Abstract
This research explores the phenomenon of Japanese English (JE) as a reflection of Japanese cultural identity within the broader paradigm of World Englishes (WE). Focusing on the city of Kyoto, the study delves into how Japanese speakers' English usage exhibits distinct cultural patterns, influenced by Japan's linguistic heritage and cultural values. Using Van Manen’s phenomenological approach, the research reflects on the lived experiences of Japanese individuals engaging in English conversations, aiming to uncover the nuanced ways in which Japanese cultural patterns are expressed through language use. The study first provides an overview of JE within the WE framework, highlighting its unique phonological, lexical, syntactic, and discoursal features. It then employs Esyun Hamaguchi’s concept of Contextualism to analyze the cultural underpinnings of JE, revealing how Japanese speakers prioritize relationships and context in their communication, often employing back-channeling and topic-comment constructions that reflect their cultural norms. The findings suggest that JE is more than a mere linguistic variation; it is a legitimate variety of English that embodies Japanese cultural identity. By recognizing JE and its distinct features, Japanese speakers can communicate more effectively and confidently, preserving their cultural identity in global interactions. This study contributes to the understanding of JE as a valid form of English and underscores the importance of incorporating cultural perspectives into the study of language varieties.
Author Information
Shangjun Wu, Kyoto University, Japan
Paper Information
Conference: ECLL2024
Stream: Culture and Language
This paper is part of the ECLL2024 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Wu S. (2024) The Japaneseness of Japanese English: Thinking Through Esyun Hamaguchi’s Contextualism ISSN: 2188-112X The European Conference on Language Learning 2024: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 41-53) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2188-112X.2024.4
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2188-112X.2024.4
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