Bio


Yoshiko Matsumoto is Yamato Ichihashi Professor in Japanese History and Civilization, Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures and, by courtesy, of Linguistics. She also serves as coordinator of the Japanese Language Program. Matsumoto’s research projects and publications investigate systems of language in use, spanning many aspects of linguistic pragmatics, from structural to sociocultural, with cross-linguistic perspectives. A recent edited book, _Noun-Modifying Clause Constructions in Languages of Eurasia: Rethinking Theoretical and Geographical Boundaries_ (2017) reports the findings of a collaborative project on noun-modifying clause constructions in languages of Eurasia, building on her earlier work on Japanese (_Noun-Modifying Constructions in Japanese: A Frame Semantic Approach_), which argued for a theoretical perspective that incorporates cognitive and pragmatic information in grammar. Another recent edited volume, _Faces of Aging: The Lived Experiences of the Elderly in Japan_ (2011) illuminates the human side of aging issues and is one of her publications on the intersection of language, age and gender. Focusing on narratives of difficult experiences by older women, her study illustrates the agency of the narrators, the interactions among narrative participants and the effects of reframing stories from the quotidian perspective. Awards she has received include the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, a Richard E. Guggenhime Faculty Scholar Award, Research Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Japan Foundation, the Clayman Institute for Gender Research and the Stanford Humanities Center.

Academic Appointments


  • Professor, East Asian Languages and Cultures
  • Professor (By courtesy), Linguistics

Administrative Appointments


  • Yamato Ichihashi Professor in Japanese History and Civilization, Stanford University (2016 - Present)
  • Professor, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and by courtesy, Department of Linguistics, Stanford University (2011 - Present)
  • Interim Chair, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Stanford University (2016 - 2016)
  • Chair, Department of Asian Languages, Stanford University (2003 - 2005)
  • Associate Professor, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (formerly Asian Languages), Stanford University (2000 - 2011)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Asian Languages, Stanford University (1992 - 2000)
  • Coordinator of the Japanese Language Program, Stanford Language Center (1992 - Present)
  • Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, The Ohio State University (1988 - 1992)

Honors & Awards


  • Violet Andrews Whittier Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center (2019 - 2020)
  • Faculty Research Fellow, Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research (2014 - 2015)
  • Presidential Fund for Innovation in the Humanities, Stanford Universtiy (2009 - 2011)
  • Internal Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center (2005-2006)
  • Research Fellow, Japan Foundation (Language, Old Age and Gender in Japan) (2002)
  • Richard E. Guggenhime Faculty Scholar, Stanford University (2000 - 2003)
  • Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2000)
  • Special Research Assignment, College of Humanities, The Ohio State University (1991)
  • George C. and Helen N. Pardee Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley (1987 - 1988)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Member, Consultation Board, International Pragmatics Association (2000 - Present)
  • Advisory Board and Editor, Journal of Pragmatics (1992 - Present)
  • Member, Editorial Board, East Asian Pragmatics, Journal (2014 - Present)
  • Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Constructions and Frames (2008 - Present)
  • Member, Advisory Board, The National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics. Project: Noun-modifying expressions (NME) in Cross-linguistic Studies of Japanese Prosody and Grammar (Theory and Typology Division) (2016 - Present)
  • Member, Advisory Board, Journal of Politeness Research (2004 - Present)
  • Member, Editorial Board, Topics in Address Research (book series) (2015 - Present)
  • Member, Editorial Board, Association of Teachers of Japanese (1997 - 2000)
  • Member, Advisory Board (language), Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (2011 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Association of Teachers of Japanese (1997 - 2000)
  • Executive Director, Inter-University Center in Yokohama (2003 - 2003)

Program Affiliations


  • Center for East Asian Studies
  • Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Professional Education


  • Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, Linguistics (1989)
  • M.A., University of California, Berkeley, Linguistics
  • M.A., School of Literatures and Languages, The University of Tsukuba, General and Applied Linguistics
  • M.I.A., School of Area Studies, The University of Tsukuba, American Studies
  • B.A., Japan Women's University, English Language & Literature

