The Stegman Speaker Series was established in memory of Dr. Dorothy Stegman’s mother and sisters, the series addresses the “Dignity of Human Relationships, with a focus on memory and/or communication, as witnessed in literature, historical or cultural studies, language, etc."
Topic: Evaluation of Written Information in a Second Language: Credibility and Stereotypes
Speaker: Dr. Jae DiBello Takeuchi
When: April 13th, 4:00-5:00 pm, Student Center 301
Presented By: Modern Languages and Cultures
Abstract: Contemporary spoken Japanese exhibits significant linguistic diversity, including regional dialects, politeness registers, and gendered language. Although Standard Japanese has been promoted for over a century through government policy, education, and mass media, dialects persist because speakers use linguistic variation to express identity and build social connections. However, standardization is accelerating in the digital age, and generative AI may further influence Japanese linguistic diversity.
This presentation introduces Japanese linguistic diversity with a focus on regional dialects and examines how technology—from television and radio to the internet, social media, and generative AI—shapes their use and representation. It concludes by considering how Japanese dialects may evolve in the digital age and what they contribute to the contemporary linguistic landscape of Japan.
Speaker's bio: Jae DiBello Takeuchi is Associate Professor of Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University, where she also coordinates the Japanese Language Program. Her research focuses on Japanese sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, second language acquisition, and language pedagogy, particularly the experiences of long-term residents of Japan who speak Japanese as a second language. She examines how they navigate speech styles such as dialects and keigo in community, workplace, and leisure settings. At Indiana University, she teaches Japanese language and sociolinguistics.