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Article published In: Instructing Bodies
Edited by Leelo Keevallik, Emily Hofstetter and Jan Lindström
[Interactional Linguistics 5:1/2] 2025
► pp. 69–98

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Vocal resource of effort and force in interaction

Japanese yoisho/iyoisho in dance instructions

ORCiD logo with link | Nagoya University
Published online: 5 June 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/il.24010.yas
Abstract
Research has demonstrated that the various types of vocal sounds that are not typically regarded as linguistic or meaningful can serve as a significant resource for interaction. This study draws on multimodal conversation analysis to investigate yoisho (iyoisho), an interjection in Japanese often produced when force or effort is exerted. The analysis of yoisho (iyoisho) in instructional settings involving the body movements of both instructors and students showed that yoisho (iyoisho) is precisely coordinated with accompanying body movements through its phonetic adjustment. When coordinated with the teacher’s body movements, yoisho (iyoisho) can highlight the movements most critical in instruction and express their temporality and kinesthesia at the same time. The phonetic features of yoisho (iyoisho) can also facilitate students’ synchronization of movements with the instructor and their peers. Furthermore, when coordinated with the students’ body movements, yoisho (iyoisho) can enact the physical efforts the students should be making in real time. The study revealed that the participants’ bodies and the nature of the activity they engage in are consequential for their employment of a vocal resource and its production.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Depiction in the instructions of body movements
    • 2.2Instructions for Japanese traditional dance
    • 2.3Vocal resources in the instruction of body movements
    • 2.4Yoisho/iyoisho
  • 3.Data and methodology
  • 4.Yoisho/iyoisho with T’s body movements
  • 5.Yoisho/iyoisho in achieving synchronization
  • 6.Yoisho in coordination with students’ body movements
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (41)
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