Factors Affecting the Metaphor Comprehension of Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Language Learners from India

From the Viewpoint of Working Memory Capacity, Phonological Short-term Memory Capacity and Metaphor Type

Abstract

It has been found in researches done in field of English language education that working memory plays an important part in the comprehension of metaphor by native speakers. However, there is not much research in field of second language education regarding the underlying process of metaphor comprehension. How do second language learners comprehend metaphors? Our research handles this question. In order to find the cognitive processes affecting the metaphor comprehension of second language learners of Japanese, we conducted a study with Indian intermediate and advance learners of Japanese. The independent variables in the experiment were working memory capacity, phonological short-term memory capacity and type of metaphor. Reaction time and accuracy were used as dependent variables. As a result, it was found that metaphor comprehension speed is affected by working memory capacity, whereas no effect of phonological short term memory was found. Also, metaphors are easier to comprehend than similes.