This study examines how sociolinguistics can contribute to “the integration of society and knowledge” through conversations among graduate students from different academic fields. It focuses on how these students negotiate and accommodate their norms and awareness regarding the use of generative AI. Modern society has become increasingly complex due to rapid technological innovation, economic expansion, and globalization. Consequently, individuals are required to collaborate across various communities, both domestically and internationally. In academic contexts, for example, joint research between the humanities and the sciences is essential for addressing such complex issues. Interactional sociolinguistics (IS) provides a useful framework for analyzing these interdisciplinary interactions. IS investigates language use through detailed analysis of conversational cues and social contexts. Drawing on IS methods, this presentation analyzes an interview between two graduate students —one from the humanities and the other from engineering science —about the use of generative AI. The data were recorded via Zoom and transcribed in detail, including relevant nonverbal behaviors. The analysis reveals that both students shared similar perceptions of challenges concerning the reliability and accuracy of generative AI, regardless of whether they used it. Through collaboration and the sharing of experiences, the participants reconstructed their normative awareness in interdisciplinary communication. This study outlines a form of interdisciplinary interaction that sociolinguistics can illuminate in an increasingly integrated society.
Satsuki Inaba (Sun,) studied this question.