Pragmatic comprehension development in intermediate Japanese learners: A longitudinal study
Main Article Content
Abstract
This paper examines how L2 Japanese pragmatic comprehension of hedged indirect speech develops in intermediate second language learners and investigates the impact of social contact on acquisition. A longitudinal study was conducted using accuracy scores, reaction times from pragmatic listening tests, and learner self-reports. Qualitative and quantitative analyses suggest that (1) more accurate and faster processing of indirect speech intentions is associated with longer stays in the target language environment, and (2) learners develop accuracy in comprehending indirect speech intentions before they improve processing speed. The results also indicate that both the quality and frequency of social contact play important roles in acquiring pragmatic comprehension skills, as learners with more intensive social contact show greater improvement. These findings support the idea that pragmatic competence development is closely related to language socialization.
Keywords: comprehension skills; implicatures; L2 Japanese; longitudinal study; pragmatic development
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (SeeThe Effect of Open Access).