Perception and Modification: A Pragmatic Study of Irai Hyougen by Japanese Learners

Abstract

This research focused on describing how perceptions about the degree of imposition are manifested in requests in Japanese used by learners and how these perceptions are translated into choices of pragmatic modification. Through qualitative methods using the discourse completion test, it is known that perceptions of the degree of an imposition when requesting something are not manifested into the choice of request type used by learners. Instead, it is more visible from the variation in the choice of syntactic patterns used in request expression. The perception of the degree of imposition translated into a choice of external and internal pragmatic modifications. Although learners have varying perceptions of the degree of imposition for the same request, it does not appear that learners differentiate the choice of pragmatic modification based on the heaviness of the request’s imposition.

Discourse Structure Analysis of Making Request in Japanese Conversation

“…Therefore, the choice of expressions or linguistic forms used during making request interactions must consider the status of the interlocutor, the social distance between the speaker and the interlocutor, and the degree of imposition of the requested object (Brown & Levinson, 1978). These three factors, particularly in Japanese requests, should be considered when making a request speech (Indraswari, Meisa, Rachmawati, & Ariyani, 2021).…”

“…The tenor of making a request is about the relational distance between participants, which showed differences in power or superior-inferior relationships (jooge kankei) such as superiorsubordinate, teacher-student, senior-junior, expertnot expert; and the degree of closeness (closeness, familiarity) between participants. Honorific and various types of language (formal or informal) indicate that the tenor influences linguistic choices in request speech (Indraswari, Meisa, Rachmawati, & Ariyani, 2021). As for the mode of communication, requests can be made in person or through a media/device, such as telephone calls.…”