In this thesis, I will address the following research question: Do sarcastic and hiniku utterances without humoristic intent exist? I will explore the relationship between sarcasm, irony and humor...Show moreIn this thesis, I will address the following research question: Do sarcastic and hiniku utterances without humoristic intent exist? I will explore the relationship between sarcasm, irony and humor and hiniku and humor. More often than not, sarcastic utterances are known to have humoristic intent and make the listener and any outside observers laugh by playfully making fun of the listener, i.e. making a joke. Hiniku, the closest Japanese equivalent of sarcasm, has similar aspects for it makes fun of the addressee by criticizing him or her. I want to find out whether sarcasm and hiniku can be used without humoristic intent, i.e. the speaker does not want to be funny when he or she says something sarcastic or hiniku.Show less
Between 2003 and 2006, the Gairaigo Committee, part of the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL), released the Proposal for paraphrasing loanwords, which advocates the...Show moreBetween 2003 and 2006, the Gairaigo Committee, part of the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL), released the Proposal for paraphrasing loanwords, which advocates the usage of Japanese paraphrases for 176 poorly understood loanwords. In the creation of this proposal, the committee prioritized an emphasis on the function of language (i.e., communication problems caused by loanwords) rather than an emphasis on tradition (i.e., ideological issues caused by loanwords). While this is true on an official level, an interview with a key member of the former committee suggests the conceivability that some of its members personally feared the corruption of the Japanese language and culture by loanwords. This outcome has led to an analysis of how Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, two ideologically distinct newspaper companies represented in the committee, have dealt with the loanwords in NINJAL’s proposal. The research mainly involved a diachronic study of the words between 1995 and 2019 and a comparison of the two newspapers in this regard. The target words show significant differences according to newspaper, as there is an overall tendency of increasing usage in (the more progressive) Asahi Shimbun, while (the more conservative) Yomiuri Shimbun shows a decrease. However, in many cases, it is difficult to associate these changes with NINJAL’s proposal directly. The analysis concludes that there is no clear indication for a relation between the implementation of loanword policy and political ideology.Show less
In this thesis, I looked at how language can affect one's personality. The study focussed on bilingual speakers of Japanese, English and Dutch. Participants took the MBTI personality test in their...Show moreIn this thesis, I looked at how language can affect one's personality. The study focussed on bilingual speakers of Japanese, English and Dutch. Participants took the MBTI personality test in their first and second language. Results were compared to look for changes in their personality. No significant differences were found between taking the test in their first and second language. Results showed some Jungian functions were more dominant in second language than in first language.Show less
This thesis further explores the concept of prosodic minimums, as laid out by Itou et al., by accounting for anime title abbreviations within the established theory. Research performed led to the...Show moreThis thesis further explores the concept of prosodic minimums, as laid out by Itou et al., by accounting for anime title abbreviations within the established theory. Research performed led to the preliminary conclusion that the majority of anime title abbreviations adhered to the established prosodic minimums, although in a small set of instances they did not. To account for this, an interdisciplinary approach was taken by involving theories surrounding brand linguistics and sound-associative vocabulary (such as onomatopoeia), which led to speculative findings aptly suited for future research.Show less
In this study, conceptual transfer among the conceptualization of liquid containers of Dutch/Japanese bilingual users when using their first language (L1) has been examined. A naming task was...Show moreIn this study, conceptual transfer among the conceptualization of liquid containers of Dutch/Japanese bilingual users when using their first language (L1) has been examined. A naming task was performed with adult Dutch monolingual users, Japanese monolingual users and Dutch/Japanese bilingual users. No statistical evidence could be found of bilingual users to significantly differ from their monolingual counterparts during a naming task in their L1. Therefore, according to this study, it seems unlikely that bilingual participants undergo strong effects of backwards transfer. Nevertheless, there were indications of small-scale effects of conceptual transfer which could provide an interesting starting point for future research on conceptual transfer among Dutch/Japanese bilinguals.Show less
In this paper, it is argued that the sarcastic use of Japanese honorifics can be seen as further support for a view held within the discursive approach to linguistic politeness. The discursive...Show moreIn this paper, it is argued that the sarcastic use of Japanese honorifics can be seen as further support for a view held within the discursive approach to linguistic politeness. The discursive approach, in reaction to and competing with both a Brown & Levinsonian and a cultural relativist approach to politeness, is argued to best account for the creative use of polite forms by individuals. In contrast to the other two, this approach allows for a constructivist view that empowers the individual language user with the agency to create her own social reality through deliberate language choices. It is further argued that a helpful notion regarding honorifics use – their default reading – is essential for allowing instances of honorific use to be evaluated as sarcastic, as opposed to ‘polite.’Show less
