The indexical field and pragmatics learning
Interpretations of the Japanese particle zo among first and second language speakers
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19219971 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Joy Maa (0000-0002-7299-8119, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 262 |
| Pages | 15-27 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Pragmatics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0378-2166 • E-ISSN: 1879-1387 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.pragma.2026.05.008 |
| OpenAlex | W7164856831 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 32 |
This study examines the indexical meanings that first (L1) and second language (L2) speakers of Japanese assign to the sentence-final particle zo , traditionally considered a feature of men’s speech. Specifically, the study examines both direct indexical meanings (interactional stances) and the indirect indexical relation to maleness. It also explores the relationship between L2 speakers’ understanding of the indexical meanings of zo and attitudes towards language that is conventionally associated with gender in Japanese. Participants first responded to a naturalness rating task in which they evaluated use of zo in different contexts, which were created by crossing speaker gender with direct indexical meaning. L2 participants also answered free response questions and completed an attitude questionnaire. While both L1 and L2 speakers considered male gender or maleness to be a meaning of zo , L1 speakers understood zo to also index self-encouragement, power, and emphasis. Furthermore, these other meanings differentially affected L1 speakers’ perceived naturalness of use of zo by female speakers. Understanding of the direct meanings of zo varied among the L2 speakers, who overall exhibited more strongly stereotypical views of the particle, although no relationship could be established between the L2 speakers’ understanding of zo and their attitudes towards gendered language. These findings demonstrate the interactions and relationships between the multiple meanings of zo as well as their effects on listener interpretation and perception, and suggest a need for explicit instruction in indexical meanings in L2 pragmatics pedagogy
Field (mathematics) · Indexicality · Meaning (existential) · Naturalness · Pragmatics · Relation (database) · Sociolinguistics · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
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| Highly cited | No |
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