Iguchi, Mikio (2011) Integration, identity and beyond : a narrative case study of two Japanese women living in Britain. Other thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Integrativeness (Gardner, 2001) and acculturation (Schumann, 1986) have been
influential concepts in the field of second language acquisition (SLA), which propose that
second language (L2) learners’ social-psychological identification with the target language
(TL) community is essential for successful SLA. The present study ventures to
incorporate theories from two separate fields: SLA which has expanded its research scope
from cognitive dimensions to social dimensions since the 1990s, and intercultural
communication which provides abundant insights into the social integration and identity
formation of newcomers in intercultural settings.
I explored and co-constructed the hermeneutical meanings which two Japanese
women in Britain attached to integration and identity formation, and how such meanings
changed over two years. Semi-structured interviews, participant observations, participant
diaries, and other supplementary methods (research diaries, e-mails and recordings) were
used to collect qualitative data. I played an active role in co-constructing their
hermeneutical meanings of interacting with other people in the UK which is presented as a
narrative case study.
Positioned in a holistic sociocultural perspective, the current research poses
questions on fragmentarily defined cognitive constructs, integrativeness and acculturation,
and proposes that identification is nurtured and developed through interaction in which one
can identify commonalities with one’s interlocutors as individuals, but not solely because of
their cultural, ethnic or linguistic affiliations.
The participants’ cultural-ethnic identity was often ‘betwixt and between’ in that
they felt different from both British and Japanese people who lacked intercultural
experience. Such vulnerability of their cultural-ethnic identity was offset by developing a
sense of belonging through other social identities (e.g. family, religion) in which mutual
acceptance with other members of a community was established. Participants’
cultural-ethnic identity seemed dormant when it was unharmed, but it emerged in the
forefront and became the core identity when it was threatened.
The participants’ experience of alienation or foreignness triggered them to seek
empathetic relationships with other people. This study confirms the importance of the
networks formed among foreign nationals who speak English as a lingua franca (ELF),
since their sense of comradeship is underpinned by empathy as ‘co-foreigners’ which
provided emotional, social and practical support in their daily lives. This study seeks to
benefit people who have crossed linguistic, cultural or ethnic boundaries, or people engaged
in sending or accepting newcomers who have crossed such boundaries.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Japanese -- Great Britain -- Ethnic identity, Social integration, Women immigrants -- Great Britain -- Case studies, Second language acquisition
Official Date:	September 2011
Dates:	Date Event September 2011 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Centre for Applied Linguistics
Thesis Type:	Other
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Ushioda, Ema; Spencer-Oatey, Helen, 1952-
Extent:	xii, 367 leaves : illustrations.
Language:	eng

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