The extensive number of English loanwords in Japanese can be an invaluable resource for language learners in Japan and knowledge of them can aid in the recognition and comprehension of English vocabulary. However, because comparatively few of the English loanwords used in Japanese share all of the same meanings and usages with their English source words, it can lead to grammatical, semantic, and pragmatic errors if language learners are not aware of the similarities and differences, which are rarely taught in language classrooms. In this paper I explore factors related to English loanwords in Japanese that can affect language learners’ pragmatic competence in English. These factors include semantic narrowing and expansion, contextual narrowing and expansion, cross-linguistic transfer, and pragmatic transfer. I also discuss the importance of teaching loanwords and pragmatic knowledge in language classrooms.
日本語の中で使用される多くの英語由来の外来語は、日本の英語学習者には極めて有用な資源であり、外来語の知識は、英単語の認識や理解に役立つ。元の英語と、意味や使い方が同様の英語由来の外来語は比較的に少なく、言語教室で取り上げられる事もあまりない。元の英語と外来語の類似点、相違点の知識がなければ、文法的、意味論的、語用論的な間違いに発展する可能性がある。本研究では、英語由来の外来語に関する意味や文脈の縮小・拡大、母語の移転や語用論的移転といった英語学習者の語用論的な能力に影響を与える要素を探索する。また、外来語や語用論的な知識を教授することの重要性を論じる。
