Learner-Related Factors in L2 Japanese Pronunciation Performance in the Digital Era

This study examines how learner-related factors and the use of digital resources relate to L2 Japanese pronunciation. Thirty-three Italian university students of Japanese completed a questionnaire on motivation, cultural interest, perceived pronunciation difficulty, pronunciation-learning engagement, and digital resource use. They also provided speech samples evaluated by native speakers for fluency, comprehensibility, nativelikeness, and accuracy. Motivation was the only factor directly associated with pronunciation performance. Quantitative analyses showed that motivation, cultural interest, engagement in pronunciation learning, and the use of digital resources formed an interconnected system supporting long-term pronunciation development. The findings highlight the role of motivational and behavioral factors in instructed JFL pronunciation learning and offer pedagogical implications.