A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese

Although the topic of second person pronouns as a whole has received a lot of attention, there has been no research done on the Japanese learner’s use of them. While the correct use of second person pronouns can help to deepen the bonds between the Japanese learner and the employees in the Japanese...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tan, Zhi Xian
Other Authors: Stefanie Alexa Stadler
Format: Final Year Project (FYP)
Language:English
Published: 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/69174
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author Tan, Zhi Xian
author2 Stefanie Alexa Stadler
author_facet Stefanie Alexa Stadler
Tan, Zhi Xian
author_sort Tan, Zhi Xian
collection NTU
description Although the topic of second person pronouns as a whole has received a lot of attention, there has been no research done on the Japanese learner’s use of them. While the correct use of second person pronouns can help to deepen the bonds between the Japanese learner and the employees in the Japanese company, the wrong use of pronouns will surely offend them. This study compares the use of four second person pronouns, anata, omae, kimi, and anta, by native and non-native speakers of Japanese through the use of questionnaires, and reveals the second person pronouns used by non-native speakers of Japanese for the first time. Overall, a trend has been observed where male non-native speakers of Japanese who have high levels of Japanese proficiency, as well as female non-native speakers of Japanese who had previously attended an exchange program in Japan, use a wider variety of second person pronouns. Following, three deviations from past research on the use of kimi and anata by female native Japanese speakers were found as well. Findings from this study can help Japanese companies to mitigate their expectations of potential employees, and take suitable steps to pre-emptively solve any foreseeable problems that may arise.
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spelling ntu-10356/691742019-12-10T14:02:24Z A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese Tan, Zhi Xian Stefanie Alexa Stadler School of Humanities and Social Sciences DRNTU::Humanities Although the topic of second person pronouns as a whole has received a lot of attention, there has been no research done on the Japanese learner’s use of them. While the correct use of second person pronouns can help to deepen the bonds between the Japanese learner and the employees in the Japanese company, the wrong use of pronouns will surely offend them. This study compares the use of four second person pronouns, anata, omae, kimi, and anta, by native and non-native speakers of Japanese through the use of questionnaires, and reveals the second person pronouns used by non-native speakers of Japanese for the first time. Overall, a trend has been observed where male non-native speakers of Japanese who have high levels of Japanese proficiency, as well as female non-native speakers of Japanese who had previously attended an exchange program in Japan, use a wider variety of second person pronouns. Following, three deviations from past research on the use of kimi and anata by female native Japanese speakers were found as well. Findings from this study can help Japanese companies to mitigate their expectations of potential employees, and take suitable steps to pre-emptively solve any foreseeable problems that may arise. Bachelor of Arts 2016-11-14T04:15:39Z 2016-11-14T04:15:39Z 2016 Final Year Project (FYP) http://hdl.handle.net/10356/69174 en Nanyang Technological University 58 p. application/pdf
spellingShingle DRNTU::Humanities
Tan, Zhi Xian
A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese
title A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese
title_full A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese
title_fullStr A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese
title_full_unstemmed A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese
title_short A comparison between the use of Japanese second-person pronouns by native and non-native speakers of Japanese
title_sort comparison between the use of japanese second person pronouns by native and non native speakers of japanese
topic DRNTU::Humanities
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/69174
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