The Use of the Plain Style by Japanese Learners in Conversations with Japanese Classmates

Drawing on Language Socialization Framework

Abstract

This paper draws on the language socialization framework (Schieffelin & Ochs, 1986) to examine how the use of speech styles, specifically the plain style, changes among five students studying in Japan during a period of two months. Conversations between the Japanese learners and their Japanese classmates were recorded. The data shows that although the students primarily mixed the two styles, after two months all students used the plain style almost consistently in their conversations. Concerning the use of the plain style, they employed various interactional functions of the plain style in conversations. Findings suggest that daily interactions with “experts” in the target language community, i.e., the Japanese native classmates, contribute to acquisition of Japanese variation.