Japanese loanword usage amongst second language students in Australia

L2 learners who have studied a language in a classroom setting often have a different pattern of usage from native speakers, and this is still the case amongst reasonably advanced learners who are able to communicate in the target language alone. This tendency is especially notable in an overseas setting, where L2 learners do not have much input outside the classroom. This study investigates the use of Japanese loanwords by L2 learners in an overseas setting, where the language norm is different from Japan. This study found that even in an overseas setting, L2 learners would prefer to use the authentic Japanese spoken in Japan as a model, although various overseas factors tend to encourage them to utilise more English words. Japanese native speakers’ evaluation of the use of such words was neutral overall, but there are various factors L2 learners should keep in mind when using Japanese loanwords. This study also confirms that the norm in an overseas contact situation is different from an authentic contact situation which is the pattern found in contact situations occurring in the home country.