Multilingual Society Japan:Enhancement of Language Support for Foreign Residents and Measures to Take for its Spread Based on Realization of the Actual Conditions of Support

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26370740
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: Saito Sanae 東海大学, 文学部, 教授 (80298075)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KAWAHRA Toshiaki 岐阜女子大学, 文化創造学部, 教授 (20204753)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 言語支援 / 多言語社会 / 多言語・多文化化 / 外国人住民 / 普及策 / 平易な英語

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study has explored how simplified English could be practical for foreign residents in Japan. The
results show that many participants report that although the recent automatic translation systems in different languages can be obtained more easily than before, they have difficulties in understanding necessary information. This study suggests a way in which language support could be improved, namely, by providing support in simplified English. For those foreign residents who have little command of the Japanese language, and moreover, are not native English speakers, simplified English could help to fill the gap in native language support. Some parameters for simplified English were offered in this study. To provide language support that meets the needs of foreign residents for active participation in society, roles of simplified English as a multicultural language should be more examined from multidimensional perspectives for further exploration of the promising language.

Free Research Field

外国語教育・教授法