the Formative Process of "Verbal Character" among Japanese Language Learners

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12895
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Japanese language education
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO Yoshino 琉球大学, グローバル教育支援機構, 講師 (50468071)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OTANI Takashi 名古屋大学, 教育発達科学研究科, 教授 (50128162) ; SADANOBU Toshiyuki 京都大学, 大学院文学研究科, 教授 (50235305)
• Research Collaborator: MOUTON Ghislain 沖縄国際大学, 非常勤講師 ; TAKEMOTO Toshio フランス国立リール第三大学
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: キャラクタ / キャラ / 質的研究 / SCAT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We explored the process and the background of the second language learners' acquisition of the "character" (Kyara) in the target language by qualitative analysis of their life stories, utilizing SCAT (SCAT Steps for Coding and Theorization). The characters are acquired through massive input and output of the target language with diverse and complicated psychological factors as background, unnoticed by the learner himself. Relationships with parents from early childhood or self-denying experiences in society (school) can be major factors.
It is plausible to think that second language acquisition can present an opportunity to change some unwanted aspect of self as represented in the first language or to complement the elements perceived as lacking in the self, while second language acquisition often involves changes in characters in order to be "perceived as desirable".

Free Research Field

第二言語習得