Acquisition of the Goal Particle ni and the Active Particle de by Intermediate Level Chinese-Speaking Japanese Learners

Abstract

Second language learners of Japanese tend to use ni instead of de erroneously (Ano kissaten ni kohii o nomu. ‘I drink coffee at that coffeeshop.'). This study explores how learners come to confuse the goal particle ni with the locus-of-activity particle de. We used a particle choice test (e.g. Ano resutoran {ni / de / o / kara} gohan o taberu.) and an interview after three pilot tests, which included a translation test. The results showed that there was confusion between the goal particle ni and the locus-of-activity particle de. We expect these learners reach the next stage of using the two particles correctly after passing through this stage of using ni instead of de.