Research on advanced Japanese language learners' awareness of speech style and its transformation process

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13076
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 02090:Japanese language education-related
• Research Institution: Naruto University of Education (2023); Hyogo University of Teacher Education (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: OKAZAKI Wataru 鳴門教育大学, 大学院学校教育研究科, 准教授 (90791070)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 日本語学習者 / スピーチスタイル / スタイルシフト / 非デスマス形 / インフォーマルスタイル / インパーソナルスタイル / 気づき

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was designed to investigate Japanese language learners (international students) newly coming to Japan to investigate their perceptions of speech styles (polite / normal form, etc.) and their transfer during stay in Japan. However, the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, the year in which the research began, and the international students who were targeted for the study were unable to come to Japan, hence the research could not proceed as planned. Therefore, we created and conducted a test to assess style perception for international students who had been to Japan before the coronavirus. We also conducted research on the actual usage of styles among native Japanese speakers. Furthermore, by extending the research period, we conducted a case study to examine changes in style perception among a small number of international students who had recently arrived in Japan.

Free Research Field

日本語教育学，社会言語学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は日本語学習者のスタイル（丁寧体／普通体など）に対する認識を調査したものである。日本語教育において，日本語習得に不可欠であるスタイルの使い分けを適切に指導するために，学習者はスタイルの社会的意味をどう理解しているのか，どのような点に困難を覚えるのかといったことを把握する必要があった。本研究では，スタイルの認識を図るテストや学習者への縦断調査を実施することで，その認識の一端を示すことができた。