The use of Japanese in computer-mediated communication by Japanese-speaking Melbournians: implications for language maintenance

Abstract

Language use is the sine qua non of language maintenance by ethnic minorities. Since a large number of communicative events today take place online, it is important for language maintenance research to investigate how community languages (Clyne, 1994) are used in virtual environments in everyday life. In addition, natural factors affecting the patterns of language use online also need to be examined in order to integrate knowledge about online communication into language maintenance initiatives.

This study aims at investigating the current use of language relating to the Internet by a sample of Japanese-speaking people living in Melbourne. The participants are mostly first generation migrants with permanent resident status and their children, or expatriate Japanese, who are temporarily staying in Australia. Factors affecting their choice of languages and communication technologies are examined. This study is based on a questionnaire asking members of the Japanese-speaking communities about demographic information and community language use in a variety of discourses focusing on online situations. The analysis of the data drawn from the questionnaire revealed patterns and relationships between the participants’ language use and a variety of factors such as language competence, social network, familiarity with technology, etc.

To the best of my knowledge, at the present moment, there are no studies investigating the use of Japanese through new communication technologies by Japanese-Australians and the possible impact of this use on language maintenance. The present study aims to fill this gap in research. The findings of the research will lead to recommendations made for Japanese educational institutions, communities and families on the use of the Internet. The current study uses a questionnaire modified from the ones used by Fitzgerald and Debski (2006) with Polish Melbournians and Al-Asmari (2004) with Arabic-speaking Melbournians. It must be acknowledged that these two communities are significantly different from the Japanese one in nature. The latter is relatively newer, smaller and has seemingly strong Japanese connection and identity. Keeping this in mind, however, it would be useful to focus on newer migrants and expatriate people to see how they use CMC in their language to maintain their bonds with their home country, culture and language. The results obtained in this study will help make suggestions to different language communities in order to strengthen their language maintenance efforts.

Hiroki Kurihara

Hiroki Kurihara is a secondary teacher at Elwood College in Victoria, Australia. He has a BA from Dokkyo University in Japan, a Graduate Diploma in Education and an MA of Applied Linguistics from the University of Melbourne. He has conducted research on language maintenance utilising the modern technology, focusing on the natural factors affecting community language use in relation to the Internet.

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