The aim of this paper is to analyze the Japanese proficiency and language use in daily life and “newcomers” to Japan. For the most part, newcomers do not attend or may not have access to classes for Japanese language learning, and therefore acquire oral communicative ability in Japanese through natural interaction. Some newcomers can speak Japanese fluently, but most lack Japanese literacy skills and can therefore neither read nor write Japanese. Consequently it is difficult for newcomers to use public transportation, and the range of occupations available is limited, and their lives are relatively constrained. However, most newcomers seem to lead stable lives and therefore lack motivation to learn written Japanese. In this study, newcomers were interviewed concerning their daily lives and attitudes toward written Japanese. Analysis revealed that newcomers navigate daily life without the use of written Japanese by acquiring information from friends and others through conversation. They employ an avoidance strategy when it comes to written Japanese. Through this strategy they are able to solve the problems presented by daily life. Unfortunately, the more they employ this strategy, they less likely it is that they will be able to acquire literacy skills in Japanese. As a result, it gradually becomes difficult for newcomers to live independently and to participate more widely in the Japanese community.
日本語の書き言葉をめぐるニューカマーのストラテジー
言語研究33-4.pdf
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