Japanese Students' Honorific Language Use

Presenter Information

Laura Berg, Minnesota State University - Mankato

Location

CSU 202

Start Date

20-4-2015 10:00 AM

End Date

20-4-2015 11:00 AM

Student's Major

Anthropology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Chelsea Mead

Mentor's Email Address

chelsea.mead@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Anthropology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

In an age of increased transportation allowing individuals to traverse immense geographies, travelers are also interacting with an expansive diversity of cultures and languages. Understandings of language and linguistic practices are sometimes altered for individuals after a period of exposure to different cultures and languages. This study concerns the Japanese language and its interesting dynamic of honorific language. As the younger Japanese generations travel abroad, older Japanese generations have expressed concern that younger generations may decrease their use of honorific language. This study investigates the possible correlation between study abroad and cross-cultural experiences of Japanese youth ranging from ages 20 to 24 and explores a central question: "Does the frequency that a Japanese student travels abroad affect their use of Japanese honorific language?” Drawing upon oral interviews with a group of Japanese students, this research presents a qualitative study of interest to international students and those engaged in international cultural exchange. A part of this research presentation will presented in Japanese.