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Rendaku awareness of Japanese learners in Taiwan

Students at Ming Chuan University
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Abstract

As rendaku is not entirely predictable, it is particularly difficult for second language learners of Japanese to master. To date, however, little research has been done to examine this problem. This study investigates the potential pedagogical value of Lyman’s Law, the observation that the second element in a two-element compound will not undergo rendaku if it contains a voiced obstruent. University learners of Japanese in Taiwan were tested on the occurrence of rendaku in two-element compounds. They also answered questions about their knowledge of rendaku and Lyman’s Law. The results showed that most students knew about but overused rendaku and that they were unfamiliar with Lyman’s Law. Thus, explicit instruction on Lyman’s Law may be beneficial in curbing the overuse of rendaku.

Abstract

As rendaku is not entirely predictable, it is particularly difficult for second language learners of Japanese to master. To date, however, little research has been done to examine this problem. This study investigates the potential pedagogical value of Lyman’s Law, the observation that the second element in a two-element compound will not undergo rendaku if it contains a voiced obstruent. University learners of Japanese in Taiwan were tested on the occurrence of rendaku in two-element compounds. They also answered questions about their knowledge of rendaku and Lyman’s Law. The results showed that most students knew about but overused rendaku and that they were unfamiliar with Lyman’s Law. Thus, explicit instruction on Lyman’s Law may be beneficial in curbing the overuse of rendaku.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. List of contributors ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Generative treatments of rendaku and related issues 13
  6. Psycholinguistic studies of rendaku 35
  7. Rendaku and Identity Avoidance 47
  8. Rendaku awareness of Japanese learners in Taiwan 57
  9. The Rendaku Database 79
  10. Rosen’s Rule 107
  11. Rendaku and individual segments 119
  12. Rendaku in Okinawan 139
  13. Rendaku in Tōhoku Japanese 173
  14. Rendaku in cross-linguistic perspective 195
  15. A rendaku bibliography 235
  16. References 251
  17. Index 273
Sequential Voicing in Japanese
This chapter is in the book Sequential Voicing in Japanese
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.176.05nak

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. List of contributors ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Generative treatments of rendaku and related issues 13
  6. Psycholinguistic studies of rendaku 35
  7. Rendaku and Identity Avoidance 47
  8. Rendaku awareness of Japanese learners in Taiwan 57
  9. The Rendaku Database 79
  10. Rosen’s Rule 107
  11. Rendaku and individual segments 119
  12. Rendaku in Okinawan 139
  13. Rendaku in Tōhoku Japanese 173
  14. Rendaku in cross-linguistic perspective 195
  15. A rendaku bibliography 235
  16. References 251
  17. Index 273
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