Linguistic Tactics and Strategies of Marginalization in Japanese

"A unique collection of transdisciplinary studies focusing on marginalization in Japanese which is a must-read for courses in various disciplines, including linguistics and sociology, as well as those who are planning to work in Japan". -Masaki Oda, Tamagawa University, Japan This edited book brings together studies on different aspects of marginalization in Japanese, creating a framework for studying marginalization which can also be applied in other linguistic and international contexts. The chapters in this book look at both marginalization of others and self-marginalization, examining the pragmatic strategies used to achieve marginalization, and investigating situations where it acts as an agentive tactic of speakers, in addition to a strategy of broader social structures. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of sociolinguistics, pragmatics, linguistic anthropology, and East Asian languages and cultures. Judit Kroo is Assistant Professor of Japanese Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies at Arizona State University, USA. Her current projects consider the social construction of standard or desirable gendered adulthoods in Japan and Korea, alternative economic practices among younger Japanese adults, and the construction of mediatized social personae. Kyoko Satoh is Professor of Sociolinguistics at Yokohama City University, Japan. Her research interests include display of self and identity constructions through linguistic tactics in Japanese Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1: Introduction 1 Marginalization as Concept and Theory 2 Social Identity 3 Intersectionality 4 Ba 5 The Social World of Japan 6 Chapter Overview: Modalities of Marginalization References Part I: Marginalization and Natural Language Data 2: Strategies of Discourse (Re)-Framing as Micropolitics Among Contemporary Japanese University Students 1 Introduction 2 Discourse (Re)-Framing 3 Forms of Mitai Na 4 Data 5 Analysis 5.1 Discourse (re)-framing and Female Strength 5.2 Discourse (re)-framing and Locating an Experience in the Everyday 6 Discussion and Conclusion References 3: When the Model Becomes the Marginalized: Identity Struggles of Japanese Job-Hunters 1 Introduction 2 Theoretical Framework 2.1 Social constructionist perspectives of self and identity 2.2 Gurōbaru jinzai 3 Methodology 3.1 Data collection 3.2 Research design 4 Survey Results and Discussion 4.1 Understandings and perceptions of a model gurōbaru jinzai 4.2 The myths and realities of gurōbaru jinzai 5 Identity Struggles 6 Conclusions References 4: The Struggle Against Hegemonic Femininity: The Narrative of a Japanese Actress 1 Introduction 2 Background 2.1 Status of Japanese women 2.2 Women’s lifestyles, between choice and forced choice 3 Data 4 The Stories and Analysis 4.1 Can you sell your body? Women cry and men work 4.2 As if I do something very wrong: Apology for being a absent mother 5 Discussion 6 Conclusion 7 Transcription Conventions References 5: Intersectional Identities: Voices from the Margins of ELT in Japan 1 Introduction 2 Literature Review 2.1 Native-speakerism in ELT in Japan 2.2 ELT in Japan as Gendered Practice 2.3 Marginalization in ELT 3 Methodology 3.1 Stage 1: Written Autobiographical Narrative 3.2 Stage 2: Reflexive Interviews 3.3 Stage 3: Focus Group Interview as Space for Sharing and Empowerment 3.4 Intersectionality 4 Data Collection and Analysis 4.1 Stage 1: Written Narratives 4.2 Stage 2: Reflexive Interviews 4.3 Stage 3: Focus Group Interview 4.4 A Note on Researcher Roles 5 Participants’ Biography 6 Findings and Discussions 6.1 Theme 1: Intersectionalized Discrimination in the Workplace 6.2 Theme 2: Networks and Mentorship for Personal and Professional Support and Solidarity 6.3 Theme 3: Self-sacrifice 6.4 Theme 4: Sexualized, Heteropatriarchal Stereotypes of Foreign Women in Japan 7 Concluding Remark References 6: Epistemic Primacy and Self/Other-Marginalisation in a Parliamentary Debate: A Case Study of Female Japanese Politicians 1 Introduction 2 Describing Epistemic Status 3 Female Politicians in Japan 4 Research Data and Method 5 Findings 5.1 Speaking Time and Word Count 5.2 Question–Answer Sequences 5.3 Self/other-Marginalisation Strategies 6 Concluding Remarks 7 Appendix: The Original Transcriptions in Japanese References Part II: Marginalization and Mediatized Data 7: “We’re family”: Japanese Characters’ Categorizations of a Gay Man in a TV Drama 1 Introduction 2 Analytical Approaches 3 Data 4 Analysis 4.1 Performing Incumbency in the Categories of Father and Mother 4.2 Performing Incumbency in Other Categories 5 Discussion and Concluding Remarks 6 Transcription Conventions References 8: Street Corners and Hugs: Queer Japanese Challenges to Heteronormativity Through Social Media 1 Introduction 2 Data 3 Analytical Approach 4 Analysis 5 Discussion References 9: Self-denigration Among Japanese Female Fans Online: Creating Community Through Marginality 1 Overview 2 Methodology 3 Post 1: Do you hate otaku girls? 4 Post 2: Fujoshi, are you married now? 5 Discussion 6 Conclusions References 10: Connecting the Personal to the Collective: The haafu aruaru (things that happen to racially/ethnically ‘mixed’ people) Narratives on Twitter 1 Introduction 2 Background Information 2.1 The haafu Population in Japan 2.2 Twitter and Narrative 2.3 Haafu aruaru Tweets 3 Aruaru as an Emphatic Response and Media Meme 3.1 ‘Aruaru’ in Spoken Discourse 3.2 Aruaru on SNS Texts 4 Methodology 5 Data 6 Discussion and Conclusion References 11: Afterward Index