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Loanword compound truncation in Japanese: A study on Japanese learners’ understanding of loanword abbreviations

Bergman Engman, Axel LU (2018) JAPK11 20181
Japanese Studies
Abstract
In this study, the comprehension of English loanword truncations in Japanese will be investigated. Both Japanese native speakers and learners of Japanese will display their ability to truncate different kinds of gairaigo compound loanwords. I wanted to find out how native Japanese speakers and learners of the Japanese language compared in the truncating process. I found out that Japanese natives and experienced learners of Japanese performed similarly when they made regular double truncations and truncations stemming from words with the moraic N. Nonetheless, when the higher ranked constraints were involved in truncations, both Japanese natives and learners of Japanese faced difficulties. Japanese native speakers only had a small... (More)
In this study, the comprehension of English loanword truncations in Japanese will be investigated. Both Japanese native speakers and learners of Japanese will display their ability to truncate different kinds of gairaigo compound loanwords. I wanted to find out how native Japanese speakers and learners of the Japanese language compared in the truncating process. I found out that Japanese natives and experienced learners of Japanese performed similarly when they made regular double truncations and truncations stemming from words with the moraic N. Nonetheless, when the higher ranked constraints were involved in truncations, both Japanese natives and learners of Japanese faced difficulties. Japanese native speakers only had a small advantage. To my surprise, this made me learn that Japanese native speakers are only able to instinctively make truncations that follow applied rules under the right circumstances, that is, when long vowels, English diphthongs and geminates are not a part of the input words in the truncation, with only very few exceptions. Meanwhile, Japanese native speakers were the only participants who could successfully notice and provide their own truncated answers to trick questions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bergman Engman, Axel LU
supervisor
organization
course
JAPK11 20181
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Truncation, long vowel, light syllabic truncation, geminate, moraic nasal, English diphthong, light syllable, heavy syllable, contiguity, prosodic word, mora, gairaigo, loanword, constraint
language
English
id
8954985
date added to LUP
2018-08-09 14:26:02
date last changed
2018-08-09 14:26:02
@misc{8954985,
  abstract     = {{In this study, the comprehension of English loanword truncations in Japanese will be investigated. Both Japanese native speakers and learners of Japanese will display their ability to truncate different kinds of gairaigo compound loanwords. I wanted to find out how native Japanese speakers and learners of the Japanese language compared in the truncating process. I found out that Japanese natives and experienced learners of Japanese performed similarly when they made regular double truncations and truncations stemming from words with the moraic N. Nonetheless, when the higher ranked constraints were involved in truncations, both Japanese natives and learners of Japanese faced difficulties. Japanese native speakers only had a small advantage. To my surprise, this made me learn that Japanese native speakers are only able to instinctively make truncations that follow applied rules under the right circumstances, that is, when long vowels, English diphthongs and geminates are not a part of the input words in the truncation, with only very few exceptions. Meanwhile, Japanese native speakers were the only participants who could successfully notice and provide their own truncated answers to trick questions.}},
  author       = {{Bergman Engman, Axel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Loanword compound truncation in Japanese: A study on Japanese learners’ understanding of loanword abbreviations}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}