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


Based on in-depth analyses of Japanese with a cross-linguistic perspective, my research emphasizes the importance of linguistic and extralinguistic context in understanding the structure, meaning and use of language. I have worked on the pragmatics of linguistic constructions (e.g. frame semantics of noun-modifying construction, reference, honorifics, discourse markers) and sociocultural aspects of discourse (e.g. politeness theories, speech acts, bilingualism, intersection of language, gender and age, ideology, and identity reflected in Japanese as a second language). Topics of my current research center around conversational narratives especially of older adults and disaster survivors – (re)framing of narratives, ordinariness, stances taken by participants, integration of pragmatic factors in Construction Grammar, and typology and functions of noun-modifying constructions.

Projects


  • Sharing Conversations: A core human experience across life (Cultivating Humanities Grant – Changing Human Experience)

    Location

    Japan, U.S.A.

  • Communicative abilities of people with dementia

    Location

    U.S.A

  • Centrality of the Peripheries: The language and the users, Stanford University, Humanities Center (September 2019)

    Location

    Japan, East Asia, Europe

  • Noun-Modifying Constructions in Languages of Eurasia: Reshaping theoretical and geographical boundaries, Stanford University

    Location

    Eurasia

  • Understanding and Misunderstanding Discourse of Elderly Japanese Women, Stanford University

    Location

    Japan

  • Difficult Conversations Continue: Memories of the 3.11 Disaster and Bereavement Narratives

    Location

    Japan

  • Quotidian reframing in Japanese discourse and emotion regulation, Stanford

    Location

    Japan, U.S.

  • Language, Old Age and Gender in Japan, Stanford University/Japan Foundation

    Location

    Japan

All Publications


  • On an even playing field of <i>haiku</i> making PRAGMATICS AND SOCIETY Matsumoto, Y., Maeda, H., Wan, E., Liao, H. 2024; 15 (1): 104-121
  • Taking actions to enhance inclusivity of persons living with dementia PRAGMATICS AND SOCIETY Matsumoto, Y., Hamilton, H. E. 2024; 15 (1): 1-16
  • INTERGENERATIONAL HAIKU-MAKING ACTIVITY: CREATING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS ACROSS GENERATIONS Matsumoto, Y., Maeda, H., Wan, E., Bansal, D., Tayag, P. OXFORD UNIV PRESS. 2023: 594
  • LINGUISTIC STRATEGIES FOR AGE-INCLUSIVITY: ANALYSIS OF HAIKU-BASED INTERGENERATIONAL INTERACTION Maeda, H., Wan, E., Matsumoto, Y. OXFORD UNIV PRESS. 2022: 350
  • Multiplicity in grammar: Modes, genres and Speaker's knowledge JOURNAL OF PRAGMATICS Matsumoto, Y., Iwasaki, S. 2022; 198: 1-7
  • Shifting to interaction in dementia language research: drawing on usage in Japanese Dementia Caregiving East and West Matsumoto, Y. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2022: 86 - 101
  • Flexibility and fluidity of grammar: Grammatical constructions in discourse and sociocultural context JOURNAL OF PRAGMATICS Matsumoto, Y. 2021; 172: 105–18
  • Pragmatics of Understanding: Centrality of the Local -- Cases from Japanese discourse and Alzheimer's interaction Contrastive Pragmatics Matsumoto, Y. 2020: 1 - 28
  • Taking the stance of quotidian in talking about pains: resilience and defiance LINGUISTICS VANGUARD Matsumoto, Y. 2019; 5
  • When being quotidian meets being ordinary CONSTRUCTION OF ORDINARINESS ACROSS MEDIA GENRES Matsumoto, Y., Fetzer, A., Weizman, E. 2019; 307: 269–93
  • The case of Japanese otona "adult': Mediatized gender as a marketing device DISCOURSE & COMMUNICATION Kroo, J., Matsumoto, Y. 2018; 12 (4): 401–23
  • Clausal noun-modifying constructions HANDBOOK OF JAPANESE CONTRASTIVE LINGUISTICS Matsumoto, Y., Comrie, B., Pardeshi, P., Kageyama, T. 2018: 411–32
  • Introduction Advances in Pragmatic Research on Japanese Hudson, M. E., Matsumoto, Y., Mori, J. 2018
  • Clausal noun-modifying constructions Handbook of Japanese Contrastive Linguistics Matsumoto, Y., Comrie, B. De Gruyter Mouton. 2018
  • Noun-modifying constructions in Japanese Noun-Modifying Clause Constructions in Languages of Eurasia: Rethinking theoretical and geographical boundaries Matsumoto, Y. John Benjamins. 2017: 23–43
  • Introduction to Noun-Modifying Clause Constructions in Languages of Eurasia Noun-Modifying Clause Constructions in Languages of Eurasia: Rethinking theoretical and geographical boundaries Matsumoto, Y., Comrie, B., Sells, P. John Benjamins. 2017: 3–21

