An Analysis of Sentence-Final Expressions in Conversations Aimed at Consensus Building between Japanese Students and International Students

Abstract

This study analyses the sentence-final expressions used in discussions between native Japanese speakers and intermediate to advanced Japanese learners in a multi-cultural classroom, in order to explore teaching methods for promoting smoother communication. Native speakers tend to use complex sentence-final expressions to express their opinions. They also used question forms with weak listener-orientation to introduce new topics and expand discussions. Based on these findings, the study suggests that Japanese learners should be trained to use complex modality expressions and strategies to elicit others' opinions through questioning, while native speakers should be encouraged to adopt a more concise and clear speaking style.