The proper use of English articles remains a persistent challenge for Japanese EFL learners, as there is no equivalent system in their native language. This study investigates the underlying semantic and pragmatic factors that influence article choice by comparing native English speakers and EFL learners. Nearly 900 participants, including native speakers, Japanese EFL learners, and learners from other linguistic backgrounds, took part in a survey exploring various aspects of article usage.

The study examines the distinctions between definite and indefinite articles, as well as countable and uncountable nouns. It analyzes semantic factors through learners' perception of space, time, and object partitioning while examining pragmatic factors such as definiteness through endophora and exophora. The results show that Japanese learners struggle more with semantic distinctions (countable vs. uncountable) than pragmatic ones (definite vs. indefinite). When unsure, they tend to follow a hierarchical pattern in article selection ("the"> "a"> zero article). Furthermore, the proximity of a learner's native language to English significantly impacts article choice, and even advanced Japanese EFL learners continue to face challenges with proper article usage.

From an applied linguistics perspective, this research provides insights into how linguistic diversity influences second language acquisition, especially in mastering articles. It also offers practical teaching suggestions, such as explicit instruction on countability to enhance learners' awareness and targeted instruction on article usage in various contexts. Future research could broaden the scope by including other learner populations to pursue how learning experiences and teaching methods affect article acquisition across diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Authors:
Kyoko Kosaka, Ritsumeikan University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Kyoko Kosaka is currently a Professor Emeritus and Specially Appointed Professor of English and Linguistics at Ritsumeikan University, Japan. Her research focuses on the English language and second language acquisition.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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