Investigating Syntactical and Lexical Complexity in Gendered and Same-Sex Interactions

Robert W Long Iii

doi:10.5539/elt.v11n6p125

Abstract

For many sociolinguists, the issue of shyness and hesitation phenomenon has been problematic for Japanese L1 and L2 speakers, particularly in gendered interactions. Over the past decade, more Japanese are shunning conversations, relationships, and isolating themselves, which is accelerating the demographic crisis in Japan. Thus, this paper focuses on the variables concerning fluency, syntactical and lexical complexity to see if there are significant differences between gendered and same-sex interactions. It seeks to answer questions such as ‘is hesitation phenomenon more marked in gendered discourse than in same-sex interactions,’ and ‘which gender exhibits the most fluency and dysfluency?’ Results showed a significant difference in the speech between males and females in regard to speaking rates and number of words, but no significance was noted between gendered and same-sex interactions, or for the variables in lexical and syntactical complexity.

Highlights

Perhaps the most important issue for Japanese sociolinguists is how to respond to the issue of shyness and how it is impacting Japanese society
This paper focuses on the variables concerning fluency, syntactical and lexical complexity to see if there are significant differences between gendered and same-sex interactions
It seeks to answer questions such as ‘is hesitation phenomenon more marked in gendered discourse than in same-sex interactions,’ and ‘which gender exhibits the most fluency and dysfluency?’ Results showed a significant difference in the speech between males and females in regard to speaking rates and number of words, but no significance was noted between gendered and same-sex interactions, or for the variables in lexical and syntactical complexity

Summary

Introduction

Perhaps the most important issue for Japanese sociolinguists is how to respond to the issue of shyness and how it is impacting Japanese society. Japanese youth have been isolating themselves more than ever before, and are often shunning relationships, gendered ones. This reluctance to interact with others is causing a demographic time bomb with younger Japanese having little interest in marriage or having children, and seeing such relationships as troublesome and difficult. 2018 will be the year that will signal the lowest university attendees on record. This trend will have serious consequences for companies, universities, tax revenues and even for the pension system. The issue of hesitation phenomenon is an important issue to consider, and due to the lack of actual gendered interactions in schools, it is a problem that will not soon be solved

Results

Discussion

Conclusion