Role of Question under Discussion in ambiguous sentences

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13221
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 02080:English linguistics-related
• Research Institution: Waseda 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
• Keywords: 意味論 / 語用論 / 議論中の質問 / 焦点 / 作用域 / 第二言語習得

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.

Free Research Field

言語学

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。