems. The semantic variation is shown in the maps of Asia and of each language/language group. The meaning of ‘day’ is distributed in Southeast Asia and also in the broad area of the Eurasia, and the other meanings/motivations are distributed nearby. The shift from polysemy to monosemy is illustrated with maps showing the semantic variation and the variation of compound forms.