A Contrastive Study of Emotional Expression in Japanese and Chinese: From Prefferred Language Forms to Style of Communication

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02775
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Kagoshima Prefectural College
• Principal Investigator: YANG HONG 鹿児島県立短期大学, その他部局等【文学科(日本語日本文学専攻、英語英文学専攻),生活科学科(食物栄養専攻、生活科学専攻),商経学科(経済専攻、経営情報専攻),第二部商経学科】, 教授 (20571607)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 遠山 千佳 立命館大学, 法学部, 教授 (40383400)
• Research Collaborator: KURATA Kaya ; LIU Na
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 日中対照 / 日本語教育 / 談話分析 / 言語行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study compares expressions of emotion in Japanese and Chinese as exemplified by interjections, terms of address, and signs of dissatisfaction.
There are remarkable differences in how Japanese and Chinese express dissatisfaction to others. One difference is that, while Japanese express dissatisfaction using forms whose meaning is implicit, Chinese speakers do so in a way that calls upon addressees to respond. This suggests that Chinese speakers are more inclined to seek feedback. In addition, Chinese speakers appeal to the addressees’ emotions by making more frequent use of direct address. Moreover, the use of interjections in Chinese and Japanese conversation varies widely. Whereas Japanese speakers employ certain interjections to express surprise as a way of conveying interest in what their conversation partners have said, Chinese use them to elicit others’ interest in the things they recount.

Free Research Field

対照研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、同じ感情を表現する際の日本語と中国語の言語形式の異同を明らかにし、それぞれの言語類型的特徴及び文化的側面を考察した。日中対照研究の分野において、感動詞や呼びかけ語など実証的に両言語の相違を示した研究は少なく、本研究は先駆的といえる。また、本研究で得られた知見は、日中異文化間理解やコミュニケーション研究に寄与し、日本語教育・中国語教育といった言語教育に還元できる。