Is the Hypothesis of Granularity and Transparency sufficient in explaining dyslexia as a worldwide phenomenon? This thesis challenges the hypothesis that has dominated the field of dyslexia...Show moreIs the Hypothesis of Granularity and Transparency sufficient in explaining dyslexia as a worldwide phenomenon? This thesis challenges the hypothesis that has dominated the field of dyslexia research for two decades. Based on an extensive literature review and evidence from other fields, the author attempts to create an overview of this multidisciplinary inquiry. By questioning the presented evidence of this hypothesis, the author argues against the hypothesis and offers perspectives for future research. One perspective the author suggests would be research on multiple orthographies in Japanese and their switch cost, as research on this topic provides insight on how orthography is processed. This clarifies the relationship of orthography and the dyslexia more accurately than the current hypothesis.Show less
This thesis contains the research for a teaching method of teaching Japanese pitch-accent to Dutch students which language is stress based, between the age of 12-18 years. It compares 3 existing...Show moreThis thesis contains the research for a teaching method of teaching Japanese pitch-accent to Dutch students which language is stress based, between the age of 12-18 years. It compares 3 existing methods for a different motherlanguage but with the same target language of Japanese, to criteria that have been constructed by using literature research and the pedagogical framework of Pawlak (2011). The existing teaching method of Hirano Cook (2011) was best suited for teaching the pitch-accent to the target age group and was used in order to make a theoretical good teaching method for the Dutch students. The main adjustments to the teaching method of Hirano Cook, consists of using phonological features of the stress-accent and creating a positive transfer to the Japanese pitch-accent.Show less
In recent years, the number of people, both students and adults, learning Japanese has been on the rise throughout the world. With such a fast development, problems and issues concerning both the...Show moreIn recent years, the number of people, both students and adults, learning Japanese has been on the rise throughout the world. With such a fast development, problems and issues concerning both the acquisition of the Japanese language and the teaching method used have become evident. In particular one of the most challenging features of the language has noticeably been detected in the two particles wa and ga. Those two particles, having mainly the function of theme and subject markers, represent an intriguing point for scholars and students alike. Their uses have been at the center of analysis for many years and many linguists have devoted a huge part of their research to inspect their most debated aspects. Researches have focused on different functions each particle can assume and, how their usages can influence the general meaning of a sentence. From Kuno‟s The structure of the Japanese language, considered to be the cornerstone in the field, many different angles of analysis have been used to describe these two particles. Wa and ga are an interesting point of analysis inasmuch as their distinction is vague and subtle both for learners and for Japanese native speakers. Hence, with my research I would like to analyze this issue more in depth, producing evidences of a link between teaching method and particles errors. Through the analysis of written production by L2 Japanese learners, this research confirmed previous findings. It demonstrated a link between classroom instruction and errors in particles usage, calling for much needed reform in Japanese second language teaching.Show less
In this thesis we take a closer look at Role Language. We compare the speech style of Hero characters in Japanese Manga to those of Villains characters in order to identify the characteristics of...Show moreIn this thesis we take a closer look at Role Language. We compare the speech style of Hero characters in Japanese Manga to those of Villains characters in order to identify the characteristics of those Villain characters. These characteristics eventually form what we will call Villain Speech 悪役語 'akuyakugo'.Show less
This research looks at Dutch and Japanese newspapers describing Donald Trump’s victory and possible consequences, focusing on the use of evaluative language. The parameter approach of Bednarek ...Show moreThis research looks at Dutch and Japanese newspapers describing Donald Trump’s victory and possible consequences, focusing on the use of evaluative language. The parameter approach of Bednarek (2006) and Bednarek and Caple (2012) was used to look at the evaluative language. Differences and similarities were found while comparing the news articles. This result could be due to several aspects, however more research is necessary to explain this.Show less
In this study, a comparison is made between dyslexia as experienced by both L1 and L2 speakers. In addition, L1 dyslexia in English, German, Hebrew and Hindi is compared with L1 dyslexia in Japanese.
