Florian Grosser

I am active in the fields of sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, with a focus on multilingualism in Japan. I earned a B.A. in Japanese Studies and Linguistics from Ruhr University Bochum and an M.A. with a specialization in Language and Society from Waseda University. I then moved to Vienna to pursue a doctoral degree in Applied Linguistics.

In my dissertation, I investigate the lived experiences of Japanese-as-a-second-language users in Japan. I explore what it means to be a “competent” user of Japanese and how language ideologies shape perceptions of linguistic competence. To gain insights into my participants’ communicative practices, I conduct longitudinal, multi-sited fieldwork in various large cities across Japan.

My research examines interactions between so-called international couples, focusing on how they negotiate language choices in their relationships. Using a phenomenological approach that incorporates creative interviewing methods, such as language portraits, I aim to understand my participants’ linguistic experiences as embodied and intersubjective practices. During my time at the DIJ, I will conduct a final round of interviews with my focal participants.