香港出身の日本語学習者による日本語複合動詞の理解について

Abstract

This paper aims to study how advanced level Japanese language learners in Hong Kong whose first language is Chinese (Cantonese) perform in a written test on the understanding of frequently used Japanese compound verbs. In the author’s previous study, the result of self-evaluation survey on how well those Japanese language learner informants know the meaning and usage of a set of frequently used compound verbs was examined. The result of self-evaluation survey shows that most of the Japanese language learner informants in the author’s study reported that they knew those compound verbs well and they could use them. However, after comparing the result of the written test on how well they actually understand the meaning and usage of compound verbs, it is clear that the percentage of correct answer in the written test is lower than the percentage of knowing those compound verbs in the self-evaluation survey in general. The findings in this paper also reveal that compound verbs with high frequency of usage are difficult to advanced level Japanese language learner informants no matter the types of compound verbs are. This study provides an original data set on the performance of compound verb understanding which can serve as important information for future study of compound verb acquisition.