    View details for DOI 10.1075/tsl.116.01mat

  • Conclusion Noun-Modifying Clause Constructions in Languages of Eurasia: Rethinking theoretical and geographical boundaries Comrie, B., Sells, P., Matsumoto, Y. John Benjamins. 2017: 331–337
  • The power of the ordinary: Quotidian framing as a narrative strategy JOURNAL OF PRAGMATICS Matsumoto, Y. 2015; 86: 100-105
  • Partnership between grammatical construction and interactional frame: Stand-alone noun-modifying construction in invocatory discourse Constructions & Frames Matsumoto, Y. 2015; 7 (2): 289-314
  • Japanese Relative Clauses That Stand Alone Japanese/Korean Linguistics 22 Matsumoto, Y. CSLI. 2015: 215–230
  • Context in Constructions: Variation in Japanese non-subject honorifics Usage- Based Approaches to Japanese Grammar: Towards the Understanding of Human Language Matsumoto, Y. John Benjamins. 2014: 261–278
  • 日本語の名詞修飾節構文−他言語との対照を含めて (Noun-Modifying Clause Constructions in Japanese: With comparisons to other languages) 日本語複文構文の研究 (Studies on Japanese Complex Sentence Constructions) Matsumoto, Y. 2014: 559–590
  • Painful to playful: Quotidian frames in the conversational discourse of older Japanese women LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY Matsumoto, Y. 2011; 40 (5): 591-616
  • Beyond Stereotypes of Old Age: Discourse of Elderly Japanese Women Faces of Aging: The Lived Experiences of the Elderly in Japan Matsumoto, Y. edited by Matsumoto, Y. Stanford University Press. 2011
  • Introduction Faces of Aging: The Lived Experiences of the Elderly in Japan edited by Matsumoto, Y. Stanford University Press. 2011
  • Interactional frame and grammatical descriptions: The case of Japanese nounmodifying constructions Constructions and Frames Matsumoto, Y. 2010; 2 (2): 136-157
  • Forward Face Communication and Social Interaction Matsumoto, Y. edited by Bargiela-Chiappini, F., Haugh, M. London: Equinox Publishing Ltd.. 2009: xi-xii
  • Manabi no Genten ni Tatsu: Freshman Seminar ga teikyoo suru mono Matsumoto, Y. 2009
  • Pragmatics of Performative Honorifics in Subordinate Clauses Language in Life, and a Life in Language: Jacob Mey, A Festschrift Matsumoto, Y. edited by Turner, K., Eraser, B. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 2009: 289–297
  • Beyond Stereotypes of Old Age: Discourse of Elderly Japanese Women International Journal of the Sociology of Language Matsumoto, Y. 2009: 129-151
  • Dealing with Changes – Humorous Self-Disclosure by Elderly Japanese Women Ageing & Society Matsumoto, Y. 2009; 29 (6)
  • Discursive practices and changing identities in elderly Japanese women Japanese Applied Linguistics: Discourse and Social Perspectives Matsumoto, Y. edited by Mori, J., Ohta, A. S. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2008: 188–210
  • Young Women in the Meiji Period as Linguistic Trendsetters Journal of Language and Gender Matsumoto, Y., Bohn, M. 2008; 2 (1): 9-42
  • Tuning Styles and Personae Japanese Speech Style Shift Matsumoto, Y. edited by Jones, K., Ono, T. Philadelphia: John Benjamins.. 2008: 213–228