Currently, there are three main systems of rōmaji that are used in Japan (Gottlieb 2010, 78), although oftentimes these systems are mixed or slightly modified by their users, as this thesis will...Show moreCurrently, there are three main systems of rōmaji that are used in Japan (Gottlieb 2010, 78), although oftentimes these systems are mixed or slightly modified by their users, as this thesis will demonstrate. With these various ways to transliterate the Japanese language, one might expect that confusion occurs in the actual use of romanization. In fact, many researchers have written in support of or against certain systems of romanization. In this thesis, I will consider the issue of romanization against the backdrop of Japan’s language and education policy and the attitudes of the users of romanization. I will examine whether and to what extent the existence of multiple romanization systems is problematic, and to see whether (if at all desired) a solution can be proposed.Show less
This paper examines patterns in Dutch and Japanese regarding how motion is expressed. The basis for this research was performed by Talmy (1985). He argued in his article that languages could be...Show moreThis paper examines patterns in Dutch and Japanese regarding how motion is expressed. The basis for this research was performed by Talmy (1985). He argued in his article that languages could be divided based upon where manner and path are expressed in the sentence. According to Talmy the verb-framed languages use their verbs primarily to express their verbs to express path, while satellite-framed languages use satellites to indicate path and use their verbs to show how an action is performed. Due to this article receiving a fair amount of criticism, I have looked into this two-sided way of dividing. By comparing literature I have established a field of what sentence constructions and patterns I am looking for. For gathering data I have chosen to use novels. The clauses I found that fit with the view provided by the literature were my data pool. By analyzing the data there shows a tendency that Dutch behaves according to the theory of Talmy. Japanese however does not conform to this view. Rather, Japanese uses a wider variety of grammatical constructions to express path and manner.Show less
This thesis has two major purposes: (1) to identify and determine what the preferred translation methods are for Japanese mimetics in the official English translated version of the manga Azumanga...Show moreThis thesis has two major purposes: (1) to identify and determine what the preferred translation methods are for Japanese mimetics in the official English translated version of the manga Azumanga Daiō, and (2) to investigate whether the translations of Japanese mimetics found in the the English edition of the manga sufficiently convey the sound-meaning correlations, which are established by previous studies. The thesis is divided as follows. First, a theoretical framework regarding the sound-meaning correlations of Japanese mimetics is provided. This is followed by the analysis, which consists of two parts. In the first part, the results of the quantitative analysis of Japanese mimetics and their translation methods are presented. The results show that giongo are often translated into equivalent sounds by using existing mimetics. Gitaigo and gijōgo, on the other hand, are usually translated into words that can be divided into multiple translation methods (hybrids). In the second part, the qualitative analysis investigates whether the translations of the Japanese mimetics found in the English edition of the manga Azumanga Daiō are true to their original meaning. That is, whether they sufficiently convey the established sound-meaning correlations of their Japanese counterparts. The results show that in this manga, this is not always sufficiently done. Thus, the translations run the risk of missing nuances, resulting in loss or undertranslation.Show less
