日本語と韓國語における割り込みの類型

Abstract

This study is for the quantitative analysis of the different types and functions of interruptions in group discussions in Japanese and Korean. The types of interruptions examined in this study are categorized into interruptions with backchannels, inadvertent interruptions, and intentional interruptions. Intentional interruptions, again, are divided into three functional subcategories: a cooperative type, a topic- oriented type, and an assertive type. As a result of the study, interruptions with backchannels are found more often in conversation in Japanese. It shows that most Japanese prefer to continue their discussions observing the other speakers' reaction rather than directly asserting their opinions. Compared to other types of interruptions, assertive interruptions rarely occur in conversations both in Korean and Japanese. From this study, it is obvious that conversation interruptions, which mostly used to be interpreted in the negative meaning, have taken place to give responses that make a conversation run smoothly and keep up a more lively discussion. However, this study also shows that cooperative interruptions occur more often in conversation in Japanese whereas more assertive interruptions are found in conversation in Korean. Thus, it is noted that Korean speakers may interrupt discussions assertively if necessary in order to express their opinions, which causes to be beneath other speakers' dignity. Japanese speakers, on the other hand, would prefer not to interrupt to assert their opinions if their interruptions may be beneath others' dignity.