  • Interaction of multiple factors in relative clause construal and acquisition STUDIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION Matsumoto, Y. 2007; 29 (2): 367-374
  • Diversity and universality in languages:The consequences of variation Diversity in Language: Perspectives & Implications Matsumoto, Y. edited by Matsumoto, Y., Oshima, D., Robinson, O., Sells, P. CSLI Publications. 2007: 2–7
  • Kaiwa no naka no iwayuru joseigo (Use of so-called women’s language in conversation) Gengo (Language) Matsumoto, Y. 2007; 36 (3): 62-69
  • Dealing with changes -- Discourse of elderly Japanese women Japanese/Korean Linguistics Matsumoto, Y., et al edited by McGloin, N. H., et al CSLI. 2007: 93–107
  • Integrating frames: Complex noun phrase constructions in Japanese Aspects of Linguistics: In Honor of Noriko Akatsuka (Gengogaku no Syosoo: Akatsuka Noriko Kyoozyu Kinen Ronbunsyuu) Matsumoto, Y. edited by Kuno, S., Makino, S., Strauss, S. Tokyo: Kurosio Publishers. 2007: 131–154
  • Role of Pragmatics in Japanese Relative Clauses Japanese Linguistics: Critical Concepts Matsumoto, Y., Tsujimura, N. 2005; 3
  • We’ll be dead by then! – comical self-disclosure by elderly Japanese women Matsumoto, Y. edited by Ettlinger, M., Fleisher, N., Park-Doob, M. 2005: 268–79
  • Kizuki to sentaku: Shakai-gengogakuteki nooryoku no yoosei o mezasu nihongokyooiku no igi Gengogaku to Nihongo Kyooiku III Matsumoto, Y., Shimizu, T., Lipton, H. O., Lowdermilk, M. K. edited by Masahiko, M., Asano, M. 2004: 41–58
  • The Japanese copula: Forms and functions. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF JAPANESE STUDIES Book Review Authored by: Matsumoto, Y. 2004; 30 (1): 228-232
  • The new (and improved?) language and place of women in Japan Language and Woman’s Place: Text and Commentaries Matsumoto, Y. edited by Bucholtz, M. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004: 244–251
  • How to do historic pragmatics with Japanese honorifics - Reply to Pizziconi JOURNAL OF PRAGMATICS Matsumoto, Y. 2003; 35 (10-11): 1515-1521
  • The Construction of the Japanese Language and Culture in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language Japanese Language and Literature Okamoto, S., Matsumoto, Y. 2003; 37 (1): 27-48
  • Extending frame semantics: Flexibility of complex noun phrase constructions in Japanese 7th International Pragmatics Conference Matsumoto, Y. INTERNATIONAL PRAGMATICS ASSOCIATION VZW. 2001: 256–266
  • Tyotto: Speech act qualification in Japanese Japanese Language and Literature Matsumoto, Y. 2001; 35 (1): 1-16
  • Extending Frame Semantics: Flexibility of Complex Noun Phrase Constructions in Japanese Cognition in Language Use: Selected papers from the 7th International Pragmatics Conference Matsumoto, Y. edited by Nemeth, E. Antwerp: Belgium. 2001: 256–266
  • Japanese stylistic choices and ideologies across generations Language and Ideology: Selected Papers from the 6th International Pragmatics Conference Matsumoto, Y. edited by Verschueren, J. Antwerp: International Pragmatics Association. 1999: 352–364
  • Sedai to kotoba no sentaku Gengogaku to Nihongo Kyooiku - Jitsuyooteki Gengo Kenkyuu no Koochiku o Mezashite Alam, Y. S., Matsumoto, Y. Tokyo: Kurosio Syuppan. 1999: 33–48
