This paper discusses data collected as part of a teaching journal started to reflect on the below average output in terms of phatic, or social, language in group discussions by some Japanese students in the second semester of a university course in English discussion.Theories on motivation are referenced to attempt to explain how an inability to bond may produce a barrier to the production of social language in groups that does not exist in paired activities involving the same individuals.Finally, suggestions are made as to how classes with similar issues could be approached in the future. Content:Ideas or comments about the topic for discussion Reactions: Verbal utterances made in response to classmates' ideas e.g.'Uh-huh.' / 'I see.'
Aldrich Simon (2013) studied this question.