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ICU Student Gives an Oral Presentation at the 155th Meeting of the Linguistic Society of Japan

Update: December 22, 2017

ICU student Mana Asano (4th year student) gave an oral presentation at the 155th Meeting of the Linguistic Society of Japan, which was held on November 25 (Sat.) and 26 (Sun.) at Ritsumeikan University's Kinugasa Campus (Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto).

Ms. Asano gave a presentation related to the topic of "Counterfactual Imperatives in Japanese," which is the research subject of her senior thesis. Her research involves the study of the interpretation of the meaning of imperatives as a whole, while placing emphasis on imperatives such as baka ie (Say something stupid), uso tsuke (Lie to me), fuzakero (Do something stupid), and hozake (Talk big and boast) whose meanings in usage are understood to be the opposite of what their literal meanings are.

Comment by Ms. Asano

Around May, not long after I began my fourth year, an alumnus who majored in linguistics at ICU and graduated ahead of me suggested that I apply to the Linguistic Society of Japan. That is what got me started on the path to giving a presentation at the 155th Meeting of the Linguistic Society of Japan. At first, all I could see were things that worried me, such as my lack of real ability. However, I recall telling myself, "This will help me make further progress with my senior thesis," so I finally got up the nerve to start preparations to enter.

Right now, having given the presentation, I feel truly grateful every day that I was able to participate in the Linguistic Society while I was an undergraduate. Although I am still young and inexperienced, as a result of giving this presentation, I was able to also see that the Linguistic Society is a place where people can interact with others regarding research and exchange opinions. I believe that presenting research results to one another means to strive together at that place for interacting with others in order to get closer to a single objective; in other words, solving a linguistic phenomenon. Prior to giving the presentation, I was feeling inadequate and afraid, and extremely nervous, but through the act of giving the presentation, I feel like I have returned to the starting point of my research.

In spring, I will be going on to graduate school, where I plan to continue my research in linguistics. With regard to the research theme that I presented at the Linguistic Society Meeting, I had the chance to hear a number of opinions from various people after I gave my presentation, so I would like to continue doing research on this theme at graduate school as well. I am hoping that I will be able to continue doing interdisciplinary research, maintaining a genuine curiosity about linguistics and humans, while being true to the roots of my own research that I experienced in returning to the starting point.

In closing, I would like to mention that in preparation for the Linguistic Society Meeting, teachers and senior schoolmates not only provided guidance related to the content of my research, but they also set up places on numerous occasions where I could engage in such things as practice of my presentation. In addition, I received a great deal of cooperation from my contemporaries and junior schoolmates at the university. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who provided me with a warm, complete environment and helped me on my way to the presentation venue, and especially to Professor Tomoyuki Yoshida, who, as my advisor, always patiently and meticulously answers each and every one of my questions, no matter how small.

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