The Institute for Japanese Studies and Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures Present:
"Language in Context: Creation of Meaning Through Interaction"
Michiko Kaneyasu
University of California, Los Angeles
Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss key findings from two of my previous studies (Kaneyasu, 2020, 2022) and highlight some insights we can gain by analyzing the use of language in context beyond isolated sentences. The first study investigates the locally situated functions of so-called epistemic modals, daro(o) and desho(o), in ordinary conversations. The second examines the role of kaomoji in balancing formality and informality in online comment-reply exchanges. Our exploration will center on three types of interaction: (1) the dynamics between language use and contextual factors, (2) the interplay of socio-relational concerns among communicative participants, and (3) the synergy between linguistic elements and other semiotic features. Together, we will discover dynamic and intricate ways in which linguistic and multimodal resources shape and are shaped by contexts and interactions at different levels.
Download the PDF flyer here.
Michiko Kaneyasu is an Associate Professor of Japanese language and linguistics in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she teaches Japanese linguistics and Asian language teaching. Her research explores the dynamic and complex interrelationships between language, social interaction, cognitive processes, and context. Her areas of inquiry span several language-related fields, including pragmatics, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, interactional linguistics, corpus linguistics, genre and register studies, and language learning and teaching.
