Western and Japanese Discourse Style in a Consensus-Building Task Discussion
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| Title: | Western and Japanese Discourse Style in a Consensus-Building Task Discussion |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Hirabayashi, Haruma, Long, Christopher |
| Source: | Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics. 2011 15(1):39-48. |
| Availability: | Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics. Department of English, Namseoul University, 21 Maeju-ri, Seonghwan-eup, Cheonan-city, Choongnam, Korea 330-707. Tel: +82-2-3290-1995; e-mail: paalkorea@yahoo.co.kr; Web site: http://www.paal.kr/journal/journal.asp |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 10 |
| Publication Date: | 2011 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Intercultural Communication, Discourse Modes, Discourse Analysis, Asians, Western Civilization, Foreign Countries, North Americans, Qualitative Research, Pragmatics, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Language Proficiency |
| Geographic Terms: | Germany, Japan |
| ISSN: | 1345-8353 |
| Abstract: | The current study analyzes discourse style differences between western and Japanese interlocutors in a group consensus-building task discussion. Four discussants (American male, Japanese male, German female and Japanese female) first created a ranking of 5 life values and then participated in a group discussion to arrive at a common group ranking. Qualitative analyses revealed (1) that the Japanese male used a strikingly greater number of backchannels and nodding compared to the other three participants; and (2) that the total number of words uttered by the Japanese female was strikingly less than the other participants. Qualitative analyses further indicated that the Japanese male utilized backchannels to fulfill a variety of functions (e.g., to express listenership, opinions, and turn management) and the Japanese female used polite or humbling expressions regarding her own English ability (i.e., "I can't speak English well"). Analyses of post-discussion evaluations revealed that the Japanese female was evaluated lower than the other participants, a finding which suggests that limited participation (and not the use of frequent backchannels) negatively impacts the psychological orientation of interlocutors in intercultural communication. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to the predictions of previous research. (Contains 3 tables.) |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 8 |
| Entry Date: | 2011 |
| Access URL: | https://www.paaljapan.org/conference/journals.html |
| Accession Number: | EJ939939 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The current study analyzes discourse style differences between western and Japanese interlocutors in a group consensus-building task discussion. Four discussants (American male, Japanese male, German female and Japanese female) first created a ranking of 5 life values and then participated in a group discussion to arrive at a common group ranking. Qualitative analyses revealed (1) that the Japanese male used a strikingly greater number of backchannels and nodding compared to the other three participants; and (2) that the total number of words uttered by the Japanese female was strikingly less than the other participants. Qualitative analyses further indicated that the Japanese male utilized backchannels to fulfill a variety of functions (e.g., to express listenership, opinions, and turn management) and the Japanese female used polite or humbling expressions regarding her own English ability (i.e., "I can't speak English well"). Analyses of post-discussion evaluations revealed that the Japanese female was evaluated lower than the other participants, a finding which suggests that limited participation (and not the use of frequent backchannels) negatively impacts the psychological orientation of interlocutors in intercultural communication. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to the predictions of previous research. (Contains 3 tables.) |
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| ISSN: | 1345-8353 |
