Prediction and Clues for Refusing Requests in Native Japanese Situations

A Cognition-Based Comparison between Chinese Learners and Native Speakers of Japanese

Abstract

This paper analyzes differences between Chinese learners of the Japanese language (C) and native speakers of Japanese (J) in how they predict the behavior of the requestee after watching a video of requests made among female Japanese friends, examining the clues on which they based their predictions.

Results of the analysis show that after the request was made J subjects could more quickly predict whether the requestee in the video would refuse after first checking the contents of the request. Once they predicted the request would be rejected, fewer J subjects revised their prediction to indicate that the request might be accepted. Differences were also observed in the reported clues. There were signs that more C subjects than J subjects were conscious of the contents of the request. There were more C subjects whose grounds of prediction were "visual clues", including facial expression or posture of the requestee when confirming the contents of the request. On the other hand, there was a tendency for J subjects to be more conscious of "the burden of the request" and "the feeling of responsibility to accept" as clues indicating an eventual refusal. It was found that perception of "the feeling of responsibility to accept" is very different between J and C subjects.