Survey research of public signs for "Foreign Residents in Japan"

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25370587
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese language education
• Research Institution: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: HONDA HIROYUKI 北陸先端科学技術大学院大学, 先端領域基礎教育院, 教授 (70286433)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KURABAYASHI HIDEO 杏林大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (00407066) ; IWATA KAZUNARI 聖心女子大学, 文学部, 准教授 (70509067)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 公共サイン / 国際共通語としての英語 / 多言語表記 / ピクトグラム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to provide effective support to "Foreign Residents in Japan" we analyzed and studied a variety of public signs seen in Japan and foreign countries form qualitative and quantitative point of view. According to our survey, public sign can be roughly divided into three groups: (1) English oriented sign, (2) multi-lingual sign and (3) pictogram without language. Pattern (2) is widely seen in Japan but is not seen in foreign countries. We could say that this type of sign is inefficient in conveying information. On the other hand pattern (3) is widely seen in many European countries which is reasonable way as a medium for communication.

Free Research Field

社会言語学