Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2026
Abstract
Language choices play an integral part in an individual’s identity, especially in how they are perceived by others. Further, the context under which an individual learns a language has a major influence on their language choices. This influence is particularly significant in Japanese: a language that is often described as having clearly defined “masculine” and “feminine” speech styles. The following research is a study on how beginner Japanese language learners’ pedagogical and environmental backgrounds affect their perception of gendered pronouns. An online survey was conducted to compare perceptions of the appropriateness of various pronouns across gendered contexts between beginner learners and heritage speakers. The results show that beginner language learners are more likely to find cross-gender pronouns socially acceptable when compared to heritage speakers and advanced language learners.
Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation
Bell, Emma and Raymond, David, "Learning Gendered Speech: How Media Exposure Shapes American Learners’ Perceptions of Japanese Pronouns" (2026). Research Papers and Posters from ASCL 60.20: Languages and Scripts of Gender, Class, and Nation. 1.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/ascl_60-20/1
