第二言語学習者における間接発話行為の理解に関する研究の成果と課題

―慣習性を分析の枠組みとする可能性をめぐって―

抄録

The purpose of this paper is to update the achievements and limitations associated with second language learners' indirect speech act comprehension, with focus on the conventionality of indirect speech acts. Conventional and nonconventional indirect speech acts can be differentiated on the basis of inferential load. Native speakers access the meaning of conventional indirect speech acts more quickly and easily than nonconventional ones. However, research which has employed conventionality as the foundation of an analytic framework used to assess second language learners' comprehension of indirect speech acts have reported varying results. Recent research has tended to move away from the use of directives and towards expressives when investigating such speech acts. Moreover, the definition and identification of conventionality have also varied paper-by-paper. Some investigation methods used to assess the effect of conventionality on second language learners' comprehension have been implausible. In order to clarify the conflicts and to establish a common conceptualization of conventionality, previous research using conventionality, both in second language learners and native speakers, is summarized in this paper. Suggestions for future research on indirect speech act comprehension in second language learners are also offered.