For the Love of Language: An Introduction to Linguistics by Kate Burridge & Tonya N. Stebbins

Author:Kate Burridge & Tonya N. Stebbins [Burridge, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Reference
ISBN: 9781108701013
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2015-10-15T23:00:00+00:00

Speech styles in Japanese

The ways speakers create relative formality or informality vary across speech communities. Japanese is famous for its complex system of honorifics, with attention to politeness and formality saturating every aspect of the language, especially vocabulary and grammar. Different methods of conjugation, specialised vocabulary and the addition of honorific elements combine to indicate the relative status of the speaker, the listener and also any other persons mentioned. For example, the past tense normal polite form of the verb motsu ‘to hold/have’ is mochimashita, the casual form is motta, the exalted form is omochi ni narimashita and the humble form is omochi shimashita. The past tense normal polite form of suru ‘to do’ is shimashita, the casual form is shita, the exalted form is nasaimashita and the humble form is itashimashita. In some cases, the verb is even replaced by an entirely different word: taberu ‘to eat’ becomes meshiagaru in the polite form and itadaku in the humble form. In the case of nouns and adjectives, there is either different vocabulary or an honorific prefix is selected (o- or go-); for example, jōzu ‘skilled’ becomes ojōzu.

At least four levels of politeness have been identified, with some curly intricacies added: colloquial language for very familiar friends or ‘talking down to someone’ (this includes extremely brusque, provocative or rude forms, which would be considered below ‘colloquial’); casual language for family or in-group member use; normal polite language for use by strangers or by adults who are not part of the same in-group – it can be used when ‘talking up’; and honorific (or formal) language to show respect or emphasise social distance. Honorific forms may be humble (kenjōgo) or exalted (sonkeigo) forms, depending on whether you are ‘lowering’ (humbling) yourself or ‘raising’ someone else’s stature.

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