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Role of Question under Discussion in ambiguous sentences

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K13221
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Basic Section 02080:English linguistics-related
Research InstitutionWaseda University

Principal Investigator

Sugawara Ayaka  早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 准教授 (80755710)

Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Keywords意味論 / 語用論 / 議論中の質問 / 焦点 / 作用域 / 第二言語習得 / QUD / Focus / Scope / 心理言語学
Outline of Research at the Start

英語で表面上複数の解釈がありうる文は、どのような文脈で発話されるかによってどの解釈がよりふさわしいか決まってきます。日本語母語英語学習者は、そもそも複数の解釈にたどり着くのでしょうか。また、文脈によってその微妙なニュアンスを感じ取れるのでしょうか。
また、それらの英語の文を日本語に直したものは、多くの場合曖昧さを持ちません。英語母語日本語学習者は、当該の日本語文が「あいまいでない」という特徴を感じ取れるのでしょうか。
統語的な規則と違い、意味解釈は学校での語学学習では明示的に提示されることは稀です。この点に着目し、これらのトピックについて理論言語学の立場から実験を行います。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to examine the language knowledge of second language learners and clarify the existence and characteristics of Interlanguage. I investigated whether Japanese native English learners, who start learning English after the critical period, possess knowledge that is not found in input or explicit education. Since "sentence ambiguity" is not explicitly taught in educational settings, the study investigated whether this could be evidence of Interlanguage. Specifically, I focused on the interpretation of sentences containing universal quantifier and negation, as well as sentences with the focus operator "only," to look into how interpretation is influenced by QUD (Question Under Discussion). The results confirmed that English learners interpret sentences under the influence of QUD, providing evidence suggestive of the existence of Interlanguage.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果は、第二言語習得のプロセスにおいてどのような知識が自然に形成されるかを明らかにする一助となりうる。また、文脈が意味解釈に重要な役割を持っている点を明確にしており、今後の第一言語獲得・第二言語習得の分野において、文脈に着目することにより効果的な実験デザインを提案できる。今回は日本語と英語の比較であったが、同様の比較を他の言語で検証することの意義を高めると考えられる。

Report

(6 results)
  • 2023 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All 2023 2022 2021 2020

All Journal Article (1 results) Presentation (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results)

  • [Journal Article] Interpretations of scopally ambiguous sentences by Japanese L2 learners of English2023

    • Author(s)
      Ayaka Sugawara
    • Journal Title

      信学技報 (IEICE Tech. Rep.)

      Volume: vol. 123 Pages: 79-84

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Focus association in ambiguous sentences with focus sensitive operators ("only" and "always") in L2 learners of English2022

    • Author(s)
      Ayaka Sugawara
    • Organizer
      The 14th Center for English Language Education Faculty of Science and Engineering Colloquium
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Prosody-semantics link in quantifier scope: Evidence from Japanese-speaking 6-year-olds2021

    • Author(s)
      Ayaka Sugawara
    • Organizer
      Generative Approaches to Language Acquisition - North America 9
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Prosody-semantics link in quantifier scope: Evidence from Japanese-speaking 6-year-olds2020

    • Author(s)
      Ayaka Sugawara
    • Organizer
      Generative Approaches to Language Acquisition - North America 9
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2025-01-30  

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