抄録
This paper examines Japanese learners' perceptions and interpretations of sentence-final intonation. To assess these, two perception tests were conducted on sixty-eight Vietnamese learners enrolled in the beginners' level using variables of three particles and five pitch types. The result indicated that understanding of intonation meaning was less accurate than actual ability to distinguish pitch patterns. The patterns of errors indicated, furthermore, that understanding of the intonation meaning tended to be based on the meaning of particle acquired earlier rather than its pitch. These findings would seem to dictate a conscious approach to familiarizing learners with the nuances of intonation to promote their comprehension of naturally spoken Japanese.
