CHARACTERISTICS OF THE USE OF AIZUCHI IN CONVERSATIONS BY VIETNAMESE INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS OF JAPANESE

Abstract

Aizuchi (back-channels) are essential elements of Japanese communication, expressing the listener’s attentiveness and empathy. This study examines the verbal use of aizuchi by Vietnamese intermediate learners of Japanese. The data consist of seven recorded and transcribed conversations between the learners and native Japanese speakers. Instances of aizuchi were extracted and analyzed from three perspectives: form, frequency and position within utterances. The findings indicate that while learners employ aizuchi to express interest, their lexical range remains limited, and usage frequency varies across individuals. Notably, aizuchi tend to occur at the end of utterances, demonstrating respect for the conversational flow and attentive reception of the interlocutor’s speech – a pattern different from that of native speakers. This study provides insights into aizuchi usage among Vietnamese learners and suggests implications for teaching Japanese conversational skills.