2016 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Negotiation Strategies in cross-cultural communication
| Project/Area Number |
15K16778
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| Research Institution | Sugiyama Jogakuen University |
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Principal Investigator |
池 沙弥 椙山女学園大学, 国際コミュニケーション学部, 講師 (10738214)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | backchannel sequence / rapport / turn negotiation / stance alignment |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The significant achievement this year is the identification of thee phases in backchannel sequeces, in which more than one exchange of backchannels occur. In Japansese English, the participants not only negotiate the next speakership in such a sequence, but also build "rapport" through simultaneous backchannel exchanges. The progress was presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Pragmatics Society of Japan (PSJ), and published in the Proceedings of the PSJ as well as in the Journal of Sugiyama Jogakuen University.
Further analysis suggests that "rapport" in Japanese English may include emotional synthesizing in addition to mutual agreement/understanding. However, such rapport establishment through backchannels does not seem as important in Australian English. Rather, stance alignment seems to be the fundamental function of backchannel sequences in Australian English. That is, logical cooperation counts more than emotional sympathy in backchannel sequences. It is also evident in cross-cultural communication where Japanese participants try to establish rapport during the backchannel sequence but Australian participants merely respond to the cues as their accommodation strategies.
Thus, the equivalent notions to the use of backchannels in rapport establishment needs to be further investigated.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The analysis of Australian English revealed that backchannel sequences do not have as fundamental roles as in Japanese English, and the notion of rapport building had to be reconsidered. While Japanese English speakers clearly use backchannels as rapport building strategy, the lack of such backchannels in Australian English makes it harder to focus on particular elements in interaction as the strategy. Thus, other elements such as pause, eye gaze movement, gesture, and turn taking patterns need to be closely examined.
As a result, the analysis of cross-cultural communication had to be postponed.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Although the direction of the research was slightly modified, analysis of Japanese English and Australian English has been steadily progressing. More focus will be placed on Australian English in order to clarify the relationship between rapport establishment, stance taking, and stance affiliation.
The research progress will be summarised as a manuscript for a book.
Once the analysis of Australian English is complete, cross-cultural communication will then be closely examined in order to identify the accommodation strategies and negotiation strategies that are employed by both participants.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Transcribing was mostly done by the researcher herself, and so Personnel Expenditure was saved.
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| Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget |
It will be used as part of travel expense in order to summarise the findings with the research collaborator and to present the progress at SLE2017.
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Research Products
(4 results)
