Language Ideologies and L2 Speaker Legitimacy: Native Speaker Bias in Japan

The book explores the challenges faced by second language (L2) Japanese speakers due to their perceived legitimacy as speakers of Japanese. It examines ideologies related to three core speech styles: keigo, gendered language, and regional dialects, and how these ideologies impact L2-Japanese speakers. The author argues that speaker legitimacy is often tenuous for L2 speakers and that native speaker bias remains a persistent issue in Japan, even with the increasing number of Japanese-speaking foreign residents. The book also highlights tensions between how L2 speakers aspire to speak and how L1 speakers expect them to speak.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

This comprehensive book delves into the complex dilemmas faced by second language (L2) Japanese speakers due to ongoing challenges to their legitimacy as proficient speakers of the language. Drawing upon an ethnographic interview study conducted with L2-Japanese speakers and their L1-Japanese-speaking friends, colleagues, and significant others, the book explores the ideologies associated with three fundamental speech styles in Japanese: keigo, or polite language; gendered language; and regional dialects. Through a detailed examination of these ideologies, the author compellingly demonstrates that speaker legitimacy is often fragile for L2 speakers, highlighting the persistent issue of native speaker bias that L2-Japanese speakers encounter both in their daily lives and workplaces in Japan.

Moreover, this book goes beyond the realm of education and sheds light on the tensions between how L2 speakers aspire to communicate and how L1 speakers expect them to speak. By expanding the discussion of native speaker bias beyond academic contexts, the book offers a nuanced and insightful perspective on the experiences of L2-Japanese speakers in a multicultural society.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, educators, and language enthusiasts interested in understanding the complexities of language acquisition, language attitudes, and the intersection of language and culture. It provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by L2-Japanese speakers and contributes to the ongoing dialogue on language diversity and inclusivity.

Weight: 464g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800414648