  • The complementizer toyuu in Japanese Japanese/Korean Linguistics Volume Matsumoto, Y. edited by Akatsuka, N. Center for the Study of Language and Information. 1998: 243–255
  • The rise and fall of Japanese nonsubject honorifics: The case of 'o-Verb-suru' JOURNAL OF PRAGMATICS Matsumoto, Y. 1997; 28 (6): 719-740
  • Preface for the Special Issue on Japanese Pragmatics Journal of Pragmatics Matsumoto, Y. 1997; 28 (6): 659-660
  • Journal of Pragmatics edited by Matsumoto, Y. 1997; 28 (6)
  • Interaction of Factors in Construal: Japanese Relative Clauses Grammatical Constructions: their form and meaning Matsumoto, Y. edited by Shibatani, M., Thompson, S. A. Thompson. Oxford University Press. 1996: 103–124
  • Does less feminine speech in Japanese mean less femininity? Proceedings of the Fourth Berkeley Women and Language Conference Matsumoto, Y. 1996: 455–67
  • Imi kara mita rentai-syuusyoku no iroiro Gengo Matsumoto, Y. 1994; 9: 124-127
  • Acquisition of Japanese by American Businessmen in Tokyo: How much and why Current Issues in Second Language Acquisition and Development Matsumoto, Y. edited by Blackshire-Belay, C. University Press of America. 1994: 119–140
  • Nihongo meisi-ku koozoo no goyooronteki koosatu Nihongogaku Matsumoto, Y. 1993; 12: 101-114
  • Linguistic Politeness and Cultural Style: Observation from Japanese Japanese/Korean Linguistics Matsumoto, Y. edited by Clancy, P. M. 1993: 55–67
  • Linguistic Politeness and Cultural Style: Observation from Japanese Japanese/Korean Linguistics Matsumoto, Y. edited by Clancy, P. M. Center for the Study of Language and Information. 1993: 55–67
  • Warranted requests: Speaker's strategies in Japanese Festschrift for Professor Okuda on the Occasion of her 70th Birthday Matsumoto, Y. 1992
  • Is it really a topic that is relativized?: Arguments from Japanese Matsumoto, Y. 1991
  • Role of Pragmatics in Japanese Relative Clauses Lingua Matsumoto, Y. 1991; 82: 111-129
  • Politeness and Conversational Universals: Observations from Japanese Multilingua Matsumoto, Y. 1989: 207-221
  • Japanese-style Noun Modification ... in English Matsumoto, Y. 1989: 226–37
  • REEXAMINATION OF THE UNIVERSALITY OF FACE - POLITENESS PHENOMENA IN JAPANESE JOURNAL OF PRAGMATICS Matsumoto, Y. 1988; 12 (4): 403-426
  • Semantics and Pragmatics of Noun-Modifying Constructions in Japanese Matsumoto, Y. 1988: 166–75
  • Japanese Women's Language Studies in Second Language Acquisition Matsumoto, Y. 1986; 8 (2)
  • A Sort of Speech Act Qualification in Japanese: Chotto Journal of Asian Culture Matsumoto, Y. 1985; IX: 143-159
  • Bilingualism Among American Businessmen in Tokyo Language as Social Behavior: Sociolinguistics Series No.3 Matsumoto, Y. edited by Peng, F., Hori, M. Bunka Hyooron publishing Company. Hiroshima: Japan. 1981
  • Linguistic Behavior of Americans in Japan -- A case study of American businessmen in Tokyo Working Papers on Bilingualism in Japan Matsumoto, Y. 1979
  • 構文機能とコンテキストの適合性から文法性を考える Grammaticality based on the compatibility of constructional function and communicative purpose Central Association for the Teachers of Japanese Conference Matsumoto, Y. 2019