Perception of Japanese Folktales by Readers from Different Cultural Backgrounds

This thesis investigates perceptions of Japanese folktales by readers from different cultural backgrounds. The study analyzes whether a reader’s cultural background affects how the Japanese folktales are perceived and understood, particularly focusing on where the comprehension difference appears between Native English Speaking (NES) American readers and Japanese readers as well as where the NES American readers with more than three years of Japanese courses fall within the spectrum. The participants in this study are separated into three different groups, namely Japanese, NES Americans with more than three years of Japanese courses and NES Americans with Japanese courses. The participants were asked to read three Japanese folktales, Urashima Taro, Bamboo- Cutter’s Tale and Click-Clack Mountain, and were asked to answer short-answer survey questions regarding three folktales as well as the general questions about the Japanese folktales. the survey responses were typed and tallied by themes of responses. The result showed that there are differences in comprehension of the Japanese folktales between NES American readers and Japanese readers. Also, the NES American readers with more than three years of Japanese courses’ comprehension was similar to Japanese readers than NES American readers without Japanese courses.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English (as a Second Language)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Sawai, Mari

Contributors dc:contributor

• Reichelt, Melinda

• Foreign Language
• Folklore
• Japanese
• folktale
• cultural difference

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1363089346

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:toledo1363089346