PURPOSE: To change the definition and analysis sequences of a syntax easily, by changing the destination of a transition table.

CONSTITUTION: A KANA (Japanese syllabary) input device 2 receives a control signal from a control part 1 to send an input character string to a character string buffer 3. An analyzing device 10 refers to a transition state number in a transition table storage device 6 to retrieve the contents of dictionary storage devices 8-1W8-n. The contents of buffers 3 and 4 and a connection pointer 9 are updated successively and when KANA character strings are all analyzed, an output device 5 reads a finally obtained KANJI (Chinese character) and KANA mixed character string out of the buffer 4 and outputs it. Therefore, when definitions and analysis sequences of syntax are changed, the destination of the transition state number when it can be retrieved are changed to facilitate the changing.