Providing new methods for teaching Japanese speech communication for learners of Japanese as L2: Developing teaching materials using MRI-movies and natural speech data

Abstract

It is critical to provide people learning Japanese as a second language information about natural speech, since there is wide variability of articulation and speaking styles associated with various social attitudes and/or expressions in Japanese. For developing teaching materials for English and Chinese learners of Japanese as a second language, two new methods are demonstrated. One utilizes MRI-movies that dynamically demonstrate differences among vowel articulations in Japanese, English, and Chinese. This approach is effective for teaching good pronunciation, especially with regard to consonant cluster production, since the timing of the articulation for consonant clusters is visibly presented. The other is audio-visual data of natural speech in Japanese that demonstrate several typical expressions, e.g., wry face and strained (laryngealized) voice for asking favors politely. This type of material shows not only variations of speech communication in Japanese but also cultural differences among native speakers of Japanese, English, and Chinese. [Work supported by MEXT.]