JALT2025 - Tokyo

(Mis)interpreting “Sorry?” and “What?” during L2 Repair

Nov 2, 2025, 10:15 AM

30m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Research-oriented Presentation (30-minutes) Sociocultural Linguistics and Pragmatics Room 303

Speakers

David Shimamoto (National Institute of Technology, Niihama College)Ms Tilabi Yibifu (National Institute of Technology, Akita College)

Description

Adopting conversation analysis, this presentation examines potentially ambiguous methods of signaling breakdowns in communication. These include practices such as "What?" and "Sorry?", along with embodied conduct like leaning toward a speaker. Analysis of video-recorded L2 interactions will demonstrate how participants collaboratively identify the cause of interactional trouble and work to resolve it. Based on these findings, practical strategies for enhancing L2 interactional competence will be proposed.

Summary

Adopting conversation analysis, this presentation examines potentially ambiguous methods of signaling breakdowns in communication. These include practices such as "What?" and "Sorry?", along with embodied conduct like leaning toward a speaker. Analysis of video-recorded L2 interactions will demonstrate how participants collaboratively identify the cause of interactional trouble and work to resolve it. Based on these findings, practical strategies for enhancing L2 interactional competence will be proposed.